Junior Statesmen of America
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| Abbreviation | JSA |
|---|---|
| Motto | Be the People |
| Formation | 1934 |
| Type | High school club |
| Legal status | Non-profit |
| Purpose | Non-partisan civics education program |
| Headquarters | Burlingame, California |
| Location |
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Region served
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United States |
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Parent organization
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The Junior Statesmen Foundation |
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Staff
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15 |
| Website | http://www.jsa.org |
The Junior State of America (formerly, the Junior Statesmen of America, or JSA) is an American non-partisan youth organization. The purpose of the JSA is to help high school students acquire leadership skills and the knowledge necessary to be effective debaters and civic participants. The JSA is sponsored by the Junior Statesmen Foundation Inc. (JSF, a 501c(3) non-profit corporation), which also operates the JSA Summer Schools.
Students organize every aspect of the organization, from the local chapter level to the regional level. The members elect local, regional, and state leaders to organize JSA conventions, conferences, and political awareness events.
JSA is both a local and a national organization. The JSA is organized by regions, somewhat congruous with the real geographic United States regions. At the high school chapter level, chapter presidents organize local activities and meetings. On the regional level, "mayors" and "vice mayors" organize regional one-day conferences. On the state level, "governors" and "lieutenant governors" organize overnight conventions and other activities. On the national level, governors are in communication with each other planning convention themes and steering the direction of the organization. This national power has no judicial or legislative checks and balances.
The JSA program includes debates, “thought talks”, problem solving, and a variety of simulations designed to provide members with an informed viewpoint and the ability to analyse important issues. Simulations include, for example, Model United Nations, Model Congress (with a Senate and House of Representatives), crisis simulations, and other activities. JSA provides an opportunity to meet other students from outside their home communities who share similar interests; furthermore, debate conventions usually include various evening activities like dining downtown or impromptu debate.
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