Virginia Youth Civics & Leadership Association

04/02/2026

04/01/2026

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04/01/2026

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04/01/2026

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04/01/2026

Authored by Averee Smith:

Throughout Virginia’s history, Congress has been a constant since 1775. The very streets that students attending the Model General Assembly conference walk are the same ones that our founding fathers walked. While there are many similarities then till now, there are also many differences. For instance, the original purpose for the first meetings was about creating the very constitution that Americans follow today. This original constitution consisted of 15 bills that would later become the basis for our laws and government in the present. Because of this original congress we now have our three governing branches: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial branch.

While the differences may seem extreme, there are numerous similarities as well. One of the parallels we have to the original congress is our voting system. In the original congress, members had to have been elected by the people, just like modern day. The parallels don’t stop there; however, just as our founding fathers did, we also make amendments to our constitution. The first congress helped create the constitution, but there were still changes being made to it constantly as times changed. As America grows and changes, so do its people’s needs, which is the goal of Congress. At MGA, students are given the opportunity to get experience in what both our founding fathers and current congressmen are able to do and change.

Fun Fact: The first person of color elected to congress was Hiram Rhodes Revels who took his seat in the US senate as a representative of Mississippi in 1870. Furthermore, the first woman elected to congress was Jeannette Rankin who took office in the U.S. House of Representatives in May of 1916.

Sources:
Virginia Plan. (2026, March 27). Britannica. Retrieved March 31, 2026, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Virginia-plan

R. Straus, J. (2013, November 11). Meeting Locations of Congress and Predecessor Legislatures. Congress.Gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12533

Women in Congress | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. (n.d.). https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Women-/WIC/Women-In-Congress/

04/01/2026

Authored by Averee Smith:

When walking through the grounds and gardens of the Capitol building in Richmond, one might find a bell tower that appears out of place. Contrary to modern standards, the Bell Tower once held a very important job. First erected in 1824 by Levi Swain, the tower served as a guardhouse and signal tower for the public guard. Later during the Civil War, it was used as a warning signal for when Federal Troops were approaching the city. Several years later it served as an office for Lt. Gov. Charles S. Robb from 1978-1982. In current times it is used to signal the beginning of Congress and to ‘call’ members of the general assembly.

The architecture of the building was somewhat abstract for its time. During the war, many buildings were simple. Levi Swain, however, strayed from the norm by adding intricate arches, known as blind arches, on each level. To top off the structure, Swain designed an intricate cupola with the specifically designed fish weathervane. Swain‘s creativity has ensured that the Bell Tower will continue to be a Paramount part of Virginia’s vast history.

Sources:
Bell Tower — DHR (n.d). https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/127-0121/

The Bell Tower: A Historical Landmark in Richmond (n.d.). Evendo. https://evendo.com/locations/virginia/central-virginia/landmark/bell-tower

04/01/2026

Authored by Averee Smith:

Campaigning has been an integral part of Virginia’s political history. From voting for the first amendments to the current redistricting dispute, voting has been there from the very start. The early campaigns held in Virginia were started in newspapers and pamphlets. Our campaigns now are vastly different, from social media to door to door speaking, campaigning has come a long way. Just as it did for the historical congress, our Model General Assembly has also evolved its campaigning. While it’s a fairly new development, thanks to Trace Richberg, candidates for youth office at MGA have been given the opportunity to network and hand out pins as a form of campaign.

After talking to many students, staff, and advisors the general consensus is that the pins are a great addition to MGA! One advisor I spoke to, Steven Huffman, said that “With the kids passing out the buttons, it just really makes it a better time. They just really get that connection…” The new addition of pins also helps candidates put their ‘face’ out there (literally!) I spoke to Henderson Fisher, a student, and he said that with people handing out pins it makes that physical and mental connection of literally wearing a persons face on a pin. While elections held countrywide involve more than just pins or stickers, what we have at MGA helps give students a feel for the real political world.

Student and staff interviews- Henderson Fisher, Steven Huffman, and Arisema Giday