The main purpose of Hoosier Boys State is to teach through application and simulation. As you read this you can use the schedule as a reference, click here for the schedule.
Basic breakdown…
- Between 550 and 650 delegates make up Hoosier Boys State.
- Hoosier Boys State is made up 8 counties with 2 cities assigned to each county (16 total).
- Each city will have approximately 35 to 45 delegates.
- Each city is broken up into 5 Precincts for each party.
- Staffing includes: 1 Assitant Dean per county, 2 counselors per city.
- The average day starts at 6:30 am and finishes at about 10:00 pm.
- delegates = All HBS participants, Delegates = Convention Participants
Getting started…
As 550 to 650 delegates arrive and register they will broken into two fictional parties, Nationalists and Federalists. These parties have no official stances or platform…initially. From there, they will be assigned to a city and a county. After registration finishes and delegates are accounted for…we go straight to work!
Day 1…After registration
Immediately after registration concludes all cities/counties have their own meeting called a “County School.” County Schools main purpose is to guide the delegates on how to the process works. This first session will break the ice, make introductions, discuss a bit of the background of Hoosier Boys State, go through the rules and finally…each precinct for each party will vote on who is going to be the Precinct Committeeman. By the end of this very first meeting there will be 5 Precinct Committeeman for the Nationalist and Federalist in each city, as well as, Delegates for the Convention.
At the end of the day there is another County School meeting conducted where the five Precinct Committeemen will decide who is going to be City and County Chairman for each party. There will be two per city, one Nationalist and one Federalist. Once that is decided, an individual will be chosen for County Chair position. In addition, discussions about appointment procedures for the following day will be discussed. This should conclude the night.
Day 2 … Parties Functioning
County Schools taking place Monday morning consist of discussing primary positions for city and county posts. Delegates will choose at least one office they want to run for and will have to learn that position. All city and county positions will be filed to the appointed Clerk. In addition, the Election Board members will be chosen in preparation for the Primary Elections. All delegates seeking to run for state offices will file with their County Chairman.
In the afternoon, all final delegates will be chosen to participate in the upcoming convention. These Delegates will participate in determining some key functions and roles of the upcoming convention through committees. There will also be other appointments for the convention including: Parliamentarian, Tabulation Clerk, Sergeant-At-Arms, and Keynote Speaker.
Each committee plays an important role in determining the path of their party. It follows as:
Platform Committee – To write the planks, endorsed policy, of the party. Planks are presented at the Convention and then voted for adoption.
Rules Committee – To write the rules and procedures for the party during the Convention. Rules and procedures are presented at the convention and then voted for adoption. Note: must not conflict with HBS Convention Rules.
Credentials Committee – To establish official credentials for all delegates and report the means established to the Convention and Convention Chairman.
In the evening, all candidates running for Lt. Governor and Governor positions will be introduced to their parties. Governor candidates will be allowed to give a brief speech about who they are and why they are the best candidate.
Anyone that is not a Delegate will be part of a Lobby Group for their county. There will be four real-world issues to which each county will be assigned one side of. On Tuesday, they will have to represent their case against another county with the opposing position.
Monday night, all Delegates from both parties will convene in separate rooms for the Convention. It is during the Convention that state positions will be decided. Individuals will be nominated and voted upon within their party. Here, a lot of negotiating and compromising will happen as political positioning takes place.
Example 1: County A wants their candidate to run for the Secretary of State while County B wants Lieutenant Governor. County A’s Chairman might offer their block of 30 delegates to County B’s candidate in exchange for County B’s block of delegates for theirs.
Example 2: County A has the least number of votes for their candidate split between three other counties. County B can win with those votes and so they talk with County A about dropping their candidate and obtaining their votes in exchange for a couple key positions later or a “guarantee” position for one of their other candidates.
** Note ** This is not always the case though. Just like in the real political world sometimes there is a twist and consequences for them.
Day 3 … Primary Election Day
In the morning there will be a couple of things going on:
All Delegates return and continue with the Convention for any positions still not decided upon. By the end of the morning, both parties will have their state positions decided for the General Election.
Lobby Groups will meet to present their cases in a debate format.
Election Boards will meet to prepare for the Primary Elections for city and county positions later in the day.
In the afternoon, Primary Elections will take place. This will be conducted just like in the real world where delegates check in with identification, their badges issued when they registered, and tabulated votes signed off by the appointed Judge.
By evening, there will be a rally introducing both parties state candidates. Governor and Lt. Governor candidates will give speeches for their party followed by 5 minutes of “rallying the troops” with music and whatever creative, and reasonable, methods candidates can think of to make a great impression.
Campaigning for all positions goes on into the night.
Day 4 … General Election
Before the General Elections for all positions commence, a debate will take place between both Governor and Lt. Governor candidates. This will be conducted just like the real world debates with important issues, a moderator, and time limits.
Once the debates finish it’s time for the General Election. Many candidates have been working long and hard to earn the votes of their peers and now it is time to see how it pays off. By the evening, results will be announced at an assembly with a congratulations to all elected delegates. The assembly will conclude with the newly elected Governor being Inaugurated by a real judge.
Day 5 and 6 … City, County and State Functions
With all positions filled in it is time to turn the program into a politically functioning system. Cities and counties will decorate their dormitories into actual cities with “functioning” businesses, offices, and whatever other creative ideas come to mind (within reason).
Elected officials will have to perform their duties from the city up to the state level.
Some examples:
- Senators need to meet, propose Bills, and vote on them.
- The Governor needs to appoint positions.
- City Council Members will propose ordinances for the Mayor.
By the end of Day 6, elected officials will be tested on their knowledge of the position and what they have done for their city/county.