American Legion Auxiliary Jersey Girls State

Sponsorship to Girls State

     Candidates to Girls State will ONLY be accepted for enrollment when sponsored directly by a unit of the American Legion Auxiliary or approved by a unit for sponsorship by another organization. Every unit of the American Legion Auxiliary in New Jersey is urged to sponsor one or more citizens to Girls State. It is expected that most of the citizens will be sponsored by units. However, sponsorship of some citizens by civic, fraternal, and patriotic organizations is highly encouraged, provided the citizens are enrolled through a local unit. Any organization wishing to sponsor one or more citizens should contact the Girls State Chairman of the unit. Likewise, units are encouraged to contact community organizations most likely to sponsor a citizen.  Enrollment is limited to 200 students every session. Therefore, Auxiliary units and other organizations desiring to sponsor citizens should make plans early to do so, sending fees at the earliest convenient date.

 

The Structure of Girls State

At Girls State, each delegate, as they register, becomes a citizen of an assigned city. The citizens set up city governments and elect city officials. The City Councils then enact ordinances to govern the cities. The city officials enforce the ordinances. Two cities constitute a county.

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At ALA Jersey Girls State, we have six cities, all named after notable women in American history:

Anthony City

Earhart City

Parks City

Perkins City

Roosevelt City

Tubman City

 

The county governments are organized by the election of Commissioners, a Sheriff, etc. for each county. The elected officers then proceed to function in all county matters, as provided by the Constitution and the laws of the State of New Jersey. The counties together become the state.

 

At ALA Jersey Girls State, we have three counties, all named after notable women with ties to New Jersey:

Gibson County

Paul County

Whitman County

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Each citizen is assigned to one of two parties - Federals or Nationals - so they may see how political parties function. They develop their own party platforms and discuss issues of their choosing. All of the elections are carried out according to the existing laws of New Jersey. Elections are carried out digitally by a duly-elected Board of Elections, which is comprised of two citizens from each city's party, for a total of 24 Election Officials.

 

Following the State Primary Election is the General Election, when the citizens elect the Girls State Governor.  From the Assembly and Senatorial Districts they elect the members of the Girls State Assembly and Senate. An Inaugural Ceremony is held and the Girls State Governor-elect and other state officials are given their oaths of office. The two branches of the legislature organize, author, and pass bills. The Governor decides whether to sign the bills into law or veto them.