Boys Nation

The American Legion's Boys Nation program will be July 19-26, Washington, D.C. Ninety-eight incoming high school seniors who are representing their respective department Boys State program will meet at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., and spend a week immersed in the political process. During their eight days at American Legion Boys Nation, the “senators” will learn from a hands-on approach how the U.S. Senate and the federal government function.

Young men are divided into two political parties, the Federalists and the Nationalists, each of which conducts a party convention, sets a platform and nominates members for elected offices, including Boys Nation president, vice president and party leaders. Each senator will also write, introduce and debate a bill of his choosing before an appropriate Senate committee, and if successful at that level the legislation will be voted on by the whole Senate. Bills passing the Senate are later signed or vetoed by the Boys Nation president.