Harvard Model Congress
Encyclopedia
Harvard Model Congress (HMC) is the largest congressional simulation conference in the world, providing high school students from across the U.S. and abroad with an opportunity to experience American government firsthand. Although HMC is run entirely by Harvard
students, it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
that is operated independently of the university
.
, founded in 1986, is the oldest of the HMC conferences and is held annually at the Boston Sheraton Hotel. Each February, approximately 1,500 delegates descend on Massachusetts
to tackle the most pressing and important issues facing the nation as they assume roles in each of the three branches of the U.S. government and beyond. Exciting and diverse programs, ranging from committees in the House of Representatives
, Senate
, and Supreme Court
, to special programs such as press
, lobbyists, and the National Security Council
, help bring American government to life and have established Harvard Model Congress Boston as the nation's premier American government simulation.
Founded in 2001, Harvard Model Congress San Francisco is a new and exciting American government simulation program based on the successful Boston model and the first conference of its type on the West Coast. Over three hundred delegates from across the country travel to HMC-SF to learn about American government by experiencing it firsthand. The four-day conference, held at the Crowne Plaza
San Francisco, is more intimate than the Boston conference and thus features lower student-to-staff ratios and more individual attention from the experienced staff of Harvard students. The conference was originally located in San Diego and subsequently moved to San Francisco, where it continues today.
Harvard Model Congress Asia runs two annual conferences in Singapore and Seoul, Republic of Korea which are both held in January. The 2008 conference, supposed to held from September 4-6, was cancelled due to rebellion in Thailand. HMC Asia focuses on America's political system and governmental institutions. This conference boasts the lowest student-to-staff ratio of any of the model congress conferences.
As the substitution for the cancelled 2008 HMCA, the 2009 session of Harvard Model Congress Asia was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea from January 22-24.
In both international conferences, students discuss and debate international issues from a more global perspective, formulating policy firsthand. The structured committee settings expose them to the realities of the democratic process, challenging them to forge compromise while advancing the interests of their constituency. The conferences seek to provide an unparalleled educational experience for talented secondary school students from around the world, offering hundreds of students each year an exciting opportunity to practice public speaking and policy writing. The conferences accommodate students with varying degrees of English ability, and the global diversity of participants and staff offers delegates the unique opportunity to approach challenging issues from numerous different perspectives.
As soon as one Harvard Model Congress conference ends, planning for the subsequent such conference begins. For the Boston conference, topics for debate must be chosen by May so that briefing books can be prepared over the summer and distributed by early fall, in time to allow delegates to begin intensively researching each committee's topics for debate. Updates to briefings are written and distributed to schools by winter, and issue summaries are also provided to the delegates. HMC 2009 is slated to be HMC's first-ever paperless
conference. For the duration of the event each year, Harvard Model Congress uses essentially all of the conference space available at the Boston Sheraton
. Although most of the written work during the actual weekend of the event is done by the delegates, the staff continues to provide programmatic direction and manages all operations throughout the duration of the conference.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
students, it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that is operated independently of the university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
.
Domestic Conferences
Harvard Model Congress BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, founded in 1986, is the oldest of the HMC conferences and is held annually at the Boston Sheraton Hotel. Each February, approximately 1,500 delegates descend on Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to tackle the most pressing and important issues facing the nation as they assume roles in each of the three branches of the U.S. government and beyond. Exciting and diverse programs, ranging from committees in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, and Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, to special programs such as press
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, lobbyists, and the National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
, help bring American government to life and have established Harvard Model Congress Boston as the nation's premier American government simulation.
Founded in 2001, Harvard Model Congress San Francisco is a new and exciting American government simulation program based on the successful Boston model and the first conference of its type on the West Coast. Over three hundred delegates from across the country travel to HMC-SF to learn about American government by experiencing it firsthand. The four-day conference, held at the Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. It forms part of the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands, which include InterContinental and Holiday Inn and operates in 52 countries, usually located in...
San Francisco, is more intimate than the Boston conference and thus features lower student-to-staff ratios and more individual attention from the experienced staff of Harvard students. The conference was originally located in San Diego and subsequently moved to San Francisco, where it continues today.
International Conferences
Harvard Model Congress Europe holds an annual conference in Brussels, Belgium in mid-March. Although it maintains a strong tradition of American government simulation, HMC Europe also has a strong focus on institutions of international governance, including (among others) the World Health Organization, Group of Eight, and World Trade Organization.Harvard Model Congress Asia runs two annual conferences in Singapore and Seoul, Republic of Korea which are both held in January. The 2008 conference, supposed to held from September 4-6, was cancelled due to rebellion in Thailand. HMC Asia focuses on America's political system and governmental institutions. This conference boasts the lowest student-to-staff ratio of any of the model congress conferences.
As the substitution for the cancelled 2008 HMCA, the 2009 session of Harvard Model Congress Asia was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea from January 22-24.
In both international conferences, students discuss and debate international issues from a more global perspective, formulating policy firsthand. The structured committee settings expose them to the realities of the democratic process, challenging them to forge compromise while advancing the interests of their constituency. The conferences seek to provide an unparalleled educational experience for talented secondary school students from around the world, offering hundreds of students each year an exciting opportunity to practice public speaking and policy writing. The conferences accommodate students with varying degrees of English ability, and the global diversity of participants and staff offers delegates the unique opportunity to approach challenging issues from numerous different perspectives.
Logistics
Harvard Model Congress strives to prepare the next generation of democratic leaders and global citizens. Because of their sheer size, the Harvard Model Congress conferences require a large amount of planning by the students hosting the events. Harvard Model Congress is one of the largest Harvard student organizations, and each year around 200 Harvard students assist with planning and running the conferences.As soon as one Harvard Model Congress conference ends, planning for the subsequent such conference begins. For the Boston conference, topics for debate must be chosen by May so that briefing books can be prepared over the summer and distributed by early fall, in time to allow delegates to begin intensively researching each committee's topics for debate. Updates to briefings are written and distributed to schools by winter, and issue summaries are also provided to the delegates. HMC 2009 is slated to be HMC's first-ever paperless
Paperless office
A paperless office is a work environment in which the use of paper is eliminated or greatly reduced. This is done by converting documents and other papers into digital form. Proponents claim that "going paperless" can save money, boost productivity, save space, make documentation and information...
conference. For the duration of the event each year, Harvard Model Congress uses essentially all of the conference space available at the Boston Sheraton
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand . Starwood's headquarters are in White Plains, New York.-Sheraton history:...
. Although most of the written work during the actual weekend of the event is done by the delegates, the staff continues to provide programmatic direction and manages all operations throughout the duration of the conference.