This article examines young people’s perceptions of government, as well as the connection between these perceptions and their information and civic literacies. A case study of 37 young teens uses descriptive survey data, along with participant observation and other qualitative data collection methods, and finds that participants base their perceptions of government on a variety of factors, including institutions, the presidency, policies and policy outcomes, and the media’s portrayal of government. Nearly half of the overall perceptions that each participant had of government was negative. Within these perceptions, however, participants demonstrated contradictory opinions and gaps in civic and information literacy, providing important implications for librarians and library workers and educators.