The Youth in Government (YIG) program helps to create the next generation of good citizens. Through our programs, we demystify local, state and national governmental systems so tomorrow's adults will know how to effect change within these systems. We expand horizons so young people will understand their role within a global society. We do this through a series of programs, conferences, events, trips, and trainings. These include our High School Model Legislature and Court program, our Middle School Model Legislature, our Middle School Model United Nations, our Horizons Values Conference for middle and high school students, our YCorps summer service trip, and other national conferences, events, and competitions.
The program uses the service-learning model in the firm belief that leadership is developed by doing. High school students help provide leadership for our middle school programs, while college students -- alumni of the Youth in Government program -- provide leadership for our high school programming. All programs are guided and directed by committed adult volunteers and YMCA professional staff.
High School Advisor Worksheets
Code of Conduct and Refund Form
Middle School Advisor Worksheets
Middle School Conference/Hotel Fees Worksheet
Code of Conduct and Refund Form
Students participate in Youth in Government through programs at their schools, or through youth-serving organizations, YMCAs, or any other existing youth group. If you are interested in starting a Youth in Government Program at your school, e-mail our Executive Director, Mary Capers Bledsoe at marycapers.bledsoe@ymcagreenville.org
Middle School Model Legislature
The Middle School Youth in Government Model Legislature provides delegates an opportunity to learn how to solve community problems through the democratic process, as well as debate and discuss issues with their peers from throughout South Carolina. More than 300 middle school students participate in this three-day conference annually.
When and where is the conference held?
The conference is held each year in Columbia, SC. The 2025 conference dates are November 16th-18th. Students meet in the Statehouse and use the administrative buildings on the Statehouse grounds. At night, all students conduct all activities at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
What do delegates do at the Conference?
While at the conference, students participate in a simulation of South Carolina's democratic process. Acting as Senators and Representatives, students write, debate and vote on legislation. As candidates, students experience the rich spectrum of activity that constitutes our political process. As media delegates, students publish a newspaper. Officers elected by students serve as Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House.
Elections
Middle School students serve as Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House. In 2025, we will hold elections at the conference to elect students to serve at the 2026 conference.
How much is the conference?
The Youth in Government MSML conference is approximately $375/delegate. This includes all conference materials, hotel fees and a Monday evening meal. Need-based scholarships are available.
How do students participate?
Students traditionally participate in the Youth in Government program through their school or another community group. Teachers or other adults serve as advisors for their delegations and chaperone the trip to Columbia. The YMCA Youth in Government program provides high school and college volunteers to assist with club meetings and conference preparation.
WHAT IS SC YIG?
South Carolina YMCA Youth in Government is a year-round series of conferences, trainings, volunteer opportunities and other events. All program components help high school students learn to take their passion and enthusiasm for strengthening our state and nation by joining with other students through civic engagement and active democracy.
Fall Programs Include:
YIG Leadership Training Conference - October 25-26, 2025. All students in appointed and elected leadership positions must attend. The location for the training is TBD, but will not be in Columbia this year because of USC homecoming.
MODEL LEGISLATURE AND COURT
Model Legislature & Court Conference is the culmination of YIG participation. The Model Legislature & Court Conference brings together students from across the state for a hands-on opportunity to experience democracy by creating a model state legislature and judicial system. The conference provides delegates an opportunity to learn how to solve community problems through the democratic process, as well as debate and discuss issues with their peers from throughout South Carolina. More than 1,400 high school students participate in this four-day conference annually.
When and where is the conference held?
The conference takes place in Columbia, SC. The dates of the 2025 conference are November 5th - 8th, 2025. During the day, students are at the Statehouse, the Supreme Court, the Columbia Convention Center, and other downtown conference spaces. At night, all activities are at the Columbia Convention Center and the Columbia Art Museum. Students are housed with their schools/delegations at downtown Columbia hotels.
What do delegates do at the Conference?
While at the conference, students participate in a simulation of South Carolina's democratic process. Acting as Senators and Representatives, students write, debate and vote on legislation. As candidates and lobbyists, students experience the rich spectrum of activity that constitutes our political process. As media, students create and publish a nightly newscast and manage the conference and program social media. As attorneys and justices, students compete on mock trial teams, or on moot court teams (appellate). Officers elected by students serve as Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Secretary of Education, Commissioner of Agriculture and Comptroller General.
How much is the conference?
The Youth in Government Model Legislature & Court Conference conference is approximately $520 delegate. This includes all conference materials, hotel fees, and transportation at the conference. Need-based scholarships are available.
How do students participate?
Students traditionally participate in the Youth in Government program through their school or another community group. Students who attend a school that does not have a Youth in Government program may participate in our South Carolina Delegation, which meets virtually with an adult advisor and prepares for the conference throughout the fall and then attends the November Model Legislature and Court Conference in person with the South Carolina Delegation. The YMCA Youth in Government program provides college and adult volunteers to assist with new and existing programs.
Elections
High school students run for office at the fall conference and serve the following year. Schools and delegations are divided into District One (Greenville County, Pickens County, Spartanburg County) and District Two (all other schools/delegations). Interested students may run for positions assigned to their district. Both districts may run candidates for Youth Governor. More information and explanations of roles and responsibilities may be found in the Candidate Profile link.
- Additional Election Information
Email Mary Capers Bledsoe for more information.
Mock Trial - Teams consist of 5-8 students. Teams prepare both prosecution and defense sides of the case, serving as attorneys and witnesses.
2025 Mock Trial Case (upated) is found here Mock Trial Case
Rules of Evidence are found here 2025 Rules of Evidence.
Rules and Procedures are found here 2025 Mock Trial Rules and Procedures.
NOTE - The 2025 Mock Trial case has been removed and a new case will be uploaded shortly.
Appeals - Teams consist of two students. Team prepares cases for both petitioner and respondent side of case. Each case has two distinct question, and partners divide the case by question. The 2025 case will be released in August.
The 2025 case is here Appeals Case
The precedence cases are here Precedence Cases
Rules and Procedures for Appeals are here https://tinyurl.com/2024YIGAppellaterules
Are you a YIG alumnus? Join our network to continue to be part of our work.
Reach out to kell.runnion@ymcagreenville.org for more information!
Thank you to our donors, without whom we would not be able to do fulfill our mission of not turning anyone away for a lack of ability to pay. Our donors help support our Youth in Government Scholarship Campaign and the Achievers program.
If you would like to invest in our programs, you can donate here!
YIG Delegations are led by advisors, typically teachers, administrators or volunteers with a school or community organization. If you are interested in starting a Youth in Government program, contact Mary Capers Bledsoe, Executive Director. We provide support to new delegations including volunteers and staff to help with recruiting and conference prep.
For existing advisors, all delegate registration links, candidate forms, specialty roles forms, etc., along with payment worksheets can be found at our linktr.ee. Payment worksheets are locked. Look for the password in an email. If you have not received that, contact Mary Capers Bledsoe.
Middle School MUN provides middle school students the opportunity to learn about other countries, their cultures, government and history, and how countries interact with each other across the world. Students work in groups of 2-5 to represent a country. They write a resolution about their country that is presented at the conference, and they create a Festival of Nations display about their country.
The Model United Nations conference takes place in the spring. The 2025 Model UN takes place March 27-28. Our traditional conference location, the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC, was heavily damaged in Hurricane Helene, so in 2025 the Model UN conference will take place at the Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC. The cost of the conference is $200, which includes lodging, all meals, a conference t-shirt and all materials.
The 2024 high school billbook can be found here. Use this to see last year's bills and understand how bills are formatted.