San Francisco Youth Commission
The San Francisco Youth Commission is the city's official youth advisory body, made up of 17 commissioners ages 12-23 who advise the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on budget and policy decisions affecting young people. Commissioners are selected through a written application and interview process.
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Northern California Regional High School Ethics Bowl
The Northern California Regional High School Ethics Bowl, hosted by UC Santa Cruz's Center for Public Philosophy, brings Bay Area high school teams together to collaboratively deliberate on contemporary ethical and policy dilemmas rather than debate adversarially. The regional serves as an official qualifier for the National High School Ethics Bowl.
TeenPact California
TeenPact Leadership Schools' California program brings students to the State Capitol in Sacramento for a hands-on multi-day class in the legislative process, including a mock legislature, bill-writing, parliamentary procedure, and a public speaking workshop.
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution – California
We the People is a national civics curriculum and competition in which student teams simulate congressional hearings, testifying as constitutional experts before panels of judges. California's state finals draw 200+ students to the Sacramento area each February, with the winning team advancing to national finals in Washington, D.C.
ALA California Girls State
ALA California Girls State, run by the American Legion Auxiliary, is a weeklong residential program for rising senior young women to learn the operation of government by campaigning for and holding mock city, county, and state offices. The 83rd session runs June 22-27, 2026.
American Legion California Boys & Girls State
American Legion California Boys & Girls State is a weeklong, coeducational hands-on civics program where rising seniors build and run mock city, county, and state governments, campaign for office, and pass legislation. The 87th session runs June 20-27, 2026 at California State University, Sacramento.
California Student Mock Election
The California Student Mock Election, run by the Secretary of State's office, lets middle and high school students cast ballots in a statewide mock vote timed alongside real general elections, giving students hands-on experience with the voting process before they are eligible to vote.