The dress code has been established to ensure uniformity, decorum, safety and health, and to be able to readily identify Boys State Citizens.

1. Each Citizen will be issued two (2) Boys State collared shirts, which shall be worn when the Citizens are outside the dormitory.

2. Each Citizen will be issued a name tag indicating his name, Boys State city, and Boys State political party affiliation (Nationalist or Federalist). The name tag shall be worn on the Boys State shirt at all times when outside the citizen’s city limits.

3. The Boys State shirt must be tucked inside the Citizen's trousers at all times when outside the dormitory.

4. Citizens shall wear either long pants or medium length shorts when outside the dormitory.

5. Long pants are required and must be worn at the Capitol. Citizens should bring several pairs of long trousers with them. Some of the meeting areas are kept relatively cool, and shorts may be
uncomfortable.

6. Jackets, sweaters, or other clothing are not permitted to be worn over the Boys State shirt except when necessary for comfort inside the meeting area.

7. Hats are not permitted to be worn outside the dormitory except those issued to Citizens by the Boys State Staff.

8. Ornamental jewelry such as pins, badges, chains, or other decorative items are not permitted to be worn on the Boys State shirt or cap at any time the Citizen is outside the dormitory.

9. Earrings or other visible piercings are not permitted to be worn outside the dormitory.

10. Religious and spiritual symbols may be worn on a chain if the chain and symbol is worn under the Boys State shirt and is not visible.

11. No campaign badges, stickers or other material may be worn on the Citizen's clothing or on the Citizen's name tag.

12. A Note on Dress Inside the Dormitory: While at the dormitory, Citizens must be properly attired when coming to the first floor. We have a number of visitors in the lobby area during the week.
When visiting the first floor citizens shall wear: (a) Pants or shorts, (b) a shirt (non-Boys State shirts are permitted), (c) the Boys State name tag and (d) shoes.

The word "discipline" has a number of definitions. At Florida American Legion Boys State, we prefer to accept the definition that discipline means a "trained condition of order or obedience" and "a component necessary to maintain a positive learning environment and to provide an atmosphere of safety and security."

Unfortunately on rare occasions when discipline is not maintained, we have found it necessary to resort to punishment for misconduct. We do not like the word or the measures that are taken for failure to abide by the Florida American Legion Boys State Laws and Rules of Conduct. We will, however, take disciplinary measures to preserve the program and for the benefit of others attending Florida American Legion Boys State.

Florida American Legion Boys State reserves the right to accept or reject any applicant for Boys State or to dismiss any boy for violation of the rules regardless of sponsorship, while the program is in progress.

The following laws are in effect for the duration of the Boys State program. In addition to these laws, all of the laws contained in the Florida Statutes are part of the laws of Florida American Legion Boys State.

The laws of Boys State are divided into three categories: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. The Florida Statutes define felonies as punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for more than one year and fines of more than $1,000. The lesser misdemeanor crimes are punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for one year or less and a maximum fine of $1,000. Infractions are non-criminal violations such as minor traffic violations, which carry a penalty of a maximum of $500 in fines. There is no imprisonment associated with infractions.

For the purposes of Boys State, we will use similar distinctions for the three types of violations. Those who commit any violation categorized as a felony at Boys State will be subject to expulsion from the program immediately. Those violating the provisions of the misdemeanor section may also be subject to expulsion from the program for multiple or aggravated violations.

Other permissible sanctions associated with violating Boys State Laws & Rules of Conduct include:

1. A letter outlining the details of misconduct will be sent to  (a) the Citizen's parent or guardian, (b) the Citizen's school, and (c) the Citizen's sponsoring Legion Post.
2. Removal of the Citizen's name from the Boys State roster.
3. Requiring the Citizen and his parents to reimburse travel expenses to the Citizen's sponsoring Legion Post.

Felonies and misdemeanors are considered serious misconduct and will be addressed by the Boys State staff. While felony crimes carry expulsion penalties, multiple or repeated misdemeanor violations may also carry the same sanctions.

Felony Statutes

SECTION 1: Any Citizen committing any violation of Florida law shall be expelled from the program and be subject to criminal sanctions pursuant to Florida law.

SECTION 2: Any Citizen who intentionally damages, misuses, defaces, or destroys any property belonging to Florida State University, Florida American Legion Boys State, The Capitol, any Counselor, Staff Member, another Citizen, or any other person, shall be expelled from the program and be subject to criminal sanctions pursuant to Florida law.

SECTION 3: Any Citizen who steals or otherwise deprives Florida State University, Florida American Legion Boys State, The Capitol, any Counselor, Staff Member, any Citizen, or other person, of any property, shall be expelled from the program and be subject to criminal sanctions pursuant to Florida law.

SECTION 4: Any Citizen who commits any act of violence against any other Citizen, Counselor, Staff Member, or any other person shall be expelled from the program and be subject to criminal sanctions and/or civil liability pursuant to Florida law.

SECTION 5: Any Citizen who possesses any firearm, firework products or any other weapon shall be expelled from the program and be subject to criminal sanctions pursuant to Florida law.

SECTION 6: Any Citizen who displays or possesses any obscene, vulgar, or pornographic material may be expelled from the program.

SECTION 7: Any Citizen who participates in any form of gambling using any legal tender may be expelled from the program.

SECTION 8: Any Citizen who ridicules another's race, religion, physical condition, or appearance, shall be expelled from the program.

SECTION 9: Any Citizen violating any other Florida American Legion Boys State rules or expected behavior not outlined in this section shall be subject to sanctions at the discretion of the Director.

SECTION 10: Any Citizen who intentionally activates any fire alarm in any Florida State University Building or any other structure without an actual emergency existing, shall be expelled from the program. The Citizen's parents will be billed for any false alarm penalties incurred by Florida American Legion Boys State.

SECTION 11: Any Citizen cheating on any examination, oral or written, at Florida American Legion Boys State may be expelled from the program. Citizens found cheating on any exam shall be deemed to have failed such exam.

SECTION 12: Any Citizen found guilty of forging a signature or in any way falsifying a State Candidate Petition shall be ineligible to run for or hold any state-wide office and be subject to sanctions at the discretion of the Director.

SECTION 13: Any Citizen who uses any campaign materials produced or brought from outside of Florida American Legion Boys State shall be ineligible to run for or hold the office the outside campaign material promoted and be subject to sanctions at the discretion of the Director.

SECTION 14: Any Citizen guilty of any felonies, including any of the above sections, if permitted to remain at Boys State, shall not hold any office, either elected or appointed, at Boys State. If the citizen is found guilty of a felony while holding any office, he will be removed from that office and another will be appointed or elected to the position.

Misdemeanor Statutes

SECTION 1: Any Citizen using his or any other automobile during Florida American Legion Boys State without written permission from the Director shall be in violation of this section.

SECTION 2: Any Citizen who fails to attend any general assembly or any other Florida American Legion Boys State function without written permission from his Counselor shall be in violation of this section.

SECTION 3: Any Citizen who fails to obey instructions from a Counselor shall be in violation of this section. This shall be viewed as insubordination and may be reclassified as a felony, depending on the seriousness of the violation.

SECTION 4: Any Citizen who throws any object during any assembly, function, or while at the residence hall shall be in violation of this section. If any object is thrown with force that will increase the probability of injury, or if someone is injured by the thrown object, then the violation will be upgraded to a felony classification, and the violator will be subject to expulsion from the program.

SECTION 5: Any Citizen leaving the residence hall without written permission from his Counselor will be in violation of this section and may be subject expulsion from the program.

SECTION 6: Any Citizen deviating from the prescribed walkways and routes of travel on or off campus during the program shall be in violation of this section.

SECTION 7: Any Citizen who uses or is found to be in possession of any tobacco, electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) or vape products while at Boys State will be guilty of a misdemeanor and such products will be viewed as contraband and will be confiscated.

SECTION 8: Any Citizen found guilty of a misdemeanor shall be subject to discipline as determined by his Counselor and the Director.

Infraction Statutes

Violation of the following sections shall be under the jurisdiction of the various counties at Florida American Legion Boys State. Guilt or innocence shall be determined by the county court and the appropriate punishment shall be determined by the presiding county trial judge.

SECTION 1: Any Citizen who violates any county or city ordinance shall be in violation of this section.

SECTION 2: Any Citizen who violates city or county health and sanitation codes shall be deemed to be in violation of this section.

SECTION 3: Any Citizen who is not in bed after TAPS shall be deemed to have violated the provisions of this section. Repeated violations may result in the violation being upgraded to a misdemeanor.

American Legion Boys State is designed to bring out the best in America's future leaders. Attendees are selected because they are the best representatives of both their schools and their communities.

This pledge reminds all potential delegates of the honor and value that the American Legion has for and requires of each young man.


I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

I have never attended The American Legion Boys State.

I sincerely want to attend Florida Boys State, and if accepted, will, to the best of my ability:
 

• Take a serious and conscientious interest in discharging my duties as a citizen
• Obey the rules of Boys State
• Respect the judgment of the Boys State Director, Counselors and Staff
• Participate in all activities
• Seek election or appointment to office, and if elected or appointed, serve that office
• Keep myself neat and well groomed at all times
• Avoid the use of profane language and actions
• Refrain from injurious habits such as the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs, and
• Upon my return home from Boys State, I will make a formal oral or written report to my sponsor(s) and brief next year’s Boys State nominee(s)

For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per cent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the great wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

On June 23, 1935, the first American Legion Boys State convened at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, IL. 

The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who were looking for a way to counter the socialism-inspired Young Pioneers Camps. Florida began conducting Boys State in 1940. The first Boys Nation convened in 1946. Today, about 20,000 young men participate in Boys State. From 49 of the 50 states (Hawaii does not participate in either program), two boys are selected to attend Boys Nation in Washington, D.C. These young men receive an extended learning experience which includes the federal government and trips to historic sites. About a fifth of the graduates of the service academies are Boys State graduates, and they usually rank at the top of their classes.

All cities will compete in the state- dodge ball tournament on
Wednesday morning. During the tournament, the decision of the
referee will be strictly enforced. The rules are as follows:

General Rules

I. Teams
A. Your team will be your city.
B. Each city will need to have a count of the number of
citizens available to play at each game.
C. Cities will play with as many players as the smaller city
has available to play at game time.

II. Timing and Winning
A. Games will be a maximum of 41⁄2 minutes in length.
1. There will be no time limit on the State Championship Game.
B. Games will end after all members of one city have been eliminated or 41⁄2 minutes have elapsed.
C. Games will start within 2 minutes of the prior game ending. Counselors, please enforce this.
D. If after 41⁄2 minutes, a tie game is determined, the game will continue until 1 person is eliminated.
The city that eliminates the opposing player shall be declared the winner.

III. Starting the game
A. Prior to the game, an equal amount of dodgeballs will be placed along a center line on each side
of the center cone.
B. Players must start with their front foot on the end line of the field.
C. On the start of the game, players will rush to the balls, located to the right of the center cone and
only grab balls to the right of the center cone.
1. Penalty for grabbing a ball illegally on the rush is being called OUT immediately.

IV. How to get an opponent OUT!
A. Hit the opposing player with a ball prior to that ball touching the ground.
B. If a ball hits you and deflects upwards, the person who was hit is the ONLY person able to catch
that ball to save themselves.
C. If you defend a thrown ball with a ball you are holding onto and drop the ball you are holding
onto, you will be called OUT.
D. Once a person has been called OUT, they are out for that round; there are NO substitutions or
regenerations. Citizens who are out should go to the sideline nearest the sidewalk and not the
end line.
E. A catch does NOT make the thrower out. A catch only keeps the person who caught the ball SAFE.

V. Other Important Rules
A. Center line: If you throw a ball and step across the center line, you will be called OUT.
1. Center line violations on the opening rush will be enforced.
B. Out-of-Bounds: If you go out of bounds to dodge or catch a thrown ball, you will be called
OUT.
C. Stalling will not be permitted.
1. A person cannot hold a ball for more than 10 seconds.
2. A city cannot hold all of the balls for more than 10 seconds.

VI. Sportsmanship
A. All rulings of the referees (counselors) are FINAL.
B. If you are hit, please leave the field immediately. The Honor System is expected of all citizens.
C. If you are called out by a referee, do not argue the call.
D. If you continue to play or argue with a referee after being called out, the game may be stopped
and a win given to the opposing city.
E. If you are called out and return to the game, your city will lose immediately.
F. Cities must not rush the field if time is called, as a head-count is required to determine a winner.
1. If a city rushes the field, the city will not be credited with a win. The city that does not rush the field will be credited with a win.
2. If both cities rush the field, neither city will receive a win.

VII. Cities not in a game in progress
A. Cities will form a perimeter around the field your city is scheduled to play on approximately 10-15 feet away from the out-of-bounds lines.
B. Citizens are asked to assist with retrieving balls that go beyond the field of play.
C. Cities that have been eliminated from competition will be dismissed by their city counselor to the dorm.

Music has been a longstanding tradition at Boys State. We invite you to join us as at various times within the program to honor America through the singing of these familiar hymns.

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Oh! say, can you see

By the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed

At the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, Through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, The bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there;

Oh! say, does that star-spangled Banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free, And the home of the brave?

AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain.

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years, Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears. America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.

AMERICAN CHANT

America, America

Let me tell you how I feel You have given us your spirit We love you so.

AMERICA

My country, 'tis of thee Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died! Land of the Pilgrim's pride! From ev'ry mountainside, Let freedom ring!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

God bless America, land that I love; Stand beside her, and guide her Through the night

With a light from above. From the mountains,

to the prairies To the oceans, white with foam;

God bless America, my home sweet home,

God bless America, my home sweet home

BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

Mine eyes have seen the glory Of the coming of the Lord:

He is trampling out the vintage Where the grapes of wrath are stored. He hath loosed the fateful lightning Of His terrible swift sword:

His truth goes marching on. Glory, glory, hallelujah!

Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

THE U.S. AIR FORCE

Off we go into the wild blue yonder Climbing high into the sun

Here they come, zooming in to Meet our thunder.

At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun. Down we dive spouting our flame From under

Off with one helluva roar! We live in fame

Or go down in flame

Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force.

THE MARINES HYMN

From the Halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli.

We fight our country's battles On the land as on the sea.

First, to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean.

We are proud to claim the title of United States Marines.

ANCHORS AWEIGH

Anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh.

Farewell to college joys

We sail at break of day, day, day, Day. Through our last night on shore

Drink to the foam

Until we meet once more

Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

THE CAISSON SONG

Over hill, over dale as we hit the Dusty trail,

And those caissons go rolling along. In and out, hear them shout, Countermarch and right about.

And the caissons go rolling along. Then it's Hi! Hi! Hee! in the field Artillery.

Shout out your numbers loud and Strong.

Where e'er you go you will always know

That those caissons are rolling along.

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

Let there be peace on earth And let it begin with me; Let there be peace on earth,

The peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me, Let this be the moment now. With Ev’ry step I take,

Let this be my solemn vow: To take each moment

And live each moment In peace eternally

Let there be peace on earth

BEAR SONG

The other day (echo)
I saw a bear (echo)
A great big bear (echo)
A-way out there. (echo)
The other day I saw a bear
A great big bear a-way out there.

He said to me (echo)
Why don't you run (echo)
I see you ain't (echo)
Got any gun. (echo)
He said to me why don't you run
I see you ain't got any gun.

And so I ran (echo)
Away from there (echo)
But right behind (echo)
Me was that bear. (echo)
And so I ran away from there
But right behind me was that bear.

In front of me (echo)
There was a tree. (echo)
A great big tree (echo)
Oh, glory be. (echo)
In front of me there was a tree.
A great big tree oh, glory be.