Teenagers Take Over the Capitol

Youth & Government delegates step into the role of lawmakers during Sacramento conference.

This past weekend, Sacramento looked a little different. Instead of elected officials filling meeting rooms and debating bills, the California State Capitol was crowded with teenagers in fancy suits and name badges, hustling across the crowded hallways carrying folders and practicing speeches.

At the Youth & Government Model Legislature & Court Conference, students from all across California gathered in Sacramento to participate in a hands-on simulation of the legislative process. But this was not a typical academic trip. Delegates took full control of the floor, writing bills, negotiating amendments, and voting on legislation. The entire city was buzzing with young lawmakers. 

Opening Joint Session (Photograph: Arely Rodriguez)

Delegates stayed at the Hyatt. For four nights, the hallways stayed loud and the elevators were packed with students rushing between meetings and impromptu hangouts. After long days of debating, students would rush back to their hotel rooms, only to stay up even later rewriting speeches, prank calling other rooms, or DoorDashing late night meals.

And the food orders were no joke. Delegates ordered food constantly, turning the lobby into a never ending cycle of delivery drivers and hungry teenagers. The restaurants across the city felt the impact too. Chipotle workers, in particular, were fighting for their lives with a rush of 2,000 hangry teenagers every lunchtime. But even outside the formal sessions, the city felt alive. Students walked around downtown Sacramento in groups, soaking in the feeling of being in California’s political center. 

Inside conference rooms and chambers, however, the tone quickly shifted. Delegates took on roles that mocked real government positions, participating in programs ranging from the California Investment Bank (CIB), to the Board of Education (BOE), the Constitutional Convention (ConCon), and more. In CIB, students would pitch business proposals— Shark Tank style— competing to convince professionals that their ideas deserved funding. In the BOE program, students presented and debated policies that focused on improving education, confronting questions about equity and student needs. Meanwhile, delegates in ConCon would debate amendments and interpret constitutional issues. 

Delegate taking the stand (Photograph: Sara Martinez)

Across all program areas, students took their work very seriously. Bills were debated, defended, and completely torn apart. Delegates quickly learned that persuading others required strategy and confidence, which they were able to grow throughout their time here. Even outside of sessions, the politics did not end. Students woke up early to watch debates between candidates running for the 79th Youth Governor, treating it with the same intensity as a real election.

Delegates crowded into rooms and listened to each candidate’s platform, and argued over who had the best vision for the program. By the end of the election, Devon Jasiukonis from the Anderson Munger delegation was announced as the winner, becoming the 79th Youth Governor.

Devon Jasiukonis wins 79th Youth Governor (Photograph: Sara Martinez)

Still, the conference wasn't only speeches and voting. Between sessions, the Hyatt became its own world and brought students together in ways just as memorable as the formal sessions. The balance of seriousness and fun is what made the Sacramento conference unforgettable: exhausting, fast paced, and chaotic, but also meaningful. The weekend showed how much energy young people bring into spaces that are usually reserved for adults. Sacramento was full of students with opinions and the willingness to be heard, proving that teenagers don't just watch politics, but can be part of it.

Gardena-Carson Delegation in front of the Capitol (Photograph: by Arely Rodriguez)