Girls State was organized as a national Americanism activity by the 1937 National Convention. Girls State is a practical application of Americanism and good citizenship. The entire program is a non-partisan, non-political attempt to teach and inculcate in the youth of America a love of God and country.
From the American Legion National website:
The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program has provided High School Juniors all across the country the opportunity to participate in a hands-on citizenship training program for over 60 years.
The Girls State program is a weeklong practical study of the structure and operation of state government. In a non-partisan atmosphere, participants take a "hands-on" approach to learning how state and local governments function. Citizens, as participants are known, develop an understanding of the responsibilities of citizenship by creating and living under their own mock government.
During the week, citizens are grouped into cities as they organize their own local governments, elect officers, prepare city charters and conduct city activities. Citizens also assume the role of a senator, representative, or lobbyist to research and write bills and resolutions for the Girls State Legislature. Each citizen is also a member of a fictitious political party which will develop a party platform, engineer campaigns for party candidates and ultimately elect a slate of officers to govern Girls State. Parliamentary procedure is used to conduct all meetings.
A continuation of Girls State is Girls Nation where two Senators from each state are selected to participate in a simulated National government program in Washington, D. C. The following are the areas of emphasis this year:
• PATRIOTISM as Girls State citizens gain a better understanding of our American traditions and a greater appreciation of our country and our flag as well as learn our government processes through simulated real life involvement in all levels of government.
• PARTICIPATION in the citizen's communities when she returns home and begins a life long commitment to be active in all levels of our government. To produce Girls State Citizens with this commitment of participation, units must make wise selections of delegates, provide them with informative orientations before the session begins, and then give them recognition when they return home.
Notable former Girls State participants include national figures who participated in Girls State programs in other locations, such as television personality Jane Pauley, former Texas Governor Ann Richard, former Miss U.S.A. Terri Utley, and the first female Wing Commander in the U.S. Air Force Academy, Capt. Michelle Johnson.
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