About Youth Civic Project

Youth Civic Project (YCP) is a youth-led civic education organization. We help young people understand how rights and government actually work: which document a rule comes from, who has to follow it, and where to read the source for yourself.

A lot of what young people hear about rights stops at a slogan. YCP pages try to go one step further. Our pages name the document, the case, the year, and the setting, and they say plainly what a rule does not cover. The goal is simple: a student should be able to open this site, find the right page, and leave knowing more than when they arrived.

What we do

A rights library. The library covers the amendments to the U.S. Constitution, with full pages on the ones students run into most often: the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Each page explains what the text says, how courts have applied it, and how school, home, work, and online settings can change the answer.

Learn modules. Eight short modules walk through the basics in order, from "What is a right?" to reading a court decision and using your civic voice. Each one ends with four check questions so you can tell whether you understood it. Members can also open full lessons, such as How a Bill Becomes Law.

Case of the Day. Every day the site posts a classroom hypothetical: a short, made-up scenario that asks how a real rule would apply. These are practice problems, labeled as practice. They are not real cases or court decisions.

A member community. Members can post on the site, join moderated chat and voice rooms, and connect to the official YCP Discord server. The same conduct rules apply everywhere.

Service and leadership. Members can log volunteer hours for education and outreach work. Officers review every log, and only approved hours count. Members can also apply for officer seats and ambassador roles.

Who YCP is for

YCP is written mainly for students ages 13 to 17, the years when dress codes, phone rules, searches, and school discipline start to matter. Young adults use the site too, and some help write material.

Readers can be anywhere in the world. Much of the library is about United States law, and those pages say so. When an idea appears in many legal systems, such as free expression, fair process, or limits on searches, the page says that too and reminds you to check the rule where you live.

How we write

Every page on the site follows a few rules.

Start with the text. We quote the clause or statute before we explain it, so you can see the words a court or school is working from.

Name the setting. A public school, a private school, a website, an employer, and a courtroom follow different rules. We say which one a page is about.

Say which law. We label U.S. law as U.S. law, and we tell you when you need to check your state or country.

Cite real sources. Pages point to an official source, such as the Constitution, a statute, or a published court opinion. We do not invent a section number or a quote.

Be honest about limits. We do not skip a real limit on a right just to sound encouraging, and we do not talk down to readers.

What YCP is not

YCP is an education project. Reading the site does not make anyone your lawyer, and officers and moderators cannot give legal advice. We do not appear in court, sell legal plans, or refer students to private lawyers.

YCP is nonpartisan. We do not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties, and a member's political views never affect their standing or rank.

YCP is its own organization. It is not a chapter of another group.

Safety comes first

We will never tell a young person to hide an emergency from a parent or guardian. If you or someone else is in danger, contact local emergency services. In the United States, you can call 911, or call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you have a legal problem, talk with a trusted adult and a lawyer licensed where you live.

Who leads YCP

YCP is led by young people. The founder and Youth President is Zayden Jackson. Officers hold specific seats, such as Education Director or Safety and Moderation Lead, and every officer is approved before they serve. You can see current officers on the Our Team page.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything?
No. Membership is free, and public pages can be read without an account.

Do I have to live in the United States?
No. Members can join from any country. U.S. law is labeled, so you will know when to check your own country's rules.

Can YCP help with my specific situation?
YCP can help you understand the general rules and where to look them up. It cannot give advice about your case. For that, talk with a trusted adult and a licensed lawyer.

How do I get started?
Open Start here for a five-step path, or join free to unlock modules, chat, and service hours.