Washington, DC – Attorney General Karl A. Racine today swore in approximately 200 high-school students participating in the YMCA DC Youth and Government Legislative Weekend Conference. The students are taking part in a mock-government exercise in which they replicate the legislative and executive functions of the District government as well as the work of a city-government press corps and the District’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

“It was an honor for me to swear into office these young people and encourage them to pursue not only careers in public service, but a lifetime of serving their communities through active civic engagement,” Attorney General Racine said.“I commend the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington for investing their time and resources in educating young people about the importance of the District government in their lives and the highest duty of any elected official: upholding the public interest.”

The event, much of which is taking place in the District government’s One Judiciary Square building that houses most of the Office of the Attorney General staff, includes a Youth Mayor and Cabinet, a City Council, six Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, a Board of Education, legislative pages, and a press corps. It is scheduled to go through the day Saturday.