Texas Youth and Government

In Joey Maguire’s journey to running for Governor, he reflects on the moments that pushed him to run for Youth and Government’s 78th Governor. He got his influence from a few of the other candidates in Kona. “I was kind of on the fence about running already, but at Kona, I met Ethan Chen and Preston Lee, and
Elliot ultimately resulted in me running for Governor.” Inspired by these people, the candidate emphasizes the need for change if he got the potential role. His goals are to have “more conferences, more evaluators, more advocacy.” These visions highlight his desire for inclusiveness, cost efficiency, and community engagement. The candidate’s qualifications include many extracurriculars with a record of three years in Youth and Government, achievements in public speaking, and multiple leadership roles. He emphasizes, “I’m a good candidate with a well-rounded experience.” While conveying the priorities of a governor, the candidate will do his best to keep his promises. He is committed to doing everything he can to ensure Youth and Government runs smoothly. “I really want to make sure I get as much as possible through, and I just want to follow through with my promises.” Engaging with other Youth and Government participants is at the top of his list.

His strategy includes direct face-to-face visits at local schools. While understanding the underlying issues of physical presence, he plans to have an open Instagram page where everyone can socialize. Maguire affirms, “I’ll try to visit as many local schools in my area to get real answers on what is bothering them.” To measure his progress, the candidate plans to utilize social media to its fullest extent. It is a digital trail of all of Youth and Government’s milestones and accomplishments. “Instagram is a great tool, and it’s easy for people to access,” he notes, emphasizing its effect of keeping participants informed at all times. In his journey to becoming a governor, Joey explains his inspiration, goals, qualifications, and commitment to better communicate. With many strategic plans, Maguire outlines his vision for change in Youth and Government and plans to represent and serve participants effectively. VOTE JOEY MAGUIRE!

Written by: Tyler Tran

My name is Gael Realivazquez, and this is my second year at the Texas government. When I first joined TXYG, I was confused, nervous, and scared that I would mess everything up. When I went to the district, I was so lost, but without the help and encouragement of the people their help so much, Without I wouldn’t be here and what I know. Once I heard that I made a statement, I was so happy and appreciated those who helped. We went to the Renaissance Hotel for the first year and it was really nice. I was so excited because the competition was in the capital and I was part of the media department. I had so much fun exploring and meeting new people and had a good time overall. I also got to see all my friends who helped me. I knew this was what I wanted to keep doing, and I fell right in.

In the second year, I was excited because I heard that the state would be at a hotel water park. I know that competition was complex and more challenging this year, but that wanted to push me more. I did all my assignments, and in December, they told me I made it, and I was so happy. Now, here I am at State Conference, I enjoy it, but you still have to work and compete. Mostly, the water is enjoyable, and the hotel is so much fun. I highly suggest you do this; you won’t regret it. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and maybe this will help you in the future if you’re interested in continuing this in life. Don’t forget many different things at the TXYG; learn and explore what fits you.

Written by, Gael Realivazquez

Youth and Government is a great club recommended for all youth. Don’t take my word for it. Ask the governor candidates of youth and Government. I interviewed the governor candidates of Youth and Government and found that this club has helped them very much in life. Preston Lee, a governor candidate, stated that Youth and Government helped him improve as a person, get involved, and become passionate about other clubs and groups. He said he ran for governor because he saw his seniors get elected, who greatly helped him. He decided to be like them and help new Youth and Government members. He also stated that it helped him become a great public speaker and motivated him to become a better/improved version of himself. Another governor candidate, Ethan Chen, noted that Youth and Government helped him become a better public speaker and motivated him to join other clubs such as speech and debate. He also states how he made many friends along the way and how his seniors and peers inspired “My goat Ryan Lee” (Ethan Chen, Governor candidate), which made him run for governor.

As stated by two governor candidates of youth and Government, we can see how great this club is. It helps the youth become better public speakers, and it helps them find their passion. It helps them interact with new people and make new friends, get inspired by others, and inspire others in their journey in youth and Government. It motivates the youth to push through their limits. It makes them become a better and more interactive, motivated, and passionate person in life. Youth and Government is not only about the government and politics but also about the overall character-building of the youth.

Written by: Krrish Mohammed

At the start of the meeting, the Judge will come in while everyone around stands up. After the Judge says, “You may take a seat,” “and may we commence,” the meeting will start. The Judge will express and establish certain house rules that need to be followed by anyone in that room. After everyone has gotten comfortable and understood those house rules, the Judge will swear in all the witnesses. “Students should understand that the jury determines the facts in a case, primarily through their acceptance or rejection of the testimony offered by various witnesses for both sides.” (Judicial Circuit Court).

When everyone is sworn in and ready to give their own statements, they will do so when the Judge allows them. Subsequent to the previous situation, opening remarks will state the arguments that will go back and forth, recrossing the entire time. Accordingly, all sides have found information regarding each opposing side, and each prosecutor carefully inspects and questions the defining witness for further information that may help their argument. Following, three witnesses on each side will be questioned.

The closing arguments are very vital in a mock trial, the closing arguments will position the evaluation given by the Judge. This last resort for the given argument will truly show what each team is made of. The court will then adjourn, and the trial will end. In conclusion, a Mock trial is an example of “A mock trial is an act or imitation trial.” (Wikipedia), which was presented well. Lastly, a Mock trial is a court trial that is mimicked by a group of people with opposing views on a given subject. There is a lot of respect that goes into Mock Trail. According to analysis, you must be prepared to answer questions asked by prosecutors who deep dive into the cross-examination.

Written by: Rigoberto Frausto Martinez

State Affairs Forum is a platform that allows participants to propose practical solutions for current issues using parliamentary procedures. By engaging in debates on these solutions, students can develop a better understanding of the topics. SAF aims to encourage active participation, empower participants to speak intelligently about significant problems in Texas and the global community and enhance their comprehension of news events. Through debates on these solutions, students can gain a deeper understanding of the topics. We encourage active participation to empower participants to speak intelligently about practical ways to address significant problems in Texas and the global community, enhancing their comprehension of news events. In the current election for the State Affairs head chair, Matthew Wooton prioritizes improving parliamentary procedures, assisting evaluators, and selecting proposal topics. Conversely, Zoe Moreno focuses on increasing statewide involvement for those without a Youth and Government program and enhancing various aspects of SAF.

On February 3, 2024, Sofia Dominguez-Trejo presented a compelling proposal to improve healthcare access for rural Texas’s most vulnerable residents, particularly crucial figures like farmers. The urgency of this proposal arises from the alarming rate at which hospitals in rural areas are closing. Sofia highlighted a concerning statistic: in 2022, 26% of rural hospitals were at risk of closure, marking a 10% increase from the previous year’s 16% risk. Sofia’s proposal advocates for Texas to adopt Medicare and Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of telehealth, allowing patients to receive remote consultations and healthcare plans. The overarching goal is to alleviate the burden on individuals, especially those in remote areas, who would otherwise have to endure long distances for expensive treatments while awaiting the proposal’s implementation. The proposal’s impact extends to crucial sectors, including hospitals and governmental funding programs. Recognizing this initiative’s significance, the day’s first proposal received unanimous approval.

Written by: Lynette Huang

Are you a good writer looking for an additional program to impress colleges? The Youth Government Media section would love to have you. As a member of our media section, you will be able to observe everything ranging from legislative bills to judicial court trials and any other government topics you may find interesting. From interviewing delegates to posting on Youth Government’s socials, media opens windows of creative freedom. Although writing is a significant point in media, visuals are a key point in it as well. While visiting trials and legislative conferences, taking pictures will be part of your job. Photography is a creative outlet that helps capture the emotion you write about in your article. These photos and videos, which consist of creative captions and drive attention to the public interested in what Youth and Government offer, will be crucial to social media posts. Media involves exploring your surroundings and helps you form new connections. Without the existence of media, the world would be clueless about the issues and injustices of the world. More importantly, the media exists to hold the government accountable and to remind them that their position is guaranteed only by the hands of the people.

Youth Government’s purpose is to give young people the opportunity to have a voice. In media, your job is to share those voices with the public and ultimately practice the importance of the media’s relationship with the government. By participating in this eventful program, you can get an insight into government matters you will experience in the real world. So, if you want to do some impactful writing and documenting and travel to district and state trips, the media would love to have you. Youth Government’s media section writing articles on the fantastic trials at the Capital of Austin!

Sources: The Media Age and Government Accountability: An Ambiguous
Relationship | SpringerLink Media – YMCA Texas Youth and Government (ymcatexasyg.org)

Written by: Andrea Jimenez

We’ve all, at one point in a U.S. history or government class, learned that there are three branches of government: Legislative, which is where bills are written into law; the executive, which oversees and enforces said laws; and judicial, which discusses legal issues and court cases. However, people often overlook a crucial factor within the political landscape: the media and press. In the Youth and Government program, many people usually interpret media as playing a secondary role to the other more direct and hands-on branches, such as the legislative. However, the media section of the program is just as important and necessary as the debating sections as it reports and overviews the entire conference’s activities while promoting more of the youth to become more involved within the political state of contemporary society.

Media is a crucial medium for communicating the different procedures and processes of the conference, and because of this, delegates in media act as outlets for expressing the program’s inner workings. The Pew Research Center states, “Social media [plays] a crucial role in news consumption.” Therefore, participating in this section merits greater benefits than others, such as waking up much later than their fellow delegates (but don’t tell my section leaders) and freedom to go nearly anywhere throughout the venue without repercussions. In an interview with Esmeralda Rios, Texas YG Media Co-Editor in Chief, she stated, “[she] loves the freedom that media gives us… we can come up with our own stories.” These greater accessibilities allow delegates to comprehend and grasp the other sections and activities, thus effectively reporting general overviews and more specific events, such as youth governor elections.

Furthermore, media delegates are the only section that explicitly promotes the young generation to become more active regarding their community’s current political issues. “Media is a great tool that can inform audiences, offer new perspectives, and even influence decisions,” states Esmeralda Rios, Texas YG Media Co-Editor in Chief. Through writing blogs and creating social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, media delegates can productively and efficiently promote the Youth and Government program and highlight the importance of political awareness amongst the youth. Overall, media may present as insignificant amid the expressive debates of Legislative and Judicial; however, media portrays the fundamentals and complexities within the Youth and Government program.

Written by: Kenneth Pham

When people don’t know what decision to make, what do they do? They go to people to help them make their decisions. Judges play vital roles in deciding the outcome of many controversial cases and situations. LASA senior Grace O’Bryan revealed her experience as a judge and judging The Case of the Confused Cop. This is O’Bryan’s first year as a judge, and it has been a positive experience overall.

O’Bryan decided to become a judge to commit to the LASA delegation but still participate in the Mock Trial. “I wanted to dedicate my time to helping my delegation grow and helping my club’s mock trial teams learn the ropes,” she said. O’Bryan hopes to encourage future club years to prepare newcomers for conferences. “This is a competition, but my favorite memories are not of any victories I may have achieved but of friends I’ve met and funny interactions I’ve had,” she said.

O’Bryan described judge training as in-depth and necessary. There are three main aspects to judge training: understanding procedure, memorizing the law and rules, and conduct. This mix of studying and trial-room experience are necessary steps to becoming a judge. “You can’t just know rules and the proper layout of a room, you have to know how to present yourself. It’s your job to prevent outside conflict and maintain a professional yet kind presence,” O’Bryan said.

O’Bryan quickly discovered that being a judge meant balancing the “ecosystem” of Mock Trial. “You take the role of both a teacher and a student,” she revealed. Judging involves giving guidance, teaching, and receiving and growing from critiques. She emphasized the importance of having a good Youth and Government experience. “Being a judge isn’t about being the best; it’s about helping others and maintaining the trial’s integrity,” she said. Outside the trial room, O’Bryan enjoys the judge community due to their support and mutual love of the program.

For her last case, O’Bryan judged The Case of the Confused Cop. This case follows Officer Alex Greene and his shooting of Kamari Jenkins. Officer Greene believed that a burglar was in Jenkins’ house and mistook Jenkins for a burglar. The debate questions whether Greene committed felony murder or acted in self-defense. O’Bryan enjoys debating this because “it is a particularly relevant case in our current times,” she said. According to the University of Illinois Chicago, more than 600 people are killed by law enforcement in the U.S. annually. Additionally, 15% of civilians who experience police threats are injured (University of Illinois, Chicago). O’Bryan enjoys the new perspectives and arguments brought forth in each round of trials due to how applicable they are to today’s society.

By: Spandana Palyam (Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School)