What is Youth and Government?

The purpose of the program is to bring the workings of state government alive to students. It creates an opportunity for students to discuss current state issues with state administrators, elected officials, and students from high schools and YMCAs throughout the state.

Each conference is led by teens elected to office by their fellow delegates. Texas provides facilities and volunteers from various state departments who act as resources for the students while they debate the issues. The volunteers help guide the students through mock committee meetings. Students debate and vote on the bills that their fellow delegates have written and presented. Bills that pass in committee are then taken to the floor of the House or Senate for full debate and vote.

Students also have the opportunity to get hands on experience with the court systems. Each year, students argue a criminal case, in both judicial trial courts and in appellate courts.

Important Legislative Materials:

Important items for the state conference: 

1. Committee Chairs and Room Assignments – One Page - One Up on Pink – http://downloads.texasyag.org/2013/2013-HearingCommitteeTeams.pdf
2. Hearing Committee Motions and Seconds / Procedure and House and Senate Motions and Seconds – Two Pages – One Up Duplex on Light Gray - http://downloads.texasyag.org/ConferenceHandout.pdf
3. Procedure for Hearing a Bill in Committee – Two Pages – One Up Duplex on Light Blue – Pages 3 and 4 of above file
4. Procedure for Floor Debate of a Bill or Resolution – Two Pages – One Up Duplex on Light Orange - Pages 5 and 6 of above file
5. Bill Assignments by Primary Author – 18 Pages - One Up Duplex on Light Green - http://downloads.texasyag.org/2013/2013-BillAssignmentsByAuthor.pdf
6. Committee Dockets – 34 Pages - One Up Duplex on Light Yellow  - http://downloads.texasyag.org/2013/2013-HearingCommitteeDockets.pdf
7. Hyde House Bills Divider Page – One Page - Light Purple
8. Hyde House Bills – 81 Pages - Two Up Duplex on Plain White - http://downloads.texasyag.org/2013/2013-HH.pdf
9. House Bills Divider Page – One Page - Light Purple
10. House Bills – 147 Pages - Two Up Duplex on Plain White - http://downloads.texasyag.org/2013/2013-HB.pdf
11. Senate Bills Divider Page – One Page - Light Purple
12. Senate Bills – 55 Pages - Two Up Duplex on Plain White - http://downloads.texasyag.org/2013/2013-SB.pdf

Below are some videos that discuss how the legislative section works. 

Important Judicial Materials:

Important Appellate Materials:

State Affairs Forum is a category of the Texas Youth and Government program. State Affairs allows students to get into group of two or three, and present and debate proposals related to state and national affairs. Students present a self-picked proposal off of the proposal topics list, and present it to the committee, and prepare to answer questions and respond to a debate. This group teaches students how to do analytical research and present a clear and concise argument with the goal of persuading their audience.

Important State Affairs Materials: