Youth In Government

By: Tatiana Gutierrez

What is YIG?

Youth in Government is a program that gives students from grades 7 to 12 the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of government by simulating what the press, legislators, and politicians do. During the beginning of March, delegations from all over Wisconsin come together in the historic Wisconsin Capitol in Madison to have model government. Delegates have been practicing and preparing in the branch that they chose in early October. The branches include: executive (officials who advocate for executive priorities), legislative (representatives who debate and write legislation), judicial (individuals who hear and argue cases), and media (journalists and reporters).

History

In 1936 Youth in Government was created in New York by Clement A. Duran (AKA Pete) who was the YMCA boys work secretary. Pete and William H. Burger were thinking of ideas for the Older Boys Conference, and Pete wanted to have a conference in the State’s Capitol for their program centered around the development of laws. The Y has the largest youth civic engagement and YIG programs in the world. YIG’s motto is “Democracy must be learned by each generation.” They have achieved this goal and will continue to grow and make the program bigger and better throughout the years going forward.