Play ACE Sim
American Civic Explorers
Pick a role preference. Team up. Make real choices— nonpartisan and beginner-friendly.
Pick a role preference. Team up. Make real choices— nonpartisan and beginner-friendly.
About the St. Edward’s + YMCA pilot
St. Edward’s University and YMCA Youth & Government are offering a free civic simulation game for students. ACE was developed by the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence at St. Edward’s, which received a U.S. Department of Education grant to launch American Civic Explorers and a summer civics camp on campus. Sign up to help test ACE—and have fun building Youth & Government skills.
Summer 2026 at St. Edward’s University, in partnership with the Greater Austin YMCA.
Earn badges. Unlock ranks. Build your civic portfolio.
Sign up now—get a badge instantly (and see which one you earned).Help us test ACE—free to join and play.
Share your email to get started.
Takes about a minute. No experience needed.
Team-based • 30–45 min • Role-based
About the St. Edward’s + YMCA pilot
St. Edward’s University and YMCA Youth & Government are offering a free civic simulation game for students. ACE was developed by the Kozmetsky Center of Excellence at St. Edward’s, which received a U.S. Department of Education grant to launch American Civic Explorers and a summer civics camp on campus. Sign up to help test ACE—and have fun building Youth & Government skills.
Summer 2026 at St. Edward’s University, in partnership with the Greater Austin YMCA.
Choose a role and lead a civic challenge.
Each role brings unique responsibilities and tools. Your team’s strategy shapes the outcome.
Executive Branch
Set the agenda and balance tough national tradeoffs.
- Set the agenda
- Respond to crises
- Negotiate big deals
Congress
Build coalitions and pass the laws that shape the country.
- Draft bills
- Count votes
- Hold hearings
Media
Ask sharp questions and shape the public story.
- Investigate claims
- Publish headlines
- Track public trust
Advocates & Interest Groups
Advance priorities and influence the policy debate.
- Organize allies
- Pitch solutions
- Shift public opinion
What you’ll learn while you play.
ACE Sim blends civic knowledge, hands-on skills, and leadership habits you can use anywhere.
Civic knowledge
Understand how power moves in a constitutional system.
- Branches, checks, and balances in action.
- Civil liberties and real-world tradeoffs.
- How war powers and crises test leadership.
Civic skills
Practice the skills leaders use every day.
- Negotiation and coalition-building.
- Using data to make policy choices.
- Communicating across disagreements.
Civic dispositions
Build the habits of responsible citizens.
- Confidence to speak up and lead.
- Respect for multiple viewpoints.
- Responsibility for community outcomes.
Civic Initiative
Coalition Builder
Community Advocate
Constitutional RangerEarn your first badge instantly when you sign up.
Track progress and build a civic portfolio that shows your growth over time.
Each session celebrates teamwork, strategy, and civic leadership. A scouting-inspired badge-and-rank system guides you through civic mastery—and builds your portfolio.
Civic Initiative
Launch your first policy proposal and explain the tradeoffs.
Coalition Builder
Work across roles to secure a workable compromise.
Community Advocate
Use evidence and feedback to improve a policy outcome.
- 1ExplorerEarn your first badge by completing a civic challenge with your team.
- 2StrategistPractice democratic skills: negotiate, compromise, and deliver a workable plan.
- 3Civic CaptainLead with civic responsibility—then reflect on outcomes and what you’d improve.
YMCA values guide every mission.
ACE is built for schools and community organizations, in partnership with the YMCA. We practice values that help students lead with care and character.
We look out for each other and our community.
We speak truthfully and act with integrity.
We listen, disagree respectfully, and build trust.
We take ownership of decisions and their outcomes.
Why it matters
Democracy has to be learned each generation. ACE Sim helps students build real-world confidence, leadership, and community trust.
Nonpartisan promise
ACE Sim is nonpartisan by design. You'll practice hearing and respecting different viewpoints.
Questions students ask first.
Do I need experience in government or debate?+
No experience needed. ACE is built for beginners and gives you clear prompts and support.
Is ACE political or partisan?+
ACE Sim is nonpartisan by design. You’ll practice hearing and respecting different viewpoints.
Who can join?+
Middle and high school students—especially students in YMCA Youth & Government, summer camps, and school or community groups.
Join American Civic Explorers and play ACE Sim.
Your choices shape the story. It’s fast, team-based, and designed for young leaders.
Finish strong
You’ll earn badges, unlock ranks, and build a portfolio that shows your civic skills.
Tap the button to start or continue your signup.
Sharing Power: How Federalism Works in Your Town
The United States uses a system called federalism to divide government power. Instead of one central group making every decision, power is shared between the national government, state governments, and local governments. While the national government handles big issues like national defense, your local government takes care of "public goods" closer to home. These include libraries, parks, fire stations, and trash collection. Local leaders, like mayors or city councils, make decisions about how to spend the community's money to maintain these services. Because they are close to the people they serve, local governments can often respond quickly to community needs.
- Federalism divides power to ensure decisions are made at the most effective level of government.
- Local governments are primarily responsible for maintaining public goods like infrastructure and safety services.
In ACE simulations, knowing which level of government controls a resource is key. You will use the map_stakeholders move to identify who cares about local projects and the allocate_budget move to fund them.
If your town had a budget surplus, would you prioritize fixing old roads or building a new park, and which groups in your community would support your choice?