Campo Chronicles

1. Volume VII Edition IX
September 2014
The definitive journal of Campo
YMCA’s Youth In Government chapter
Editor-In-Chief:
Bradley Harwood
In this issue-
Pg.1- A letter from the Editor
Pg.2- Bowen legislative (By Daniel Eisele)
Pg.3- Sullivan legislative (By Colin Pearson)
Pg.4- Williams legislative (By Noah Rohm)
Pg.5- JYIG (By Julia Rohm)
Pg.6- DLA (By Krista Reinhardt)
Pg.7- Judicial (By FloridaYIG.com)
Pg.8- Executive Cabinet (By Caleb Miranda)
Pg.9- Press (By Bradley Harwood)
Pg.10- Supporting Officers (By FloridaYIG.com)
Pg.10- Applications (By Becca Ross)
A letter from the
Editor-
In this edition you will see
various articles about
different program areas
we take part in at Campo
YIG, and a more in depth
look about what we do
and what makes Campo
great!
Your Editor-In-Chief
Bradley Harwood
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2. Bowen Legislative – By Daniel Eisele
If you are a new delegate that is between 9th and 10th grade
and decide to be a part of the legislative program you will go to
Bowen. Bowen is the lowest chamber in the Youth in
Government program, while Sullivan is in the middle, and
Williams is the top dog. Just because Bowen is the lowest or
most inexperienced chamber, does not mean it is boring and
dull. To be honest it is quite the opposite. The Bowen chamber is
a complete learning experience for the program. It gets your
feet wet in debate, while it pushes you out of your comfort zone
so that you will be able to speak your opinion to your peers.
Also, since Bowen is more of an inexperienced chamber,
mistakes will be way more overlooked compared to Sullivan and
Williams. So don’t worry if you accidentally say the wrong thing
or make the wrong move because there will be an advisor there
to help you learn and get better. Since Bowen is more of a laid
back chamber that makes it more fun and an easy way to make
friendships all through the chamber. So Bowen might be the
“lowest” chamber as far as inexperience goes…but it’s also the
most important and fun chamber since it teaches you how to do
better in YIG and how to debate ideas while making friends in
the process.
Inside the Bowen chamber at state assembly
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3. Sullivan Legislative – By Colin Pearson
Sullivan, simply put, is one of the chambers that legislative kids gather in for debate. If you’re a freshman or sophomore that has been in
YIG before, or a junior/senior that is new to YIG, odds are, you’re going to be in Sullivan this year. Like other areas of legislative, we start
out in first committee, then we progress into second committee, finally ending up in our main chambers of either Sullivan House or
Sullivan Senate. There is just something about Sullivan that I cannot figure out that brews leadership and stirs up a passion in the hearts
of many. Maybe it’s everyone coming together despite your/their political views to have a good time, or maybe it’s just the fact that we’re
all a combination of nervous, excited and ambitious young adults. My advice for anyone that may be a part of Sullivan this year is this: do
not get comfortable. You’re going to be nervous, maybe even a little bit scared, but it’s all in the name of making a memory, growing as a
person and having a good time.
Colin Pearson Presenting
in Sullivan House
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4. Some of this
years presiding
officers in
Williams
senate
chambers.
Williams Legislative – By Noah Rohm
Most of you are familiar with the Legislative chambers of the Senate and House but now that you are in YIG something seems odd about how
we name them. For instance what on earth does Williams mean? Well I’m glad you asked. In Florida YIG we name our chambers after
important people in YMCA history. George Williams was the man who founded the first YMCA in London, England in 1844. The Williams
Chambers are named after him. It is the highest legislative chambers in Florida YIG and this is where third year juniors or seniors participate.
Unlike Bowen and Sullivan, Williams sessions are held in the actual Florida Senate and House chambers. What mainly sets Williams apart is
the caliber of debate and legislation. This is because the delegates in these chambers have more experience. One of the benefits you might
hear delegates talking about are the “comfy chairs.” In all honesty, the chairs behind the desks in the Senate and House chambers are in fact
extremely comfortable. While it may seem like a dream come true to some people to be in these chambers you must understand that you are
held to a higher standard when debating. Mistakes that might have slid by in Bowen or Sullivan will not be tolerated in Williams. Presiding
over these chambers are the Williams Senate President and Williams Speaker of the House. These Presiding Officers are elected by both the
Williams Senate and House each year. In this coming year, I will be serving as your Williams Senate President and Ashlea Al-Bahou will be
serving as your Williams Speaker of the House.
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5. DLA – Krista Reinhardt
What is a DLA?
Simply stated, a Director of Legislative Affairs works with a
cabinet member to push specific bills through the
legislative process. Before State Assembly, Directors of
Legislative Affairs are assigned to a department or office.
For example, last year, I was assigned to the Office of the
Governor. This meant I worked with Governor Reid to
contact bill authors, help them with research, statements,
and finding a co-author. Each cabinet member is assigned
one DLA, and they track the bills and help them through
the legislative process.
DLAs also are awarded the unique privilege of making a
speech in any second committee. This speech is highly
useful, because it has a significant influence on all
delegates in the committee. Making speeches in 2nd
committees was one of my favorite parts of State
Assembly last year.
If you are selected as a DLA, you also have the opportunity
to speak in front of the cabinet members in favor or
opposition of a bill. It can be intimidating, but again, it is
another opportunity that DLAs get that most bill authors
do not. Getting selected as a DLA is an honor and being a
DLA was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend
As the picture sais Lobbyists!!!
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6. Judicial – By FloridaYIG.com
Supreme Court
The YIG Supreme Court bench consists of a chief justice, senior justices, and
associate justices. The court hears cases that have been fictitiously appealed
through Florida’s court system. The YIG Supreme Court is not a trial court, like
those in Perry Mason or Law & Order, where the parties dispute the case facts.
Instead, the attorneys here argue legal issues raised by undisputed facts. For
example, attorneys will not argue whether a criminal defendant in fact broke the
law, but whether the law is constitutional or whether the trial court applied it
correctly. Each YIG Supreme Court law firm is assigned two cases, one criminal
and one civil. Before State Assembly, attorneys research and submit written
briefs. During State Assembly, they will engage in oral argument with other
firms’ attorneys.
The District Court
The YIG District Court of Appeal hears fictitiously appealed cases from the trial
courts. Like Supreme Court cases, the parties dispute the legal issues, not the
facts. District court attorneys are assigned to represent a particular side in a
designated criminal or civil case. They prepare memos individually before State
Assembly. During State Assembly, they will be assigned to law firms with fellow
district attorneys. Experienced legal researchers will help district court attorneys
expand on their memo arguments and prepare them for oral argument.
2013 Campo’s First year of that thing called Judicial!
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7. Executive Cabinet – By FloridaYIG.com
The “E” team is made up of the Governor and Lt. Governor. They act as the leaders of the
Presiding Officers as well as YIG’s programs. Their role is to assist all officers in the decision-making
process when needed, before and during State Assembly. It is the ultimate
responsibility of the Governor to lead the entire group of Presiding Officers to set the tone for
the entire YIG program year. Along with the input of Lt. Governor, the Governor must oversee
and publish a legislative agenda. The Governor must also see to functions of the Cabinet and
has the power to sign or veto all bills that come across his or her desk. The Lt. Governor
assists the Governor at all times and acts as Governor in his or her absence.
Executive Cabinet
Along with the Governor and Lt. Governor, the YIG Executive Cabinet is made up of the
Commissioner of Agriculture, the Attorney General, and the Chief Financial Officer. All of
these positions are chosen (via popular election) during the previous year’s State Assembly.
These three members of the Executive Cabinet also serve as members of the Presiding Officer
Corps. Along with the members listed above, the Cabinet also includes supporting officers:
the Commissioner of Education, the Secretary of State, the State Surgeon General, the
Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Department of
Juvenile Justice and the Chief of Staff. These positions are filled through an application
process, reviewed by the Lt. Governor and appointed by the Governor. Interested in being a
member of the Executive Cabinet? Log-in to your Deledex account and apply! The deadline is
October 1, 2014 so don’t delay.
Caleb Miranda this year’s Commissioner
of Agriculture is also a part of this years
Executive Cabinet
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8. JYIG – By Julia Rohm
Over the past two years, I have had the immense pleasure of participating in Junior
Youth In Government, (JYIG), an extraordinary opportunity for 6th-8th grade
students. This program helped me unlock the ability to formulate and express my
own opinions and pushed me to be the best version of myself. Much like Senior
Youth In Government, (YIG), JYIG kids write statements and a bill while learning to
formulate debate arguments. Although students from both programs present their
bills in club and debate with each other, only high school delegates and a few middle
school Pages attend State Assembly. Instead, middle school students attend their
own State Assembly, known as the JYIG Conference. This Conference is unlike any
other event I’ve ever experienced. JYIG chapters from all over the state gather
together to debate bills and to have tons of fun. Delegates abide to the YIG motto
“debate ideas, not people,” meaning that even if you disagree with someone’s bill or
opinion on the debate floor, you can still be friends afterwards. This atmosphere of
unity between delegates is also created through villas. At the beginning of the
Conference, students from each chapter, along with a few high school mentors, are
mixed together to form villas. Over the next four days, each villa becomes a
“family” and the delegates end up making some unforgettable friends. Villas also
participate in an amazing series of activities called Mando Fun. This takes place in
between debate sessions and includes competitions like capture the flag, a
scavenger hunt, chant offs, and many other thrilling games. After four days
debating bills, Mando Fun, and making amazing friends, no one wants to leave the
conference. So if you’re in JYIG, prepare yourself, because you are going to have an
experience of a lifetime!
Everyone loves JYIG Mando Fun!!!
Some hard working Campo delegates at Junior assembly 8

9. Press Corps – By Bradley Harwood
Noted as the fourth branch of government, the Press Corps provides the eyes and ears to the
Assembly. Responsible for publishing multiple editions of CAPITOL BRIEFINGS at the State level and
CAMPO CHRONICLES at the chapter level we also prepare slide shows, and video reports. We are
the collective journalistic team that you will want to be part of; you are a part of a team that will
dictate the quality and content of the publications.
Members of the Press Corps have the unique ability to affect the outcome of legislation, uncover
the secrets of certain participant’s success, and make real change to Youth In Government.
Delegates who have and interest and ability to observe, comment, and make an impact through
words and pictures should seek membership in the Press Corps.
Successful Press Corps delegates approach this program area with the goal of empowering the
reader to react and to initiate response. Making sure that they are anticipating not only what the
reader’s next question might be, but also what their response and/or first action may be after
reading/seeing our publications.
Just as legislators have the ability to debate the merits of certain policies on the floor of the House
and Senate and attorneys in the courtroom, as a member of the Press Corps you have the entirety
of your publications to comment on the issues being discussed at the State Assembly.
Can you pick out your
state wide Editor-In-
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Chief?

10. Supporting Officers – By FloridaYIG.com
Supporting Officers are appointed to assist in
making their particular program areas function.
Under the direction of their Presiding Officers,
the Supporting Officers are responsible for
making certain that the State Assembly flows
smoothly.
These officers are appointed by the Presiding
Officer who leads that program area.
Applications are available to any delegate who
meets the qualifications (a Sophomore in their
2nd program year) and are registered via the
Deledex.
Delegates chosen to be a Supporting Officer will
be expected to attend any applicable training,
including the January Presiding & Supporting
Officer Training, and carry out all duties of the
office.
Applications – By Becca Ross
ATTENTION RETURNING DELEGATES: Applications for press, associate
justice, DLA, and executive cabinet positions are due less than 2 weeks
from tonight’s YIG meeting (on October 1st)!
Looking for a way to connect with people? Want to and impact your
fellow delegates in an incredibly special way, and see the program from
a new (and wonderful) perspective? Each of you have the opportunity
to just that, through applying for these positions. These are
phenomenal ways to not only grow yourself, but also to impact
delegates in your program area, like the leaders in your life have done
for you. Go ahead, try something new. Get a little bit uncomfortable,
and know that it’s worth it. Your contribution to the program is of
paramount importance and value. Press, executive, and associate
justice apps are due October 1st, in just over 2 weeks. Committee chair
apps are due just around the corner, on December 3rd. Apply via the
deledex on http://www.floridayig.net/
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