Since 1947.
For more than 75 years, Rhode Island students have written bills and debated them in the House and Senate chambers of the State House.
Through the years
Milestones
- 1947
The Rhode Island Model Legislature is founded, run by the Rhode Island Council for the Social Studies.
- 1977 to 1985
Governor J. Joseph Garrahy is a strong supporter of the Model Legislature and of civics education.
- 2022
The Model Legislature holds its 75th session.
- 2023
At the 76th session, the YMCA joins as a partner instead of starting a separate program. Rhode Island students go to the Conference on National Affairs, and the YMCA hosts a middle school day in Providence.
- 2024
The handoff year. Rhode Island sends a student to the national Youth Governors Conference, and the Council for the Social Studies passes its remaining Model Legislature funds to the YMCA program for student participation.
- 2025
The first full YMCA-run conference, on March 15, adds a Youth Governor and an executive branch. 105 students take part, 58 of them new. Five Rhode Island students attend CONA.
- 2026
Committee Day at Barrington High School, then State House Day with 24 bills in each chamber. In April, a middle school conference meets at the State House.
- 2027
A new Governor's Cabinet and Committee Chair applications open, ahead of State House Day on March 13.
1947 to 2024
The Rhode Island Model Legislature
For 77 years the Rhode Island Council for the Social Studies ran one of the oldest student-led model governments in the country. Students joined the Liberal or Conservative party, wrote state bills through the fall and winter, met in committees at a host high school, then took over the real House and Senate chambers for a day.
Committees covered health, education and welfare; labor; finance; the judiciary; corporations; and special legislation. Student leaders, from the Speaker and Senate President to party leaders, whips and clerks, were chosen each fall and trained through the year.
Today
YMCA Youth and Government
Beginning in 2023, the YMCA and the Model Legislature worked side by side, and in 2024-25 the program became YMCA Youth and Government of Rhode Island, coordinated by the Alliance of New York State YMCAs. It keeps the heart of the Model Legislature and adds a Youth Governor, statewide offices and national opportunities like CONA and the National Judicial Competition.
Leadership
Rhode Island Youth Governors
The Youth Governor office began in the YMCA era.
- 2025-26Gabriella Paulino Cabrera
- 2026-27Ella Procaccianti
Past officers and award winners are on the Rhode Island Honor Roll.
The people
Keepers of the tradition
Louise A. Oliveira
An advisor for more than 40 years at Bay View and then Exeter-West Greenwich, state coordinator in the late 1970s and again from 2013 to 2024, and co-author of the coordinators' handbook.
Mark K. Gardner
History teacher at Chariho High School, co-author of the coordinators' handbook and longtime coordinator, who helped bring the program to the YMCA.
Stephanie Zaidman
Advisor and coordinator, very active with the Model Legislature until her death in 1987.
Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy
Governor of Rhode Island from 1977 to 1985 and a champion of the Model Legislature.
Were you part of the Model Legislature? We would love your photos, programs and stories. Share them with us.