State YMCA of Maine Youth and Government Advisor’s Guide

Thank you for being the Advisor for your delegation of the State YMCA of Maine’s Youth and Government program! Advisors are critical to the success of our program. As an Advisor, you will recruit students who will form a delegation at your school or organization. 

Once the delegation is formed, you will help participants, or delegates, organize to attend 2-3 online Caucuses, run for office, elect leaders, draft Bills, and prepare for the for the three-day Youth and Government Weekend at the State House in Augusta.

Youth and Government Weekend is when the delegates will take over, forming a government that mirrors Maine’s and running a legislative session. This is a first-hand, immersive experience in the democratic process. 

Youth and Government cultivates involved citizens who learn how to research issues and propose legislative solutions. Delegates develop critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills as they work together to run a legislative session based on Maine’s actual processes and procedures. 

Participants draft all legislation and serve in all leadership roles. They debate and evaluate the potential risks, costs, and benefits of the Bills put before the House and Senate. They learn to articulate their beliefs while engaging constructively with those who hold like or opposing views. They experience the steps necessary to pass legislation and how it isn’t as simple as it seems.

The Y-USA's downloadable resource,  2026 Youth and Government Toolkit, offers a look at the national program and some terrific tips for Advisors beginning on page 18.

Program Overview

Any Maine high school student is eligible to participate in Youth and Government as a delegate however, they must have an adult Advisor. The program is a hands-on experience of Maine's legislative process with students assuming Roles in the Executive, Judicial and Legislative Branches as well as in lobbyist and media. 

Key aspects of Youth and Government:

• The program is completely student driven. 
• Delegates (individually or as a small group) draft Bills grounded in local or state issues to be debated and discussed.
• Bills have sponsors who work to guide their Bill through the legislative steps.
• Elected by their peers, some participants serve in leadership Roles such as Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House.
• Leadership Training (mandatory) is provided beginning the night before Youth and Government Weekend to all those with leadership Roles.
• Youth and Government Weekend is held in the State House Chambers and rooms used by the actual Maine House, Senate, and Supreme Court.
• Delegates learn how to influence positive change, skills they will take home to their schools and communities.
• Like the real legislature participants come from all over Maine, giving a variety of views on those issues they see facing their area of the State.

How do I Recruit Delegates?

Finding students to participate is the first task in forming a delegation. Student leaders are a great place to start looking!

• Leaders in Clubs
• Student Government members
• Students serving on School Boards or other Committees
• Students who volunteer
• Students with an interest in History, Government, and Civics classes
• Students who are already civically engaged (campaigning for change in the cafeteria or dress code or to register 18-year-olds to vote)

Organizing Your Delegation

Students enjoy being asked for their ideas about current issues. This is a good place to start getting your group excited about participating in Youth and Government. As you lead the first meeting, get the group brainstorming together around current events or topics:

• ​What are the issues and topics of the day facing your community and the State of Maine​? Has anything been bubbling up in the news, or in the school hallways?
• Conversation starter: “There ought to be a law that…”​
• Give the group freedom to talk frankly about policies and laws they think should be changed or altered, why, and how.
• Conversation starter: “What job in Government would you like to do…” An alternate starter might be “Would you rather be X or Y (such as Senator or Justice? Reporter or Representative)”
• Conversation starter: If you were the Governor, how would you make Maine better?
• Set your next meeting to begin drafting bills and planning for leadership​ nominations and elections.

How Do Delegations Pay Participant Fees?

Participant fees can be paid by check or with a credit card. Some delegations choose to collect all their participant fees themselves and make a single payment for their organization while others mail the individual checks to the YMCA. Participants may also pay Youth and Government directly. 

To pay by check, make the check payable to the State YMCA of Maine and add Youth and Government in the memo. Mail checks to:

State YMCA of Maine
Youth and Government Program
PO Box 446
Winthrop, ME  04364

Pay with a credit card

Due Date: October 30, 2026

How Do My Delegates Draft Bills?

All Bills at Youth and Government are submitted by participants, the primary author is called the Sponsor. Students can work as a team of 2 or 3 to write the bill, but only one person can be the primary Sponsor. Everyone else will be a Co-Sponsor. The primary Sponsor will shepherd their Bill through the public hearing, work session, and floor debate during the Youth and Government Weekend.

Sponsoring a Bill makes the program much more interesting for students! 

Bill can be written on any topic. 

• A Bill is a solution to a problem found at the local, statewide, or national level​.
• A Bill is limited to one issue. 
• Bills may not be copied from last year's program​.

Ideas for Bills

Have you ever thought “there ought to be a law about…?” Or had an experience that made you think “that shouldn’t be allowed?” Bills are a legal  solution to a problem in all areas of civic life from transportation, to health, to housing, to the environment. 

Help your students look at issues in your school or community. Have them watch or read local news to see if something is happening that a new law may help, or prevent, in the future​.

The Maine Legislature website has all the details on legislation that has been passed, appealed, or rejected. At the bottom of the site, click the button labeled Bill Status and then choose a committee to see a list of Bills that were considered in the most recent legislative session. The site can be overwhelming, but it contains a wealth of resources.

Where to Start When Drafting a Bill

When Maine legislators draft a Bill, they are required to answer the following questions before submitting it. Your students should also be able to answer: 

• What is the problem you are seeking to address? What is your proposed solution?​
• Who is being directed to implement your proposal? How will it be enforced?​
• Are there any penalties?​
• Are you aware of any other states that have tried your proposed solution? 
• Has this solution been proposed to the Maine Legislature in the past? If so, when?​

Does the Bill Pass “Straight Face” Test?

We want everyone to have a great time at Youth and Government, but we also want the experience to be as close to the real Maine Legislative Process as possible. If your student cannot talk about their Bill without breaking into laughter, rolling their eyes, or smirking, it does not pass the “Straight Face” test and should not be submitted! 

All Bills must meet three principles:

1. The Advisor approves and endorses the Bill.
2. The Bill is an original idea. Bills having been submitted in previous Youth in Government programs will not be accepted unless they include significant changes from the previously submitted Bills.
3. The student would be willing to stand before the actual legislature to convince them that your Bill should become Maine law.

Preparing Your Delegation for Caucuses & Elections

There are three online via Zoom Caucus sessions (see Schedule & Agenda). The first session lays the foundation for the program, Caucuses B & C are used for electing leadership Roles in Youth and Government. Your delegation must attend the first session. It is hoped you can attend both B and C, but you must attend at least one of those two sessions. 

Advisors Caucus Prep List:

• Determine your schedule— hopefully you can attend all three—but you must attend Caucus A and either B or C.
• Find a location for your delegation to meet that has reliable, strong WiFi.
• One large screen streaming the meeting is preferred over individual devices, do a sound and mic check.
• Plan for snacks and food, if allowed in the location (parent volunteers might provide these?).
• You will get the Zoom link about 5 days prior to the Caucus session.
• Login opens at 5:30 PM to allow time to test the connection, speakers, and mic prior to the start of the meeting—there is a lot to cover in a short time!
• ​Caucuses begin at 6:00 PM.
• Please Note: Participants must attend one of the Caucus sessions to be eligible for the Youth and Government Weekend in Augusta.

Running For Office 

Participants should review all the Roles available in advance of Caucuses B and C to determine if there is an elected role they would like and are eligible to pursue. If one (or more) of your delegates wishes to run for an office, they must receive a nomination from your delegation.

Advisors Election Prep List:

• Ask your delegates if they wish to be elected for a particular Role. Please double check that they are eligible, some roles require previous Youth and Government experience or to be a junior or senior.
• Help the delegate prepare to speak briefly about why they want the Role and why they are the best choice.
• Review list of offices being elected during Caucuses B and C to determine when the Role will have its election.
• Prepare someone in your delegation to put your candidate’s name in the election by saying “I nominate Name for the office of Name.”
• After all nominations are in each candidate will be invited to speak about their qualifications and desire to hold that office for this year’s program.

What Roles Do Students Fill?

Youth and Government mirrors Maine State Government. The Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches are all part of the program. Also included are lobbyists and media. Some Roles in each branch are elected or appointed leadership Roles but all delegates will take on a meaningful Role that gives them first-hand experience in the democratic process. 

An overview is below, please see Roles for detailed information and job descriptions for each Role.

• Governor And Cabinet: Youth Governor (elected and sworn in at the conclusion of the previous year’s program) selects students to serve as the members of their Cabinet. The Cabinet advise the Governor and advocate for the Executive’s priorities during the Youth and Government Weekend.
• House And Senate Leadership: Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Clerk of the House, Secretary of the Senate, and all other positions that operate the House and Senate. These positions are elected at the online Caucuses.
• Committee Leadership: Each committee will have a House Chair and a Senate Chair, House Chairs these are elected at Caucus and Senate Chairs selected by program leadership.
• Committee Clerk: Each Committee will have a Clerk who will record all the actions of the Committee on Bills, including revising it with amendments, updating the Bills Chart, and documenting the final outcome of the Bill. 
• Senator: Members are elected or selected by program leadership (advisors and program director).
• House Members: Anyone not elected or selected for leadership roles or as a Senator, serves as a member of the House of Representatives. All Lobbyists become Representatives on Saturday.
• Supreme Court: There are 5 Justices in our Supreme Court, A clerk of the Court and 2 Advocates who help with testimony in front of the Court. Justices are selected by Youth Governor at the beginning of their term (at the conclusion of last year’s program) all other positions are elected at Caucus.
• Media: Media members are selected by program leadership on the recommendation of Advisors. The team will print 3 newspapers, take photographs and video, and post on the program’s social media accounts. 
• Lobbyist: Work to pass and defeat bills, try to influence others’ opinions. They will represent organizations who may want to influence the outcome of a Bill. Beginning on Saturday, they become members of the House or  Senate as all lobbying efforts will have concluded. 

How Do We Get There and Where Does my Delegation Stay for Youth and Government Weekend?

The Weekend is so much fun! Thank you for everything you will do to get your delegates ready for this truly outstanding experience. They will never forget it!

• Transportation to Augusta is provided for Aroostook County participants.
• Delegations not in a commutable distance stay together in an Augusta hotel More details can be found on the HOUSING POLICIES.
• Transportation to and from the Hotel to the State House and other venues is provided.
• Lunch and Dinner on Friday and Saturday are provided. Breakfast is available at the Hotel on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
• Delegations from the greater Augusta area usually choose to stay home and commute daily to the State House.