Boston Conference Roles

HMC Boston Special Program Committees

HMC Media

In light of the rapidly changing realm of media and information provision today, HMC Media has been created to modernize the role of the media at the conference.  The committee will combine online partisan-leaning blog publications, video coverage of the conference, and a daily newspaper distributed to all delegates.  Delegates in HMC Media are responsible for keeping the rest of the conference informed about breaking news and crisis information as well as for covering the debate and passage of legislation.

Constitutional Convention

Undertaking the roles of the nation’s founders in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention are charged with drafting and enacting an organizing document for the fledging nation.  This historical committee encourages students to transport themselves into 1787 to consider the challenges facing the Founding Fathers and to devise creative solutions that address some of the most significant constitutional arguments that color modern debates.

National Economic Council

The past few years have taught the United States all too well the consequences of poor economic planning.  The economic landscape can change quite rapidly, and therefore the president has a council of economic experts to guide him in his decisions and look out for the economic wellbeing of the nation.  This committee will investigate several current economic issues that are facing the country and craft proposals to deal with these concerns.

Election 2012

Harvard Model Congress is thrilled to introduce its newest, most anticipated program: Election 2012.  As members, delegates will experience a full simulation of the presidential campaigning process.  Their roles as political advisors, speechwriters, liaisons, and even candidates will be pivotal in the success of each of the campaigns.

  • Presidential Candidate (D)
  • Vice Presidential Candidate (D)
  • Speechwriter (D)
  • Pollster (D)
  • Policy Advisor (D)
  • Congressional Liaison (D)
  • Special Programs Liaison (D)
  • Press Secretary (D)
  • Presidential Candidate (R)
  • Vice Presidential Candidate (R)
  • Speechwriter (R)
  • Pollster (R)
  • Policy Advisor (R)
  • Congressional Liaison (R)
  • Special Programs Liaison (R)
  • Press Secretary (R)

Presidential Cabinet

The Cabinet is an advisory group to the president comprised of approximately 20 talented and experienced delegates.  Cabinet members formulate the executive’s position on legislative issues, articulate these positions to congressional committees, lobby legislators, and actively promote the president’s legislative agenda.  At formal Cabinet meetings, delegates engage in round-table discussions and debates, crafting executive policies and reviewing legislation to recommend its passage or veto by the president.  The Cabinet program encourages delegates to testify before House and Senate committees and offers exceptional practice in public speaking and debate.

  • Ambassador to the United Nations
  • Attorney General
  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Director of the CIA
  • Director of the Office of Management and Budget
  • Drug Czar
  • EPA Administrator
  • Press Secretary
  • Secretary of Agriculture
  • Secretary of Commerce
  • Secretary of Defense
  • Secretary of Education
  • Secretary of Energy
  • Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
  • Secretary of Labor
  • Secretary of State
  • Secretary of the Interior
  • Secretary of the Treasury
  • Secretary of Transportation
  • Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  • US Trade Representative
  • White House Chief of Staff

G-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 and will be responsible for becoming an expert on the major security issues facing his/her respective country.  Students will come together at the conference to pool their perspectives and debate the major security and political issues facing the world’s biggest players.

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China
  • European Union
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Russia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Turkey
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Historical Committee

The Historical Committee provides delegates a unique opportunity to relive some of the most important moments in global political history.  Each year, the Historical Committee covers a different significant event, and delegates engage in historical simulation in order to devise interesting and creative solutions to the crises that face them.

Lobbyists

Special interests groups play a unique role in the function of American government.  As lobbyists for one of six organizations or interests represented at the conference, delegates are responsible for becoming experts on important issues under debate and lobbying members of Congress to vote their way.  Delegates are often called upon to testify for Congressional committees and thus gain public speaking experience.

  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • American Red Cross
  • Amnesty International
  • Cato Institute
  • Greenpeace
  • Heritage Foundation

National Security Council

The National Security Council (NSC) assists the president in coordinating and implementing American national security initiatives and foreign policy.  At HMC, students representing diplomatic and military advisors and governmental agency heads meet to address questions of national security, while producing directives and policy recommendations.  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, developments and proceedings remain top secret.  In recent years at HMC, the NSC has dealt with issues and crises in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

  • Secretary of State
  • Secretary of Defense
  • Attorney General
  • Secretary of the Treasury
  • Director of the CIA
  • Director of the FBI
  • Director of National Intelligence
  • Director of the National Security Agency
  • Ambassador to the United Nations
  • Ambassador to NATO
  • Army Chief of Staff
  • Chief of Naval Operations
  • Commandant of the Marine Corps
  • Air Force Chief of Staff
  • White House Chief of Staff
  • White House Press Secretary
  • Secretary of Homeland Security
  • Ambassador to Russia
  • Ambassador to China
  • Ambassador to India
  • Ambassador to the United Kingdom

West Wing

The dynamic West Wing committee enables students to simulate the activities of the partisan infrastructure that runs the White House and the opposing party’s national convention.  Students take on roles as speechwriters and policy advisors as they prepare party platforms, write Presidential speeches, and make policy recommendations to members of Congress and other Executive committees.

  • White House Chief Political Strategist
  • White House Press Secretary
  • White House Communications Director
  • White House Chief Domestic Policy Advisor
  • White House Speechwriter
  • Presidential Liaison to the House of Representatives
  • Presidential Liaison to the US Senate
  • Presidential Liasion to the US Congress
  • White House Chief Foreign Policy Advisor
  • White House Chief Public Liaison
  • White House Opposition Analyst
  • White House Liaison to the Cabinet
  • White House Director of Strategic Initiatives
  • RNC Chief Political Strategist
  • RNC Speechwriter
  • RNC Communications Director
  • RNC Director of Strategic Initiatives
  • RNC Liaison to the House of Representatives
  • RNC Liaison to the US Senate
  • RNC Liaison to the US Congress
  • RNC Opposition Analyst
  • RNC Press Secretary
  • RNC Director of Domestic Policy

District Court

This District Court program simulates the heart of the American legal system—a speedy trial before a jury of one’s peers and a staunch presumption of innocence until proven guilty.  Delegates will alternate among portraying counsel, witness, and juror on teams of six, responsible for crafting arguments and carefully weighing the facts in simulating District Court cases.  Delegates are involved in trying both criminal and civil cases.

Supreme Court

HMC’s Supreme Court program simulates the processes and procedures of the nation’s highest judicial body.  Delegates are charged with protecting and preserving the nation’s Constitution.  Working in teams of two, student attorneys prepare written briefs, argue their position, and judge cases on the most challenging and exciting issues of constitutional law.  Throughout the conference, staff members acting as chief justices will challenge students to craft intricate arguments based both on precedent and personal interpretation of the Constitution.