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. The candidate will be elected to serve for the next program year.

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

Major Office Financial Disclosure Form – This form should be completed by all final candidates for major offices who are elected to run at Assembly. The form is due at Friday March 8.

LEGISLATOR CANDIDATE APPLICATION Legislators – Complete this Application for 2024 Presiding Officer, 2024 Committee Chair, 2024 Devotion Leader, 2025 Governor, 2025 Lt. Governor, 2025 Secretary of State.

Requirements – Candidate must be a Junior, have at least one year of Youth & Government experience, be registered as a Legislator and complete Candidate Application. The candidate will be elected to serve for the next program year.

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.

Major Office Financial Disclosure Form – This form should be completed by all final candidates for major offices who are elected to run at Assembly. The form is due at Friday March 8.

LEGISLATOR CANDIDATE APPLICATION Legislators – Complete this Application for 2024 Presiding Officer, 2024 Committee Chair, 2024 Devotion Leader, 2025 Governor, 2025 Lt. Governor, 2025 Secretary of State.

Requirements – Candidate must be a Junior, have at least one year of Youth & Government experience, be registered as a Legislator and complete Candidate Application.  The candidate will be elected to serve for the next program year.

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.

Major Office Financial Disclosure Form – This form should be completed by all final candidates for major offices who are elected to run at Assembly. The form is due at Friday March 8.

LEGISLATOR CANDIDATE APPLICATION Legislators – Complete this Application for 2024 Presiding Officer, 2024 Committee Chair, 2024 Devotion Leader, 2025 Governor, 2025 Lt. Governor, 2025 Secretary of State.

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 should not be the House Sponsor or Senate Sponsor of their bill in case of election.

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.

Major Office Financial Disclosure Form – This form should be completed by all final candidates for major offices who are elected to run at Assembly. The form is due at Friday March 8.

LEGISLATOR CANDIDATE APPLICATION Legislators – Complete this Application for 2024 Presiding Officer, 2024 Committee Chair, 2024 Devotion Leader, 2025 Governor, 2025 Lt. Governor, 2025 Secretary of State.

Requirements – Candidate must be registered as a Legislator and complete Candidate Application.

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

Official Duties – The Devotion Leaders will work as a team with our Devotion Coordinator to develop meaningful devotions for all faiths before and during Assembly. The Devotion Leaders will be selected.

LEGISLATOR CANDIDATE APPLICATION Legislators – Complete this Application for 2024 Presiding Officer, 2024 Committee Chair, 2024 Devotion Leader, 2025 Governor, 2025 Lt. Governor, 2025 Secretary of State.

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. 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.

LEGISLATOR CANDIDATE APPLICATION Legislators – Complete this Application for 2024 Presiding Officer, 2024 Committee Chair, 2024 Devotion Leader, 2025 Governor, 2025 Lt. Governor, 2025 Secretary of State.

For these positions, candidates have to complete an application and the respective officer will review the applications and make decisions. Application will be available sometime after the first Pre-Legislative Conference.

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, which will be made available sometime after the first Pre-Legislative Conference.

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 a 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.

Legislative Assistant Candidate Application – Interested students should complete this candidate application before November 19th. These positions will be discussed at the first Pre-Legislative Conference.

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

Legislative Assistant Candidate Application – Interested students should complete this candidate application before November 19th. These positions will be discussed at the first Pre-Legislative Conference.

Candidate must be registered as an LA.

Bill Flow Clerks assist the Secretary of State and chamber officials in keeping track of the progress of legislation at Assembly. This position will be discussed at the first Pre-Legislative Conference. Application and selection to be determined.

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

Legislative Assistant Candidate Application – Interested students should complete this candidate application before November 19th. These positions will be discussed at the first Pre-Legislative Conference.

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

Major Office Financial Disclosure Form – This form should be completed by all final candidates for major offices who are elected to run at Assembly. The form is due at Friday March 8.

JUDICIAL CANDIDATE APPLICATION  Complete this Application for 2025 Chief Justice.

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 II, only in front of Lobbyists.

LOBBYISTS CANDIDATE APPLICATION Lobbyists must complete this application by November 19th.

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 short speech at Pre-Leg II, only in front of Lobbyists.

LOBBYISTS CANDIDATE APPLICATION Lobbyists must complete this application by November 19th.

Requirements – Candidate must be registered in the current year as a member of the Press.

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

Selection – There will be regional editors selected and an overall Editor-in Chief for the Press Corp.

Official Duties – The Editor-in-Chief is ultimately responsible for all issues of The Observer and social and visual content.

PRESS CANDIDATE APPLICATION Interested students should complete this application by November 19th.