Democracy at Its Finest
Maryland Y Youth & Government is specifically designed to give high school students a hands-on lesson in how government works. Teens will learn how to elect their own leaders, debate, legislate bills, and lobby for their vision of a better future!
The program is open to all high school students in the state of Maryland. We'll teach you everything you need to know as you prepare for the grand finale, a 3-day mock legislative assembly!
While you grow your servant leadership skills, your whole family can enjoy being part of an active and caring Y community. Families participating in Y Youth & Government who reside in central Maryland receive a Y in Central Maryland family membership at no cost — good at all 10 Y Family Centers for the duration of the program.
PROGRAM DATES
Students (or delegates) from the same area or school form small groups (or delegations) that meet weekly or bi-weekly under the guidance of an adult advisor. Delegates also participate in the following conferences:
- Training Conference: February 13, 2027 (10 am-4 pm)
- Pre-Legislative Conference: March 13, 2027 (10 am-4 pm)
- State Legislative Conference: April 24- 26, 2027 (Saturday 8:30 am - Monday 4 pm)
Delegations are arranged regionally and in connection with a sponsoring entity, typically a Y or high school. To find a delegation in your area or for more information about starting a delegation at your school or in your community, please COMPLETE OUR INTEREST FORM. Be sure to include your area or school of interest.
PROGRAM ROLES
Throughout the program, delegates will learn how to fulfill the responsibilities of various roles. They will portray their role during the 3-day mock legislative assembly.
- SENATE/HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Role: Develop, debate and decide which bills should be passed into law. - LOBBYISTS
Role: Influence the political process as the Senate/House of Delegates makes their decisions. - PRESS
Role: Interview officials, produce news articles, newscasts, digital content, and more. - COURT
Role: Prepare and give arguments on the constitutionality of a law. - ELECTED/APPOINTED OFFICERS
Role: Campaign for office, lead fellow delegates, direct and develop the mock legislative conference.
PROGRAM FEES
- A $50 deposit is due at the time of registration.
- Monthly payments of $140 are automatically drafted on the 1st of the month from December - April.
If you need help making Youth & Government financially accessible, please contact mdyandg@ymaryland.org.
SUPPORT OUR TEENS
Please consider supporting students in the Maryland Y Youth & Government program. Your donation helps to offset program costs so any student who wishes to participate may do so. Thank you.
CONFERENCES
STATEWIDE LEGISLATIVE TRAINING: FEBRUARY (1 DAY)
During the training conference, delegates will have the opportunity to connect with peers inside and outside of their delegation and attend sessions on a variety of topics, including specific program roles, the bill writing process, running for office, and a Maryland policy briefing.
STATEWIDE PRE-LEGISLATIVE SESSION: MARCH (1 DAY)
Delegates dive deeper into their roles, getting specialized training and work collaboratively with their peers in other delegations. This conference also includes the campaigning, election and appointment of the Y & G statewide officers and the first reading of bills that will be considered in the mock legislative session.
STATEWIDE MOCK LEGISLATIVE AND COURT SESSIONS: APRIL (3 DAYS)
Delegates participate directly in the democratic process in this experiential learning conference. In addition to rigorous debating, writing and presenting, delegates also enjoy a variety of social activities.
CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS (CONA): JULY (1 WEEK)
The Conference On National Affairs (CONA) is a national program that attracts the best and the brightest from the Youth & Government programs across 40 states. CONA delegates write, debate and vote on proposals that address national concerns. The Maryland delegation for CONA is selected through an application process which considers the assets each delegate brings to the team as well as past performance and future aspirations. Up to 25 students from Maryland are selected to attend CONA.
CONTACT US
Maryland Y Youth & Government is a statewide program of the Maryland Coalition of Ys. The program is administered by the Y in Central Maryland. For questions about Maryland Y Youth & Government or if you would like to bring the program to your school, Y, or community organization, please contact us.
The Maryland Y Youth & Government State Office
303 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Baltimore MD, 21204
Email: mdyandg@ymaryland.org
Website: ymaryland.org/yandg
State Director: Molly Quinn Walker