YLA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT
Introduction
Preparing the Next
Generation of Civic Leaders
In This Chapter
Ohio-West Virginia Youth Leadership Association
P.O. Box 239
Pt. Pleasant, WV 25550
www.YLA-YouthLeadership.org
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Our Purpose

Who Participates
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Assistance
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Preambles to Constitutions
Our Purpose
Citizenship is our purpose. Our founding values are to engage youth in the process of state government
and locally in youth volunteer initiatives to improve our schools and communities. We connect classroom
lessons to real life experience to produce more informed, responsible, and engaged citizens today and for
a lifetime.
Our founders, C. William O’Neill in Ohio (1952) and Governor Cecil Underwood in West Virginia (1958)
worked with teens to create Youth in Government as much more than just passing legislation, politics, or
political careers. Both believed the last thing needed to solve a problem is more legislation. What is
needed are young people seeing what needs done to make their communities better, figuring out what to
do and then doing it. Legislation would be a last resort growing out of a student’s real life and volunteer
experience.
Ohio-West Virginia Youth Leadership Association continues these values today. YLA Youth in Government
is about creating good citizens for today and tomorrow.
Who Participates
YLA Youth in Government is open to all interested high school students. YLA YG welcomes youth groups,
Student Councils, HI-Y and TRI-HI-Ys, City Government Youth Councils, FFA, faith based groups, home
and on-line students, and students not in a youth group.
Students Positions
Legislators
Member of the House
Member of the Senate
Supreme Court
- Justice
- Chief and Associate Justices
- Attorneys
Officers
President of the Senate
Speaker of the House
Clerk
Lt. Governor
Governor
Other Positions
- Press
- Page
- Lobbyist
- Governor’s Cabinet
Assistance
Adults serve as advisors to local participants and at Youth in Government assist with the program.
Staff assistance, training, and program materials are available. Contact is at 304-675-5899 or email [email protected]. The YG Student Manual is available on our website—http://www.ylayouthleadership.org/YG.html.
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Preambles to Constitutions
United States of America – Preamble to the Constitution - 1787
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.
Ohio – Preamble to the Constitution - 1851
We, the people of the State of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and promote our common welfare, do establish this Constitution.
West Virginia – Preamble to the Constitution - 1872
Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious
liberty, we, the people of West Virginia, in and through the provisions of this Constitution, reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God and seek diligently to promote, preserve and perpetuate good government in the state of West Virginia for the
common welfare, freedom and security of ourselves and posterity.
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SchoolYearProgram/Manuals YG & UN/2016 YG Manual/YGManual-Introduction