Social Democratic Youth (Portuguese: Juventude Social Democrata) is the youth organisation of the Social Democratic Party of Portugal and it is commonly known by its initials, JSD. Founded by Francisco Sá Carneiro, the JSD has become an essential basis of the PSD itself. Its activity is recognized in election campaigns, with a crucial position in terms of mobilization and as a "laboratory of ideas of the party". While defending the values affirmed by the Social Democratic Party, the JSD is a structure with its own identity, and therefore works in an autonomous manner in respect to the Party.