Click here to skip to main content.
scenic picture from Washington state
SUBJECTS › GOVERNANCE › Youth Participation in Local Government
Published 02/07

Youth Participation in Local Government

Contents

About Youth Participation in Local Government

It is important that today's youth be encouraged to take interest in local government decision-making activities and that opportunities be created to foster civic participation by young people.  The  Institute for Youth, Education, and Families at the National League of Cities states that  “Nothing is more important to the health of our democracy than the active engagement of young people in representative government at the local level.”

The United Nations sponsored  World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) advocates that young people in all parts of the world aspire to full participation in the life of society, including participation in decision-making processes.  Many countries have established national youth policies using WPAY as a guide.  In the United States, policies on youth tend to be promoted by national organizations, such as the National League of Cities and America’s Promise Alliance for Youth.  Recently, Bellevue, Lakewood, Redmond, Spokane County, and Lower Yakima Valley were named among the 2007 America’s 100 Best Communities for Young People.  The criteria for this award are based on the Five Promises that evolved from the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997.  Among the five promises is that of providing people an opportunity to give back to their communities through their own service. 

The focus of this page is on what  local governments are doing to engage youth in local government decision-making processes.  The principal methods explored are the representation of youth members on various advisory boards and commissions, providing for youth representatives to city councils, and through  the creation of youth commissions or boards to advise councils on matters related to youth.  Links to programs and items for further reading are also included.   Please contact the page editor, if you have additional items to recommend.

Definition of Youth

What is meant by the terms "young people" or "youth"?  The definitions of "youth" vary depending on the application.  The United Nations defines a "youth" as being between the ages of 15 and 25.   "Teenagers" are often defined as between 13 and 19 years of age; and "young adults" as 20 to 24 years of age.  Seattle defines the term "young adult" as an individual between the ages of 18 and 29 for its "Get Engaged Program" to place young adults on its boards and commissions.

Participation on Advisory Boards and Commissions

The National League of Cities notes that youths frequently are seen as problems to be fixed, but that, by involving them in local decision-making, they become assets and resources to elected officials who are seeking effective solutions to community ills. Several Washington cities provide a seat for youth members on various advisory boards, the most prevalent being park and library boards. 

Washington

  • Centralia Municipal Code Chapter 2.22.020  - Membership on Parks and Recreation  Advisory Board - a youth representative is 18 years of age or younger at the time of appointment.  Their full term will be one year and will expire December 31st of each year
  • Kirkland Municipal Code Section 3.08.110 - Youth members of boards and commissions. – Provides for a two-year term for "Youth-Specific" seats on the human services advisory committee, the library board, the park board, and the transportation commission.  Qualifications are a resident of Kirkland or Kirkland's annexation areas and has attained the grade level of Sophomore or Junior by September of the year of appointment.  The persons appointed may complete their terms even if they reach the age of 18 during their terms. All other qualifications and requirements applicable to board or commission members apply to the youth member. (amended by Ord 4089, 3-07)
  • Lacey – Includes youth members on the Historical Commission, Lacey Municipal Code Section 2.42.020(A),  Park Commission, Section 2.44.020, and Library Board, Section 2.46.020; requirements include that youth members be between the ages of 16 and 18 when appointed, be enrolled as a junior or senior in the North Thurston School District; or be enrolled in private school or home schooled in Lacey or Lacey’s Urban Growth Management Area, and be a resident of the city of Lacey or reside in Lacey’s Urban Growth Management Area.
  • Redmond Boards and Commissions - Redmond teenagers interested in helping with issues regarding parks, trails, or the arts in Redmond are encouraged to learn more about volunteer involvement as a Youth Advocate.  Three city commissions - the arts commission, the board of parks commissioners, and the trails commission - appoint a youth advocate for a one-year term.  
  • Renton  - Provides for a representative under 21 years of age at the time of appointment on the diversity commission, human services advisory committee, library board, municipal arts commission, and the parks commission.  See Boards, Commissions, and Committees
  • Seattle - The Get Engaged program is  cooperative program between the city and the YMCA. It places young people,  ages 18-29, on advisory boards and commissions to give input on policy decisions, to issue recommendations, and to create a mechanism for citizen feedback within city government.  The YMCA recruits the participants and provides training and support, while the city offers special one-year positions on the boards and commissions and partially funds the YMCA support work.

Out-of-State Examples

  • Danville, California - Youth Representation on Parks & Leisure Service and Arts Commissions  - Includes application form
  • Douglas County (Wisconsin)  4-H Youth Development  - Douglas County Community Youth Development -  Notice: The Superior City Council and the Douglas County Board is now accepting applications for students to serve as Youth Representatives. Youth must currently be in grades 9 or 10 this school year. Selected representatives will serve a two-year term of office. This initiative provides youth an opportunity to play a valuable and active leadership role, while developing their own interests in how local government works. Youth also have an opportunity to share the youth perspective on current issues as well as becoming engaged citizens in Superior. Youth involvement requires not only enthusiasm, but a commitment of time and energy to this important role. Youth will be required to attend bi-weekly City Council meetings or monthly County Board meetings. They may also be asked to become actively involved in exploring an issue and following through on whatever action is taken about the issue
  • Troy, Michigan -  Student Representatives on City Board and Commissions  Application ( 76 KB)

Youth Representatives to City Council

  • Edmonds Resolution No.  1123 ( 74 KB)-  Commending Service of Student Representative on the City Council, passed 4-06
  • Sequim Resolution No.  2006-04 ( 47 KB)- Creating Student Liaison Position to the City Council, passed 2-13-06
  • Sammamish  - Liaisons from Eastlake High School and Skyline High School
  • Sultan Municipal Code Chapter  2.21 – Student Council Representative

City and State Civic Participation Programs for Youth

Other Programs

  • California Center for Civic Participation - youth development organization that enables middle and high school students to create positive social change in their communities, cities, and state. It educates young people in both the public policy process and current issues so that they can actively make a difference in state and local government.
  • Carnegie Corporation Youth Civic Engagement 
  • CIRCLE (The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement) based at University of Maryland's School of Public Policy promotes research on the civic and political engagement of Americans between the ages of 15 and 25. 
  • Free Child Project - A program of CommonAction  - provides tools, training and expert consultation in the fields of youth development, youth empowerment, and youth involvement
  • Learn and Service America -  Since 1990, Learn and Serve America has furthered America’s tradition of civic participation and volunteerism by making grants to integrate community service with curricula through service-learning.
  • Union Gap Resolution No. 654 (14 KB) - Provides for  a “student delegate” to travel with City representatives to the National League of Cities’ annual meeting, 2-07

Further Reading