Boys Nation
Boys Nation is an annual civic training event run by the American Legion.
Each year, two delegates in the summer after their junior year of high school are selected from each of the forty-nine American Legion Boys State programs in the U.S. (Hawaii does not host a Boys State). These delegates attend the week-long event in Washington, DC.
The event endeavors to teach delegates about the processes of Federal government of the United States through taking part in a mock Senate and mock elections of a Boys Nation Senate President Pro Tempore, Senate Secretary, Vice President, and President. Senators also attend lectures and forums, visiting governmental institutions and historical sites. The program has featured such notables as Tom Brokaw and former president Bill Clinton. It is tradition for the student senators to take a private tour of the White House and have a reception with the current president.
Students assume the role of a United States Senator, representing their respective (Boys) State. They write and introduce bills and debate in the senate chambers. Delegates are split into political parties and draft a party platform as well as perform usual party duties like nominations for president and vice-president, along with elected party leadership.
Senators tour D.C. memorials, get private tours of the United States Supreme Court, Congress, and State Department.
Members of this prestigious program are considered to be the future government, business, and military leaders of the United States.
The American Legion Auxiliary runs a similar event called Girls Nation.
Executive Branch (2010)
- President: Charlie Brown, Florida
- Vice President: Alex Geiger, Arkansas
Executive Branch (2011)
- President: Michael Herbert, Colorado
- Vice President: Benjamin Attia, Delaware
Political Parties (2010)
- Nationalist Party Chairman: John Graziano, Pennsylvania
- Federalist Party Chairman: Even Arbour, Maine
Political Parties (2011)
- Nationalist Party Chairman:: Graham Sparks, Minnesota
- Federalist Party Chairman:Christian Price, Washington
Senate Leadership (2011)
- President Pro-Tempore: William Sadock, Connecticut
- Secretary: Ryan Fulmer, Pennsylvania
- '"Senate Chaplain: Matthew Smith, Rhode Island
Senate Leadership (2010)
- President Pro-Tempore: Joe Kieklak, Arkansas
- Secretary: Ryan Low, California
Senators (2010)
- Senator From New Mexico: Zeke Chavez (F)
- Senator From New York: Ronald Taylor (F)
- Senator From Louisiana: David Holmes (F)
- Senator From Mississippi: Raphael Patton (F)
- Senator From Mississippi: Sabien Ruffin (N)
- Senator From Alaska: David Townsend II (F)
- Senator From Alaska: Iain Miller (N)
- Senator From Arizona: Tom Borns (F)
- Senator From Alabama: Martin Bear (F)
- Senator From Connecticut: Calvin Brown (F)
- Senator From Connecticut: Robert Wendel (F)
- Senator From Nebraska: Alejandro (Alex) Ramirez (F)
- Senator From Nebraska: Benjamin Crelin (N)
- Senator From New York: John Hartunian (N)
- Senator From Maryland: Eric Kyle (F)
- Senator From Maryland: Nathan Chai (N)
- Senator From Vermont: Kyle Hancock (N)
- Senator From Vermont: Iain Axeworthy (F)
- Senator From Virginia: Daniel Rosenfeld (N)
- Senator From Virginia: Erik Bakke (F)
Notable participants
- Tom Brokaw, Former NBC anchorman
- Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States
- Michael Jordan, professional NBA player
- John Neely Kennedy, Louisiana State Treasurer and 2008 U.S. Senate candidate
- Donal Logue, actor
- Eric Motley, Former State Department Official
- Gaddi Vasquez, former Director of the Peace Corps
- Scott Walker, current Governor of Wisconsin
- H. Alston Johnson III, former federal judicial nominee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and longtime friend of Clinton
- Michael S. Lee, United States Senator, Utah
See also
External links