The formulation of policies and the administration of the affairs of The American Legion Premier Boys State are in the hands of the officers and members of the Board of Directors of the American Legion Premier Boys State of Illinois, Incorporated.  The corporation is a not-for-profit organization operating under the laws of the State of Illinois.

The Board has delegated responsibility for the details of administration to a Director, and a staff which is divided into  three groups in accordance with their functions.  These functions are administrative, counseling and instructional.

Administrative Staff

The President of the Board of Directors is the Chief Executive Officer of Boys State, and with the approval of the Board, appoints the Camp Director, Executive Officer and Dean of Counselors.  The Camp Director is the chief administrative officer during Boys State.  He is directly responsible  to the President and Board of Directors of the corporation for all phases of Boys State activities.  He verifies performance of the necessary contractual arrangement made on behalf of Premier Boys State.  He sets up the facilities prior to the citizen's arrival, and he is general overseer of the operation of the camp.  He directs the payment of expenses of operation by the Finance Officer.

The Executive Officer is in direct charge of all administrative personnel in the camp.  He is responsible for the administration of the headquarters office, for the health and welfare of the citizens, for the inspection and cleanliness of the quarters, and for the extracurricular activities of the citizens.  he handles routine cases of discipline.

Counseling Staff

The Dean of Counselors heads a staff of 8 County Counselors, 8 Assistant County Counselors and 32 City Counselors.  Each City Counselor is in direct charge of not more than 40 citizens.  Each County Counselor is in charge of a dormitory unit of four cities, comprising not more than 160 citizens.  In addition, there are Junior Counselors (former citizens of Boys State) who are serving apprenticeships, Staff Counselors (Chaplains and part-time counselors), and former officers of Boys State who assist for one year.  The Counselors have immediate supervision of the citizens, invest them with the particulars of the program, and guide the citizens in their participation therein.  There are about 70 persons on the counseling staff.

Instructional Staff

The President of Premier Boys State is, in addition to his other duties, in charge of the instructional staff.  This staff consists of the Supervisors of the four Schools and the visiting speakers.  The President is in charge of all assemblies, although he may from time to time delegate this duty to other members of the staff.

PROGRAM OF TRAINING - The instructional program of Premier Boys State has three phases:  (1) Schools or classroom instruction, (2) Functional activities, and (3) General Assemblies.  Every citizen is required to attend the schools of instruction which are scheduled in the daily program.

Hayes Kennedy, a founder of Boys State, has upon various occasions described the functional activities of Boys State in these words:  "The young citizens organize their own city, county, and state governments.  They choose their own officials in accordance with regular election procedures.  They introduce and argue their own bills in a state legislature.  Justice is administered by their own law enforcement agencies and courts.  In Boys State, each citizen learns to do by doing.  Not only does a boy review knowledge already acquired in school concerning the political and governmental machinery of a commonwealth, but he finds himself performing exactly the same functions as a citizen in the everyday world.  In effect, he is a citizen of a mythical state patterned in so far as possible after his own state government." 

Beginning Saturday night and extending through the following Friday morning, general assemblies are held daily.  The purpose of these assemblies is to hear speakers on subjects which are pertinent to the training program and to give leaders of the two political parties in Boys State an opportunity to present their platforms.