Delegates have the option to participate in the court of appeals program or apply to join a mock trial team . Delegates will act as judges, attorneys, witnesses, and bailiffs in a series of rounds in which they compete against other teams as either the Defense or Prosecution for Mock Trial or the Appellant or Appellee for Court of Appeals. Our goal for our Judicial participants is for them to develop a clear and active understanding of the judicial process in both criminal courts and appeals courts.

Participants are challenged to work as a team to develop solid arguments for all sides of a case and perform their roles faithfully to replicate real court proceedings as closely as possible.

Mock Trial

Delegates in grades 9 - 12 must submit an applicaiton to take part in Mock Trial.  In Mock Trial, teams consisting of 2 attorneys and 2-3 witnesses present an assigned case. Students interested in theater may excel as there is a need for strong presentation as either witness or attoryey. Mock Trial Delegate requirements include:

• No experience required to participate
• Must submit an application in order to be considered
• The best mock trial team for each side of the case will be selected and then they will present in front of all judicial participants
• Each team will consist of 2 Attorneys and 2-3 Witnesses
• Cases will be assigned at Pre-Conference.

Court of Appeals

In the Court of Appeals, delegates try a case or present a case to an appellate court based on their role: attorney, witness or judge. You will argue your side of a case throughout the Youth Legislature Conference.

Each Delegate also judges an Appeals Court or a Supreme Court case as part of a five to seven judge panel. In the Court of Appeals, Delegates:

• May work as an individual or in pairs
• Will be assigned two court cases and must submit a brief for each in order to participate
• No Experience required to participate.

Delegates must apply online to be a part of the media team, reporting on bills, creating video content, writing blogs, being a photographer and managing social media content. In this role, you will be representing a professional news organization and delivering content to delegates and the community. An application is required for these roles.

Broadcast

Broadcast delegates are responsible for shooting, editing and delivering video content covering highlights of the conference daily and providing an overview of the full conference experience. Previous experience with shooting and editing video is required.

Photography

Photographers spend the conference on assignment covering each area of interest. You may also be assigned with a writer to cover specific bills or court cases as well as editing and providing images for website updates, video content and social media. Photographers must have their own equipment.

Print

Writers are responsible for updating blog posts, assisting with social media content and any other writing responsibilities in order to deliver up-to-date information on the conference

Social Media

As a part of the social media team, delegates manage NC Youth and Government social accounts to provide information and engage delegates and the community.

In addition to participating in program roles, delegates have the opportunity to be a statewide leader, an incredible opportunity to build leadership skills. Elected and Appointed Officers serve as leaders for the following year’s conference and are required to attend the summer officer retreat & monthly virtual planning calls leading up to the annual conference.

• Elected Officers must submit an application for both executive and/or associate positions, campaign during the conference, and are voted on by their peers. After applying, the State Office will work with the delegate to prepare a campaign video and speech to campaign at the annual conference.
   
• Appointed Officers are selected after the conference by the State Office through an application and interview process. It is recommended that students who do not win their election, apply for an appointed role.

All officer positions are a one-year commitment to leading the following year’s conference. As a result, current Seniors are not eligible to run for office.

Executive Officer candidates must have at least one year of conference experience before running for office or applying for an appointed position and these elected roles are voted on by all delegates. Associate Officer candidates are encouraged, but not required, to have prior conference experience in order to campaign and these elected roles are voted on by specific program area delegates.

If more than one student from the same delegation is interested in running for a position that has only one available seat (Gov, Lt. Gov, etc) the delegation should hold internal elections to determine who will appear on the conference ballot. These elections must be completed prior to pre-conferences.

Executive Officers

Each position is labeled as either an elected or appointed role, along with the year a student may apply. Students apply during that year but serve in the role the following year. For example, “Governor – Juniors Only” means Juniors may campaign as Governor during their Junior year to serve as Governor during their Senior year.

• Governor - (Elected; Juniors only) This official must be a strong leader who will coordinate and organize officers and all program areas for the following NC Youth and Government Year. It is strongly encouraged that delegates running for Governor have experience as a YAG officer or currently serve as a leader in their school. It is important that this candidate is extremely familiar with the program to lead our legislative and judicial programs as well as plan and lead officer retreat. All delegates vote for this officer position.
   
• Lieutenant Governor - (Elected; Juniors only) This official must be a dedicated leader who can aid the Governor with conference management and Officer Retreat planning. This official will be the primary point of communication between the governor and the legislative branch. They are to fulfill all duties of general conference management that is distributed to them by the Governor. In addition, candidates are strongly recommended to serve as committee chair or clerk during the conference at which they are running for this position. All delegates vote for this officer position.
   

• Chief of Staff- (Appointed; Juniors only) This official supports the Governor during all aspects of the program and conference. This is often filled by the runner-up candidate for Governor but not limited to this requirement. They are to serve as a public figure for the conference and servant leader to all delegates. Some conference management may be given to this official if necessary.
   

• Secretary of State- (Appointed; Juniors only) This role will lead the lobbyist delegates in the legislative program. This officer will be the primary point of contact to the Governor and Lt. Governor for lobbyist affairs. They must work as an aid for all participating lobbyists throughout the year and at conference. This official must understand how to write both pro and con arguments for proposed bills as well as the rules and structure of debate.
   

• State Treasurer- (Appointed; Juniors only) This official leads the budget analysts delegates in the legislative program. This officer will be the primary point of contact to the Governor and Lt. Governor for financial and budget affairs. They must work as an aid for all participating budget analysts throughout the year and at conference. This official must understand how to write a state budget and how to appropriately assess the fiscal feasibility of a proposed bill.
   

• Speaker of the House- (Elected; Sophomores and Juniors only) This official leads the legislative program in the House of Representative program. They serve as the main contact to the Lt. Governor for legislative matters and communicate with other legislative executives to run the legislative branch. They will support, serve and inform all legislative members for the year and at conference. Management of presiding officers and legislative associates will be divided between this official and the other legislative executives however the group sees fit. This role also requires a strong understanding of Roberts Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure. In addition, candidates are strongly recommended to serve as a committee chair, clerk, or floor leader during the conference at which they are running for this position.
   

• Senate Pro Tempore- (Appointed; Juniors only) The State Office appoints a delegate in this role to lead the legislative team and Senate program. They serve as a secondary contact to the Lt. Governor for legislative matters and communicate with other legislative executives to run the legislative branch. They will support, serve and inform all legislative members for the year and at conference. Management of presiding officers and legislative associates will be divided between this official and the other legislative executives however the group sees fit. This role also requires a strong understanding of Roberts Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure. In addition, appointees are strongly recommended to serve as a committee chair, clerk, or floor leader during the conference at which they are running for this position.
   

• Speaker of the Forum- (Appointed; Sophomores and Juniors only) This is an executive officer position that leads all aspects of the Freshman Forum program. They serve as the lead contact to the Lt. Governor for freshman legislative matters and a secondary contact for general legislative matters. They communicate with other legislative executives to run the legislative branch. They will support, serve and inform all freshman legislative members for the year and at conference. Management of presiding officers and legislative associates will be divided between this official and the other legislative executives however the group sees fit. This role also requires a strong understanding of Roberts Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure. In addition, appointees are strongly recommended to serve as a committee chair, clerk, or floor leader during the conference at which they are running for this position.
   

• Chief Justice- (Elected; Juniors only) These two officials lead the Court of Appeals program and, due to the unique expectations of understanding appellate court proceedings, must have prior experience as an Associate Justice. They must work as an aid for all participating COA attorneys throughout the year and at conference. A strong understanding of how to write a brief and lead a courtroom is required.
   

• Attorney General- (Elected; Juniors only) This official leads our Mock Trial program. This officer will be the primary point of contact to the Governor and Lt. Governor for Mock Trial work and affairs. They must work as an aid for all participating MT attorneys throughout the year and at conference. The possible role of advising the Governor on constitutionality of bills will be distributed between this official and the other judicial officials. A strong understanding of this program is required for this role.
   

• Media Editor in Chief- (Appointed; Juniors only) Media Editor in Chief, leads the media team to help produce content prior to and during the Youth & Government Conference. Students must have one year experience in media.
   

• Media Managing Editor- (Appointed; Sophomore and Juniors only) The Media Managing Editor supports the Editor in Chief in leading the full media team, specifically focusing on logistics, deadlines and timetables. Students must have one year experience in media.

Associate Officers

Legislative

• Presiding Officer- (6 Elected) This official has a strong understanding of Roberts Rules of Order and Parliamentary Procedure. Legislative delegates vote for this position. There are six elected positions available, with additional opportunities to be appointed to this role.
   
• Senior Budget Analyst- (Appointed) This role helps to support the State Treasurer and budget analyst delegates.
   
• Senior Lobbyist- (Appointed) This role helps to support the Secretary of State and lobbyist delegates.
   
• Legislative Associate- (Appointed) This role supports the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and Speaker of the Forum to ensure committee chairs and clerks are trained successfully. 
   
• Forum Presiding Officers- (Appointed) This is a position that chairs Forum Committee Chambers at Conference with the support of the Speaker of Forum

Judicial

• Court of Appeals Associate Justice- (6 Elected) This official supports the Chief Justice in leading courtrooms for the Court of Appeals Program. Court of Appeals delegates vote for this position. There are six elected positions available, with additional opportunities to be appointed to this role. In some cases, the program may appoint a Senior Associate Justice.
   
• Mock Trial District Attorney- (2 Elected) This role will support the attorney general in the mock trial program, leading a courtroom. Mock Trial delegates vote for this officer position. Must be currently accepted into the Mock Trial program.
   
• Senior District Attorney- (Appointed) This role will be responsible for assisting the Attorney General before and during the conference. This role will typically be the runner-up candidate for District Attorney or an appointed position.

Media

• Media Associate Editors- (Appointed) These roles include Broadcast Editor, Print Editor, Social Media Editor and Photography Editor. All Media Associate Editors are appointed by the State Office and current Media Officers. Students interested in a Media Officer position must currently be serving on the media team.