February 14-18, 2008
Sacramento, California

California State Capitol Sacramento, California

The Model Legislature and Court (ML/C) convenes each February in Sacramento. Elected officers and appointed officials train on the Wednesday before Presidents' Day Weekend, and the rest of the participants arrive on Thursday. Delegates, advisors, and staff are housed directly across the street from the Capitol Building at the Sacramento Hyatt Regency Hotel and the newly opened Sheraton Hotel.

Meetings are held at the Sacramento Hyatt Regency Hotel and Sacramento Convention Center in several meeting rooms and large ballrooms, but the State Capitol Building is the main site for ML/C activities. The use of its historic chambers is one of the highlights of the Youth and Government experience. The California YMCA Youth & Government program is the sole youth program with annual use of these prestigious chambers.

Social time in Sacramento

Perhaps one of the most important events at the ML/C is the election of the following year's Youth Governor. Each of the three remaining candidates (primary elections are held at T&E II to narrow the historically crowded field) is given the opportunity to address the delegates with a 5 minute speech at the opening session of the ML/C. Then, in the middle of the week, the Broadcast Media program hosts a televised debate. Polls for a secret ballot remain open throughout the week and the next Youth Governor is announced at the closing Governor's banquet.

Each year delegates who attend the Sacramento conference are in audience to various California political leaders. Each governor since Earl Warren (1949) has participated in Youth and Government, often with a speech followed by a question & answer session.

Previous ML/Cs have seen speakers including:

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