"Liberty is to
faction what air is to fire."
--James Madison
In Montana YMCA Youth and Government, we have had political parties as part of our Model Legislative program since 1980, and real Republican and Democratic parties since 1983. Our participants serve not only as legislators, but as members of the Republican Party, Democratic Party and other Third Parties as interest warrants. Montana has one of the few partisan model legislatures in the USA. We are proud of our system and are continuing to try and make it better every year!
All participants who run for elective office or who serve as legislators (Senators and Representatives) must declare a party preference--just the same as elected officials do for these public offices in the real world. Party preference is to be based entirely on personal choice; all participants are free to express their own political opinions. Reporters, Lobbyists, Attorneys and other participants do not need to declare a party preference.
The Republican and Democratic parties are automatically "recognized" by the Montana YMCA Youth and Government Program, the same as they are "recognized" on the ballot by the State of Montana. If a participant wants to be a Democrat or a Republican, all they need to do is to declare their party when they register. It is strongly recommended that all participants read the platforms of both parties so that they make an informed choice. People can also register as members of a third party.
Important: Delegations cannot require their members to be part of one party or the other. They can not register their entire delegation as one party, nor can they decide that a given number of members must be of one party or another. Advisors are not to assign party affiliation to participants. Party preference is a question of individual choice. On the other hand, participants are also not required to vote the positions or ticket of the party they declare. They can cross party lines on any floor vote in the Legislature, and they have a secret ballot in the elections that, just like Montana's real elections, allows them to choose to vote whichever ticket they wish.
If a student or a group of students do not wish to identify with either major party, they are welcome to form a third party. However, to make it a bit more realistic, we require independents and third parties to submit a written party platform if they do not want to be a Republican or a Democrat. Click Here to see the special rules for Third Parties
The House and Senate determine majority and minority party status by the declared party preferences of the actual participants who register for the individual chamber. Some years, one party may control both chambers, other years may have mixed leadership with the House controlled by one party and the Senate by another. All legislators must declare a party preference, just as they do in the real world. Participants don't have to be a Republican or a Democrat, but if they declare a third party, they need to submit a platform so that others know where they stand. (Click here for Third Party rules)
Because some people who preregister don't make it to the session, actual party numbers are not known in advance. (Majority status is usually decided by a very close margin!) Once registration if finalized, the majority parties are announced at the Sunday evening caucuses. The majority party does not really have a lot of special power (other than numbers) at Youth Legislature, but the majority leaders do serve as floor leaders during sessions of the House and Senate.
Platforms aren't a strait jacket. Both Republicans and Democrats pride themselves on being a "big tent" where many viewpoints can be heard. People in a party don't all march in lock step and neither do people in the Youth Legislature! For example, some Republicans are Pro-Choice, some Democrats are Pro-Life. People choose whichever party comes the closest to their own values MORE of the time--but seldom will a person agree with their party ALL of the time!
People who don't care for either party need to know not just what they are AGAINST, but also what they are FOR. Most national third parties also publish their party platforms.
So participants, try and FIND a copy of your party platform (all Montana County Central Committee Chairs usually have them, as do the State Headquarters offices) and actually read it so that you know what your party stands for. Click here to go to our research page for info on Political Parties.
On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, time is set aside for party caucuses. A party leader and party whip are chosen by each caucus Sunday night for both the House and Senate. Party leaders preside over the caucuses, which are open to the press and public, (a difference from the real world of Montana politics, where they are closed) and decide on party strategies, bills to support, drum up support for candidates and other tasks.
Third parties may caucus on their own if they submitted a party platform. When there are guest speakers in the caucuses, or when candidates for office speak in the caucuses, third parties to the left of center may caucus with the Democrats and third parties to the right of center may caucus with the Republicans.
Participants may form their own unique party and write their own platform, or they can declare as members of a nationally known third party and condense the official platform of that party down to one page.
Why require a party platform? The main reason is that the people have a right to know where a candidate or a public office holder stands. In the real world, the platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties are widely published and it is fairly easy to learn what the two major parties stand for. Third parties are not as well known, and they need to do a bit more to get their message out. Even independent candidates essentially write a platform as they campaign and make their opinions known to the public. In the Youth Legislature, third party candidates and legislators make their positions known by having their party platform published in the billbook so everyone knows where they stand on the major issues.
Unfair? Of course this extra work isn't quite fair to third parties. But, neither is the American system. It is realistic for members of a third party to have to jump through a few more hoops in order to participate. This happens to third parties in the real world as they work to gain access to the ballot and to elective office. It's easier to form a third party at Youth and Government than in the real world, actually!
There are many third parties out there: Just ask the Greens, the Libertarians, the Reform Party, or anyone else. They all will be glad to tell you where they stand!
Click Here to learn more about third parties.
Party platforms are printed in the billbook and are due on March 1. "Early bird" platforms are submitted earlier, get a chance to be sent out statewide prior to preregistration, and their deadline is announced annually via the YEL
Platforms must meet the following criteria:
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