Yale Model Congress
Encyclopedia
Yale Model Congress is the second oldest entirely-student run Model Congress
conference for high school students (second to Princeton Model Congress). Every year, it brings hundreds of delegates to Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut to simulate the United States Congress
.
, Yale Model Congress is an annual, four day-long event, now held in early December. During the conference, high school delegates participate in one of approximately twenty committees, chaired by Yale undergraduates. The delegates prepare bills
prior to the conference, and each student is given the chance to debate his or her bill using a parliamentary system modeled off Robert’s Rules of Order. Each committee has between ten and twenty delegates, making YMC the most personal of the college Model Congress conferences.
Bills that pass through committee are eligible to be debated in one of four full sessions, which meet throughout the conference. Each full session is composed of five to six committees, and any delegate may move to consider any bill that passed through one of those committees. Debate in full sessions is somewhat more formal; rather than speaking around a seminar table in committee, delegates approach a podium to speak in full session. Awards are given to exceptional delegates, both at the committee and at the full session levels.
In addition to regular committees, Yale Model Congress also offers special programs, differently run committees for advanced delegates. In the past, special programs have included simulations of the Supreme Court
, where students debate the constitutionality of passed legislation, and the Presidential Cabinet, where delegates respond to crises and advise the president on which bills to sign or veto.
Sessions are held in Yale classrooms, as well as in the Omni New Haven Hotel. Except for a few local schools, delegations spend the weekend staying at the Omni.
Outside of committee, YMC offers students opportunities to visit Yale and New Haven, as well as hosting Yale Day, where students hear from Yale professors such as Paul Kennedy
and Akhil Amar. On Saturday evening, YMC also hosts a delegate dance for participating students.
(responsible for compiling the delegates’ bills), the Secretary of Defense (responsible for the special programs), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (responsible for managing conference operations, security, and hotel contracts), and the Secretary of Education (responsible for outreach to New Haven public schools). Committee chairs are selected every fall, from a pool of interested Yale students. Yale Model Congress is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Model Congress hosted the first Intercollegiate Model Congress competition in the United States from November 6 -7, 2010. Members of the Yale Model Congress delegation won three of the five committees at the conference, thereby securing the first national championship in Intercollegiate Model Congress for Yale
. This does not account for individual awards.
Model Congress
Model Congress gives students a chance to engage in a role-playing simulation of the United States Congress. Such events are hosted by the Congress itself, Rutgers University, American International College, Columbia University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, The...
conference for high school students (second to Princeton Model Congress). Every year, it brings hundreds of delegates to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, Connecticut to simulate the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Conference Information
Founded in 1993 by members of the Yale Political UnionYale Political Union
The Yale Political Union , a debate society now the largest student organization at Yale University, was founded in 1934 by Professor Alfred Whitney Griswold , to enliven the university's political culture of the time. It was modelled on the Cambridge Union Society and Oxford Union...
, Yale Model Congress is an annual, four day-long event, now held in early December. During the conference, high school delegates participate in one of approximately twenty committees, chaired by Yale undergraduates. The delegates prepare bills
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
prior to the conference, and each student is given the chance to debate his or her bill using a parliamentary system modeled off Robert’s Rules of Order. Each committee has between ten and twenty delegates, making YMC the most personal of the college Model Congress conferences.
Bills that pass through committee are eligible to be debated in one of four full sessions, which meet throughout the conference. Each full session is composed of five to six committees, and any delegate may move to consider any bill that passed through one of those committees. Debate in full sessions is somewhat more formal; rather than speaking around a seminar table in committee, delegates approach a podium to speak in full session. Awards are given to exceptional delegates, both at the committee and at the full session levels.
In addition to regular committees, Yale Model Congress also offers special programs, differently run committees for advanced delegates. In the past, special programs have included simulations of the 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...
, where students debate the constitutionality of passed legislation, and the Presidential Cabinet, where delegates respond to crises and advise the president on which bills to sign or veto.
Sessions are held in Yale classrooms, as well as in the Omni New Haven Hotel. Except for a few local schools, delegations spend the weekend staying at the Omni.
Outside of committee, YMC offers students opportunities to visit Yale and New Haven, as well as hosting Yale Day, where students hear from Yale professors such as Paul Kennedy
Paul Kennedy
Paul Michael Kennedy CBE, FBA , is a British historian at Yale University specialising in the history of international relations, economic power and grand strategy. He has published prominent books on the history of British foreign policy and Great Power struggles...
and Akhil Amar. On Saturday evening, YMC also hosts a delegate dance for participating students.
Governance
Yale Model Congress is led by a President, a Yale undergraduate who is elected every spring. The President then appoints his Cabinet, which includes positions such as the Attorney GeneralAttorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
(responsible for compiling the delegates’ bills), the Secretary of Defense (responsible for the special programs), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (responsible for managing conference operations, security, and hotel contracts), and the Secretary of Education (responsible for outreach to New Haven public schools). Committee chairs are selected every fall, from a pool of interested Yale students. Yale Model Congress is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Intercollegiate Competition
PennUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
Model Congress hosted the first Intercollegiate Model Congress competition in the United States from November 6 -7, 2010. Members of the Yale Model Congress delegation won three of the five committees at the conference, thereby securing the first national championship in Intercollegiate Model Congress for Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. This does not account for individual awards.
Related
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- Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
- Model CongressModel CongressModel Congress gives students a chance to engage in a role-playing simulation of the United States Congress. Such events are hosted by the Congress itself, Rutgers University, American International College, Columbia University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, The...
- List of Yale University student organizations
- Yale Political UnionYale Political UnionThe Yale Political Union , a debate society now the largest student organization at Yale University, was founded in 1934 by Professor Alfred Whitney Griswold , to enliven the university's political culture of the time. It was modelled on the Cambridge Union Society and Oxford Union...
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