Welcome to the Supreme Court! In other parts of the conference, delegates will be debating what is most efficient, most prudent, and most beneficial for the country and its citizens. Yet, here in the Supreme Court, you will have a simple concern: to determine what is constitutional and what is just. Because the other branches of government so efficiently and powerfully channel the will of the people, the fear that popular opinion could trample the rights of the minority is a real one.
In the United States, all that stands between a just society and one ruled by the tyranny of the majority is the Supreme Court of the United States. This is because, in our country, we have long held to a peculiar notion: there are some things that even the government cannot do and some laws that are invalid no matter how many duly elected officials consent to its passage.
From this fundamental assertion about the limitations of state authority flows all of the intricacies of constitutional jurisprudence that we will discuss. What are the boundaries of Congress’s power in enacting legislation? How “equal” must “equal protection” be — and to whom does it apply? How far can a president go in bending the constitution during wartime? How should violations of the Bill of Rights be rectified — and by whom?
These are just some of the questions that we will be dealing with in a few months, but the larger question of governance that the Supreme Court as an institution answers is this: how can a country be governed by the will of the people and yet protect the people from the excesses of popular opinion? In a world ruled by the many, who draws the line to uphold the rights of the few?
That job, at least at Harvard Model Congress, falls to you.
Because the job of the court is so important and the questions they tackle so very difficult, it is essential that you are very well prepared for your role. Of all the committees at HMC, the Supreme Court is the most intellectually demanding. The committee requires extensive preparation, logical reasoning, and oral presentation ability. Your arguments will require you to integrate centuries of judicial precedent, combine the words of long-dead justices with your own, and present it all in a way that is relevant and compelling to a judging panel of your peers.
To put it more practically, you will be required to stand in front of your friends and speak for 20 minutes while being bombarded with questions regarding the minutiae of constitutional law. Please, put in the time required for preparation.
If you have any questions while preparing for the conference, please contact one of us. To aid you in the process of getting to know us, allow us to introduce ourselves.
Farha Faisal is a senior Government concentrator from Lake City, Florida, where she enjoys playing tennis and visiting the beautiful beaches. At Harvard, she is actively involved in the Institute of Politics, teaches civics at an elementary school, and works closely with the Circle of Women, a nonprofit that seeks to provide education to girls in developing countries. With a keen interest in both foreign policy and constitutional law, Farha enjoys hearing oral arguments for cases dealing with first amendment issues and national security. As this is her fourth and last year leading SCOTUS at HMC, Farha looks forward to working with delegates in exploring challenging constitutional cases.
Alexis Ixtlahuac is a senior Social Studies concentrator born and raised in Monterey, California. In addition to Harvard Model Congress, she plays on the Harvard Club Soccer team, volunteers in Boston, and is involved with the Latter-Day Saints Student Association. In her free time, Alexis enjoys watching Chelsea win the Premiership, listening to acoustical guitar, and finding new cafes in Cambridge. This will be Alexis’s fourth conference as a Supreme Court staffer.
Hailing from the proud state of North Carolina, Medha Gargeya is a sophomore in Adams House. Medha enjoyed being a delegate at HMC Asia and HMC San Francisco, and she is excited for her 9th HMC conference! In addition to HMC, Medha enjoys teaching elementary school kids in Boston, writing for the Harvard Political Review, and singing with Lowell House Opera Company. In her spare time she likes to run, bake, and puntificate.
Warm Wishes,