New Jersey Statutes Title 18A. Education 18A § 61C-14

a. An important way to assure the survival of our republic is to imbue American youth with the ideals and objectives of our government, educate them on the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, and instill in them a sense of the sacrifices made by the nation's veterans to preserve our nation and way of life;

b. The American Legion Jersey Boys State program, founded in 1935 and active in New Jersey since 1946, and the American Legion Auxiliary Jersey Girls State program, founded in 1947, each strive to develop good citizenship by encouraging the youth of New Jersey to take a more active interest in the operation of State and national government and in the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship;

c. The Jersey Boys State program and the Jersey Girls State program provide a college-level curriculum to a select group of high school juniors, or delegates, who complete an intensive, weeklong governmental leadership program in which delegates create, elect, and administer their own government; and

d. Participation in the Jersey Boys State and Jersey Girls State programs should be encouraged so as to promote a greater understanding of the American system of government and a continued civic participation and commitment to governmental leadership and activism by young people in our State.