Leadership Opportunities

Requirements – Candidate must be a Junior, have at least one year of Youth & Government experience, be registered as a Legislator and complete Candidate Application.

Candidate Responsibilities – Governor candidates will need to give a speech at both Pre-Legs, and if elected to run at Assembly, give a speech there as well. There will be no more than 3 candidates elected at Pre-Leg 2 to run at the Springfield Assembly.

Official Duties – Primarily, the Governor meets with bill groups and lobbyists to gather information on bills that will help him/her decide whether to sign or veto each bill that passes both chambers. In addition, the Governor may grant interviews with the press and address the legislative chambers. Following election, the Governor is invited to attend the YMCA National Youth Governor’s Conference in Washington, D.C. After the year of serving, the Governor will serve a one-year term as a non-voting member of the Youth & Government Program Board.

Requirements – Candidate must be a Junior, have at least one year of Youth & Government experience, be registered as a Legislator and complete Candidate Application.

Candidate Responsibilities – Candidates will chair a committee at both Pre-Leg sessions, attend all committee training sessions and prepare to fill the role of Committee Chair should the need arise. They will also deliver a speech at each Pre-Leg session, and if elected, a speech at Assembly as well.

Official Duties – The Lieutenant Governor is the chair of the Student Steering Committee, and is an assistant to the Governor and serves in their place when the latter is unable to perform their duties. The Lieutenant Governor will also chair three Special Committees at Assembly – one for each color of legislature – which Lobbyist-submitted bills and resolutions will be heard.

Requirements – Candidate must be a Junior, have at least one year of Youth & Government experience, be registered as a Legislator and complete Candidate Application.

Candidate Responsibilities -They will deliver a speech at each Pre-Leg session, and if elected, a speech at Assembly as well.

Official Duties – The Secretary of State is the manager of the entire bill flow process and must have detailed knowledge of how the bill flow desk operates.

Requirements – Candidate must be a Junior or Senior, have at least one year of Youth & Government experience, be registered as a Legislator and complete Candidate Application. Additionally, candidates cannot be the House Sponsor or Senate Sponsor of their bill.

Candidate Responsibilities – Instead of speeches, candidates for Presiding Officer will lead a role play – a mock debate of a bill – at Pre-Leg 1 & 2 and the  Assembly. Because of this, candidates should have detailed knowledge of parliamentary procedure.

Official Duties – The Presiding Officers (Presidents of the Senate and Speakers of the House for each color legislature) preside over a chamber and keep order to the debate of bills.

Requirements – Candidate must registered as a legislator. Candidate must complete Candidate Application.

Election – There will be 3 Devotion Leaders for the Senate, and three Devotion Leaders for the House Chambers.

Official Duties – All Devotion Leaders will be responsible for preparing a devotion for the opening and closing of the legislative sessions. There could be other occasions during Assembly that call for devotion as well. The devotion should be non-denominational and general in nature.

Requirements – Candidate must be a registered as a legislator, have at least one year of Youth & Government experience,  and complete Candidate Application. Candidates may run for Committee Chair and another major office concurrently, but if a student is elected at Pre-Leg 2 to be a candidate for the major office at Assembly, they must withdraw from their Committee Chair position.

Candidate Responsibilities – Must chair a committee at both Pre-Leg 1 & 2, and attend virtual training sessions before each Pre-Leg and Assembly.

Election – One is elected by each committee at Pre-Leg 2.

Duties – Committee Chair will preside over a committee and attend a Special Committee session to hear lobbyist-Special Committee bills, and also preside over the final rounds of the State Issues Forum at the  Assembly.

For these positions, candidates have to complete an application and the respective officer will review the applications and make decisions. Application will be available shortly.

Governor Staff

• Chief of Staff – Governor. The Chief of Staff positions will help the Governor with scheduling, meetings, and collaboration with other officers.
• Assistant Chief of Staff – Governor. The Chief of Staff positions will help the Governor with scheduling, meetings, and collaboration with other officers.
• Press Secretary – Governor. The Press Secretary will meet with the Media Corps at various times to update any bills, schedules, or news regarding the Governor.

Lt. Governor Staff

• Chief of Staff – Lt. Governor. The Chief of Staff position will help the Lt. Governor with scheduling, meetings, and collaboration with other officers.
• Press Secretary – Lt. Governor. The Press Secretary will meet with the Media Corps at various times to update any bills, schedules, or news regarding the Lt. Governor, special committees or the State Issue Forum final rounds.

Secretary of State Staff

• Deputy Secretary of State – Secretary of State. The Deputy Secretary of State will help the Secretary of State with Bill Flow scheduling, meetings, and collaboration with other officers.

To be considered for the Governor’s cabinet, candidates must be legislators and complete an application.

Cabinet Member: The Governor will be selecting cabinet members to serve in Springfield. The cabinet members will be selected by the Governor, to assist in research and reviewing bills by topics (for instance, Education bills).

Requirements – Candidate must be registered as an LA. Candidate must complete Candidate Application

Election – Legislative Assistants will elect 1 Sgt-at-Arms of the Senate, and 1 Sgt-at-Arms of the House at each Pre-Leg II location to serve at Assembly.

Official Duties – Each chamber’s Sergeant-at-Arms enforces the dress code, ensures that only authorized persons enter and generally keeps order in the legislative session.

Requirements – Candidate must be registered as an LA. Candidate must complete Candidate Application.

Election – Legislative Assistants will elect 1 Secretary of the Senate, and 1 Clerk of the House at each Pre-Leg II location to serve at Assembly.

Official Duties – The clerks and secretaries have the responsibility to read all Bills and amendments as they come before the legislatures.  They also keep the official record of decisions of the session and otherwise assists the Presiding Officer of that session.

Candidate must be registered as an LA. Candidate must complete Candidate Application.

Bill Flow Clerks assist the Secretary of State and chamber officials in keeping track of the progress of legislation at Assembly. There will be a total of three bill flow clerks selected from each section at Pre-Leg II to serve in Springfield.

Candidate must be registered as an LA. Candidate must complete Candidate Application.

Personal Assistants are legislative assistants selected to assist the Governor to help schedules run smoothly. Personal assistants will be selected by the officer, but cannot serve in any other office. Personal Assistants will be chosen before Assembly. There will be a total of six Personal Assistants selected.

Requirements – Candidate must be registered as an attorney, participated in the program for a full year, be a junior, and complete Candidate Application.by the required deadline.

Candidate Responsibilities – Candidates for Chief Justice will deliver a speech at both Pre-Leg sessions, and if elected at Assembly. No more than 3 candidates will be elected to run at Assembly. The Chief Justice is elected on the last day of Assembly to serve for the following year.

Duties – The Chief Justice will preside over the judicial program, and facilitate judicial review and the culminating oral arguments in Thunderdome.

Requirements – Candidate must be registered as a clerk-bailiff.

Candidate Responsibilities – The winner of the Clerk-Bailiff Forum at Assembly will be named Head Clerk-Bailiff, and be responsible for overseeing the Clerk-Bailiffs during Court sessions. Clerk-Bailiffs help maintain decorum, assist with timing during oral arguments, and assist justices with any research needed ar Assembly.

Executive Director of Lobbyists. Candidates for Executive Director must be registered as a lobbyist and complete Candidate Application.by November 19.

One candidate will be elected by the lobbyists in each section at Pre-Leg II, to run at Assembly for statewide office. The Executive Director of the Lobbyist oversees the lobbyist program at Assembly. Candidates should be prepared to give a speech at Pre-Leg I and Pre-Leg II, only in front of Lobbyists.

Candidates need to be registered as a Lobbyist and complete Candidate Application by November 19.

Three assistant directors will be elected by the lobbyists in each section at Pre-Leg II to serve at Assembly. The Assistant Director of Lobbyist assists the Executive Director in tallying lobbyist scores, and helping to see that the lobbyist program runs smoothly at Assembly. Candidates should be prepared to give a speech at Pre-Leg I and Pre-Leg II, only in front of Lobbyists.

Requirements – Candidate must be a Junior or Senior and be registered in the current year as a member of the Newspaper Press.

Candidate Responsibilities – Candidate must complete Candidate Application by the required deadline.  No speeches are required.

Selection – The Editor-in-Chief is selected by the Newspaper Press advisors from the pool of applicants based on demonstrated expertise. There are usually two or more Editors selected to help with the production of the newspaper.

Official Duties – The Editor-in-Chief is ultimately responsible for all issues of The Observer and writing an editorial article for each issue.

Candidates need to be registered as Newspaper Press and Candidate Application by the required deadline.

The Social Media Editor works with the Newspaper Press and runs their social media page.

The Social Media Assistant will work with the Youth and Government Office with the program’s social media message and pages. Click HERE for the application.