Over 30,000 of New Jersey's finest high school students have participated in the Jersey Boys State program since its inception in 1946. Established by the New Jersey American Legion to give young New Jerseyans a better understanding of our state and local government, Jersey Boys State has distinguished itself as one of our nation's finest youth programs. Jersey Boys State is a mythical fifty-first state organized and administered by our all-volunteer staff to educate our youths in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of American citizenship. We endeavor to provide a foundation for understanding self-government, a rationale approach toward the solution of public policy questions, and a live faith in the ideals and processes of democracy. Our program of training and instruction includes extending each Statesman's acquaintance with the background of democratic principles and ideals and expanding his knowledge of the underlying principles of government organization.

Our program employs active and collaborative learning methods to teach the basic principles of democracy and government. Statesmen "learn by doing," creating and implementing tactics and strategy as they engage in debates, negotiate agreements, build consensus and implement public policy.

While the staff and guest speakers educate and actively engage the statesmen on principles of democracy and governance, Boys' State is actually "governed" by the statesmen themselves. Upon arrival, each statesmen is designated as a member of either the Nationalist Party or the Federalist Party. Approximately 50 citizens live in each residence hall area, and form their own "city." Each city is paired with a "sister city" to form counties of approximately 100 citizens. Each city and county randomly receives a set of public policy issues drawn from actual cities and towns. As the week progresses, statesmen form platforms for their parties at the local, county, and state levels to address the difficult public policy issues they are confronted with. The statesmen are also encouraged to incorporate issues from their own home towns, backgrounds and general current events. They manage campaigns, hold organized debates, elect their leaders, then commence the process of implementing their ideas through drafting, debating, and enacting legislation. The week culminates in the election of a Jersey Boys State Governor, who then appoints his cabinet and works with the state legislature to sign bills into law, and two Boys Nation Senators, who later represent the state of New Jersey at the American Legion's week-long Boys Nation program in Washington, D.C.

To supplement the active and collaborative learning process, Boys' State offers statesmen its "Distinguished Speaker Series." A diverse array of state and local elected leaders enrich the Boys State curriculum with interactive lectures and panel discussions. Highlights typically include discussions with both the Republican and the Democratic State Party Chairs, U.S. Senators, a legislative panel of four to six State Senators and Assemblymen, and the New Jersey Governor. For instance, former Governor James McGreevey has visited ALJBS six times, and former Governor Christie Whitman visited at least once during every year of her seven years in office. The Speaker Series includes question and answer dialogues, giving the leaders of tomorrow an opportunity to explore how government functions in practice.

Our career seminars comprise the second prong of our Distinguished Speaker Series. Each day statesmen may select from a wide range of career seminars featuring practitioners with backgrounds in public administration, academia, business, law, technology, journalism, the armed services, medicine, theater and music. These interactive seminars allow statesmen to connect with practitioners and gain exposure to a broad range of potential career paths.

Our selection process focuses on students with the highest qualifications in character, leadership, and a demonstrated commitment to bettering themselves and their communities. We expect statesmen to actively make a contribution not only during the Boys State program, but in their schools and communities as well. Those who have participated in the Boys State program consistently come away with a sense of pride in our form of government and in themselves. Jersey Boys State was designed to make an investment in our greatest resource - the youth of America. One statesman at a time, we believe we are making a difference that will shape the future of individuals and communities for years to come.