FAQ

 

WHO MAKES A GOOD CANDIDATE?

  • Completing their junior year of high school
  • Interest in political science, government, current events, etc.
  • Hold themselves to high moral standards
  • Possesses leadership qualities
  • Above average scholastic standing
  • Respect American Flag and the American Legion Auxiliary’s support of God and Country

 

WHAT IS GIRLS STATE?

A study of local and state government. Citizens will establish and operate their own city/town and state government. City and town officials are elected at the beginning of the week and they will work to keep their municipality running smoothly throughout the week. The citizens will also come together as counties to elect nominees to run for office within their political parties, and each nominee will run on the state level for constitutional offices (Governor, Lt. Gov., Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney General). Throughout this process, the students will engage in running their own campaign for candidacy, a press conference, and a whistle-stop campaign. 

Each citizen will also have a chance to write a bill to submit before the program, and during the week the parties will establish their platform based upon a handful of those bills. There will also be a state Congress elected that will debate upon whether or not to ratify the bills into law or not. 

 

IS IT ALL JUST ELECTIONS? 

NO. The citizens will also participate in:

  • House and Senate meetings
  • Government, Economics, and Law lectures
  • A general education assembly each morning on thought provoking topics
  • City/town scenarios
  • Mini Courses: smaller style lectures on a more specific topic (topics vary from year to year)
  • Can participate in helping write for and edit the newspaper

 

WHAT DO THEY LEARN?

  • Importance of duties, rights, privileges, and responsibilities of American Citizenship
  • How to apply good citizenship and Americanism into their lives
  • Understanding, for the purpose of participating in, local and state government
  • Contributions that a good citizen can and should make in all phases of government
  • Training to live together, with many diverse people, in a peacefully functioning society
  • Realize a responsibility for the future and that the future is in their hands as young citizens
  • Learn by experiencing the value of hope, friendship, and loyalty, while understanding the rights of others