Alabama Youth in Government

Democracy in Action

The Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature is a program promoted and developed through the Tri-Hi-Y, Hi-Y and Government Clubs of the YMCA. It is a sound, educational approach to the development of citizen participation in the democratic government by providing opportunities to high school youth to study public government through a model legislative program.

The Hi-Y Clubs and Government Clubs have been chosen as the media through which the program is organized because these entities offer the best source of potential youth leadership in the appropriate age group. Hi-Y and Government Clubs have the stability, experience, motivation and purpose necessary as an incubator for

Youth Legislature participation, and their regimen of regular meetings lends itself to the study and discussion of public affairs.

Since its first Session in 1949, the Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature has met annually, serving approximately 500-600 students in each of its Sessions. It is procedurally designed so as to be a replica of the Alabama Legislature.

The Youth Legislature Board of Directors maintains a strict philosophy that no aspect of the regular legislative pattern is to be changed or abridged.

Youth Legislature officials are elected and preside according to rules adopted, as closely as possible, to reflect the actual rules in force in the Alabama Legislature.

Bills are drafted in local clubs and brought to the State Capital for consideration and debate. Thus, delegates to Youth Legislature attain an actual experience in the legislative process, and obtain a better understanding of the complexities of the legislative process and parliamentary procedure.

YMCA Youth Legislature Program
2012
Important Dates

2012 Conference
February 24-26, 2012
Alabama State House
Montgomery, AL

Tentative Schedule

Register by clicking HERE

Regular Registration Begins
December 19
$225 per Registrant

LATE Registration Begins
January 27
$235 per Registrant

Bill Submission Deadline

All Bills must be 'PUBLISHED' by advisors by January 27.

Brainstorm with the EZBill Online Bill Writing Workshop

Submit Bills Online Here

Officer Training
January 27-28, 2012
YMCA Camp Chandler - Wetumpka, AL
Register Here for Officer Training
Click Here for Directions

District Meetings

What District am I in??

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	District 1	District 2	District 3	District 4
Date	Dec. 11	Dec 10	Dec. 4	Dec. 11
Time	2:00 PM	3:00 PM	2:00 PM	2:30 PM
Host	Mountain Brook High School	Pike Liberal Arts School	Montgomery Academy	St Paul's
City	Birmingham Area	Troy	Montgomery	Mobile
Location	Mountain Brook High School	Pike Liberal Arts	Montgomery Academy - Wilson Theater	St Paul's School

2011 OFFICERS

Youth Governor Brannen McMahan
Lt. Governor Logan Powell
President Pro Tempore Taylor Lollar
Senate Floor Leader Mary Parrish Cobb
Speaker of the House Whitney Lott
Speaker Pro Tempore Madison Singleton
House Floor Leader Trey Ingram
First Year Presiding Officer Chad Dubois
Secretary of State Dakin Hill
Chief Justice Dom Godwin

2011 TOMORROW-TODAY NEWSPAPER CO-EDITORS:
Barbara Bradley and Lexie Segrest

FIRST YEAR LEGISLATURE

In 1987, recognizing that a separate program was needed for younger, first-year delegates, the YMCA Youth in Government program began the First Year Legislature.

Held concurrently with the Session of the YMCA Youth Legislature, the First Year Legislature is designed to provide newcomers with the experience and knowledge that can assist them immensely as they progress toward full participation in the YMCA Youth Legislature.

The First Year Legislature operates as a unicameral body, with an emphasis on educating First Year Participants in legislative procedure, parliamentary procedure and debating skills. The program is mandatory for 9th and 10th Grade newcomers, but is optional for first-year participants who are in the 11th and 12th Grades.

The First Year Chamber is led by the Presiding Officer, who is elected at the previous year's sessoin. He or she shall have the following qualifications:

At least one year's previous experience in the Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature.
Ability to speak in public extemporaneously.
Knowledge of parliamentary procedure.
Knowledge of present day issues and problems.
Personality, appearance, dress, poise and good voice.
Member of an affiliated Hi-Y, Tri-Hi-Y, Student YMCA or Government Club.

"Democracy must be learned by each generation."