The YMCA Tennessee State Youth Legislature gives students the opportunity to participate in a Model Government at the state level. The 4-day conference is attended by almost 1,000 students from across the state. Students serving as legislators research and write bills to sponsor in committee meetings and debate on the floor of the Model House and Senate. Those serving in the Model Executive Branch research and write proposals for government action. Students who act as lawyers research case authority, write a legal brief and prepare oral arguments to present before the Model Supreme Court.

The annual Tennessee State Youth Legislature reflects the ideal of the YMCA Youth in Government Program: "Democracy must be learned by each generation."

Nineteen members of the Springfield High School Government Club participated in the 2008 YMCA Tennessee State Youth Legislature and came home with awards and honors.

Six Springfield High students were named to serve as conference officers in the legislative and judicial branches. In the Model House of Representatives, Sarah Hart presided as Speaker Pro-Temp and Carly Pascoe acted as the House Sergeant-at-arms, while Suzanne Carr served as Assistant Clerk in the Model Senate chambers. Taylor Odle judged oral arguments and legal briefs in the Model Supreme Court as a Justice, while Rachel Hoge acted as Chief Clerk and Master, joined by Jamee Marshall as Assistant Clerk. In addition to serving as government leaders, these students assisted State officials in planning and organizing the 2008 conference.

In the Press Corps, one SHS student was chosen to provide leadership in the Video Press Component. Returning to the 2008 conference as a Press Corps member, Spencer Bradshaw once again made his mark on the daily television coverage of the event, anchoring the Youth Legislature newscast for the second consecutive year.

Springfield High students serving as legislators in the Model Senate earned several honors for their legislative proposals. From over 200 bills submitted by student legislators, only 30 were chosen for debate by the full assembly, and Springfield High students authored three of the proposals that made the debate docket. The teams of James Kellar & Jonathan Wesson, Suzanne Carr & Kenna Gupton, and Jarrett Rausch & Nick Roberson each wrote bills that placed on the docket. The bill written by Kellar & Wesson, which called for presumed consent for organ donation, placed 2nd on the Senate docket and was passed by both the Model House and Senate. Kellar & Wesson also prevailed in oral arguments before the Model Supreme Court to counter a challenge brought by the Attorney General concerning the constitutionality of their bill.

Springfield High students also competed in the Youth Legislature Quiz Bowl, where they showed their knowledge of government and political issues. For the first time, the SHS Team placed in this academic competition, finishing second in the state. Competing on the 2008 SHS Quiz Bowl Team were Suzanne Carr, Sarah Hart, James Kellar, and Taylor Odle.

At the closing ceremony of the four-day event, one Springfield High students was selected for the highest individual honor presented to students serving in the legislative branch. Kelsey Jones brought home the award for Outstanding Statesperson, the first in Springfield High’s history. Jones earned this award for her knowledge of government issues, debate skills, and leadership as a floor speaker in the Model House of Representatives.

Four Springfield High students were elected at this year’s conference to serve as officers of the 2009 YMCA Tennessee State Youth Legislature. In the legislative branch, Suzanne Carr was elected Assistant Clerk of the Model Senate. In the judicial branch, Taylor Odle will return to the bench as a Justice of the Model Supreme Court, Jamee Marshall will serve as the Court’s Chief Clerk and Master, and Kenna Gupton will act as Assistant Clerk.
The Tennessee State Youth Legislature is part of the YMCA’s Youth in Government Program.