From the desk of the Director of Special Programs:
HMC is much more than a congressional simulation conference. Our eleven special program committees underscore the full function of the American government within HMC. The special program committees include: courts, historical conventions, crisis committees, media outlets, and executive agencies and departments. Through these committees, we provide the opportunity for students to engage with the many facets of American government, which go beyond Capitol Hill. As the Director of Special Programs, I directly communicate with every staff member running these committees, and I am committed to helping them develop the best way to engage students with their materials and roles, both before and during the conference. Furthermore, I am responsible for making sure that these programs integrate with the congressional half of the conference in order to realistically simulate the function of the US government. If you have any questions, I can be reached at specialprograms@harvardmodelcongress.org. I can’t wait to meet you all in February!
In committee:
HMC’s Special Programs distinguish our conference from all other government simulation programs. By simulating the activities of the legislative branch, executive branch, judicial branch, and the media, HMC strives to create a working model of government that encompasses all aspects of American political life. To this end, the conference program emphasizes the importance of the interaction between congressional committees and Special Programs participants. Occasionally, the Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional; HMC Media reports fundraising violations by a Congressman; legislators will hear policy recommendations from the Cabinet. These scenarios capture only a few examples of how our Special Programs committees provide students with an opportunity to gain an in-depth experience in the aspects of government that transcend the legislative branch. Special Programs serves as the last component of HMC’s civics curriculum.
Committees:
Constitutional Convention:
The US Constitutional Convention of 1787 is an elite historical committee endowed with the power to rewrite history. Commencing during one of the crucial moments of the young republic’s history, the Convention is charged with the task of shaping our country’s political future. Students will assume the roles of our nation’s Founding Fathers as they debate the very framework upon which today’s political issues rest, using historical events and the writings of Enlightenment thinkers to inform their perspectives. Through the lens of this dynamic and demanding historical committee, students will draft a comprehensive document, which will ultimately define both our national government and who we are as citizens of the United States.
District Court:
Students have the chance to demonstrate their talents as lawyers, witnesses, and jurors in District Court. This HMC feature is a mock trial program with cases argued before a jury. The element of drama plays a large role in the District Court as witnesses influence the course of a trial with their testimonies. Delegations send six-person teams to District Court to act as the prosecution or defense, plaintiffs, witnesses, and jurors. Harvard students serve as judges and head jurors for the trials. Participation in District Court gives students a better understanding of how our judicial system works, both in the administration of justice and in the protection of the rights of the accused. These trials give students a valuable opportunity to develop skills in critical analysis, oral presentation, and preparation and organization of materials.
Historical Committee:
The Historical Committee broadens the perspective of traditional political discourse by making participants consider the reasoning behind decisions made by past policymakers. This program chooses issues that still ignite political passions today, but delegates debate them as they were understood in their historical contexts. Students gain a thorough understanding of the political circumstances of the time period and have an opportunity to rewrite history with the advantage of hindsight.
Group of 20:
Students in the G-20 will have a unique opportunity to bring an international perspective to HMC. Each delegate will represent one of twenty nations or four non-state actors and will be responsible for becoming an expert on the national security and economic issues facing his/her respective country. Students will collaborate at the conference to pool their perspectives and debate the major security and political issues facing the world’s leading players.
HMC Media:
In an effort to simulate the impact of the media on politicians and their constituencies, HMC Media brings the elements of print, video, and Internet technology to our conference. Students selected to participate in this small program rotate positions during the conference and must be prepared and willing to assume various journalistic roles. Delegates have the opportunity to serve as anchors, reporters, producers, directors, journalists, bloggers, and technology consultants. Working together in these diverse roles, the HMC Media crew produces regular news updates in the form of printed pamphlets and the HMC blog that are shared with everyone at the conference. Delegates and faculty alike rely on HMC Media to keep up to date on the events of the conference. Media materials will include anchored news segments, on-site reporting of legislative and judicial activity at HMC, as well as feature stories and investigative reports on the various personalities and activities at the conference.
Lobbyist:
Students in the Lobbyist Program represent six influential interest groups on Capitol Hill. Lobbyists will be assigned to one of the six groups and will be required to research their specific lobbyist group so that they will be informed advocates for its principles and policy objectives. Lobbyists will also develop specific areas of expertise—such as health policy or defense—on which they will prepare to give testimony for congressional committees. Lobbyists serve a number of different functions all in the name of pushing favorable legislation. They schedule special meetings with members of Congress, distribute flyers, and run newspaper ads to sway votes. Well-prepared, aggressive lobbyists often swing enough votes to affect committee and full session decisions. During the conference they can expect to organize rallies and protests, to attend power lunches and after-hours “schmoozing” parties, and to shape congressional opinion. Each lobbyist group will have one Strategy Director who will be charged with ensuring that the group maintains focus and delivers a consistent, compelling message to the members of Congress.
National Economic Council:
The recent economic crisis of 2008 has taught the United States all too well the consequences of poor economic planning. To combat the rapidly changing economy, the president has a council of economic experts to guide him in his economic policy making. The NEC will investigate current economic issues that are facing the country and craft proposals to deal with these concerns. The council’s decisions will impact the economic landscape of the nation and the rest of the world.
National Security Council:
In the NSC, students representing diplomatic and military advisors, intelligence agencies, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other Cabinet posts meet to assist the president in coordinating and implementing American national security policy. By simulating a realistic emergency, delegates will produce directives and press releases and supply confidential advice to the president on critical military, diplomatic, and domestic decisions. Students in the NSC learn about international affairs while they develop their skills in strategic thinking and creative problem solving under high-pressure circumstances. From the moment the selected NSC members receive their issue briefings, committee developments and proceedings remain top secret. In recent years, the NSC has dealt with issues and crises in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Presidential Cabinet: The HMC Presidential Cabinet is an advisory group to the president comprised of approximately twenty talented and experienced delegates. Cabinet members determine executive views on legislative issues, articulate these positions to congressional committees, and actively promote the president’s legislative agenda. At formal Cabinet meetings, delegates engage in round-table discussions and debates, drafting executive orders and reviewing legislation to recommend its passage or veto by the president. Participating in the Cabinet requires intensive preparation as each Cabinet member is assigned to become the expert on an agenda of three to four congressional issues, according to his or her area of expertise.
Supreme Court:
The Supreme Court is the final authority on civil and criminal disputes. From Brown v. Board of Education to Bush v. Gore, the Court continues to render decisions that shape the political and moral fabric of our society. HMC’s judiciary program simulates the processes and procedures of the nation’s highest judicial body, giving students an opportunity to see from an insider’s perspective how the Supreme Court goes about protecting and preserving the country’s Constitution. At the conference, students serve as petitioners, respondents, and justices in hearings before the Supreme Court. Working in pairs, student attorneys prepare written briefs on the most challenging and exciting issues of constitutional law. Each team of attorneys then presents its case before a panel of delegate justices, led by a Harvard staff member acting as Chief Justice. Throughout the conference, staff members will challenge students to craft intricate arguments based both on precedent and personal interpretation of the Constitution.
West Wing:
Delegates in the West Wing are divided into two groups that work independently, oftentimes against each other, to shape their respective party’s policies and priorities. One group will play the roles of the president’s most trusted advisors, while the other group represents senior strategists for the opposing party. Each group will examine issues pending in congressional committees, debate the advantages and disadvantages of various policies, and prioritize issues. West Wing delegates will also work with both chambers of Congress to write legislation, lobby for votes, and urge the members of their respective parties to hold a partisan line. Delegates will take on roles as speechwriters and policy directors as they prepare party platforms, write presidential speeches, and make policy recommendations to members of Congress and to the executive committees.