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Thanks and stay curious. This is But Why, a podcast for Curious Kids from Vermont Public.

I'm Jane Lindholm.

On this show, we take questions from curious kids just like you, and we find interesting people to answer them.

A lot of the time, those experts are adults.

But as we've learned in the 10 years we've been making, but why, you all are experts in your own rights. Our guests today

are governors. They're finding ways to learn about civics and government and make their home

states better places all while they're in the fifth grade. Now, in the United States, voters in

each state elect a governor who then serves a two or four-year term as the top government official in that state.

Governors get to approve or veto bills for new laws sent to them by that state's legislative branch, and they run the day-to-day business of the state.

And they're adults. If that sounds like something you'd like to do, maybe you'll get into

politics when you get older. In a few places, you don't have to wait. Five states participate in a

civics education program called Kid Governor. Fifth graders in those states develop political

platforms focusing on an issue they care about. Participating schools

will vote for one student that they want to put forward for statewide candidacy. Seven students

across the state are nominated as final candidates. They create campaign videos about the issue

they want to focus on and why kids should vote for them, and then

...