Harvard Model Congress 2008 Registration Workbook

Transcription

1 Harvard Model Congress 2008 Registration Workbook Wikimedia.org

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome Letter..1 Program Overview...2 The Conference...3 Congress..4 Special Programs..4 Preparation...5 HMC Experience Who Attends?...6 Role of Faculty Advisors.7 Delegate Responsibilities...10 Registration Process HMC Worksheets 15 Hotel Forms. 20 Codes of Conduct Dear Faculty Advisor, Welcome to Harvard Model Congress 2008! We are so excited for another successful conference. The Executive Board and Senior Staff for HMC 2008 have been working since the spring and throughout the summer to prepare for HMC Boston Although I have been in touch with some of you throughout the spring and summer, I d like to briefly introduce myself as well as update you on some of the changes we are planning for conference registration in My name is Meaghan Graul and I am the Faculty Liaison for HMC I am a junior at Harvard and have participated in HMC since my freshman year. I ve attended conferences in Boston, San Francisco and Athens, Greece. This year, I m hoping that together we can complete the registration process and as the conference nears, work together to ensure all students are well prepared for the conference. The first section of this guide functions as an introduction to our program for newcomers to HMC and as an update for those who are familiar with our conference. More detailed explanations of the conference itself and the many programs offered can be found on our website. The second section of this guide walks through the HMC registration process. Divided into a step-by-step process, I m hoping that this format will be clear and allow for a smooth registration week in October. Actual registration will take place almost entirely online this year, but we have included instructions and worksheets for your use. The third section of this guide has instructions from the Sheraton Boston Hotel. This section is extremely important as there are several forms that schools are required to send directly to the hotel. Please note the difference between a worksheet, that is for your personal use, and a form which must be mailed to the hotel. The fourth and final section of this workbook is a form for those interested in the HMC scholarship program. Faculty are asked to make copies of this form and make it available to students. It must be returned to HMC by mail. Please read this guide prior to October 9, 2007 when Registration opens on our website. Thank you so much for your continued cooperation and I look forward to working with all of you in the coming months. Best, Meaghan Graul 1

3 PROGRAM OVERVIEW Over the past 23 years, this carefully designed government simulation has grown into a program that not only teaches students about the procedures and policies of American government, but also inspires them to directly participate in it. Harvard Model Congress is a Harvard student-run government simulation specially designed to give high school students an opportunity to learn about American government by directly role playing an actual member of American government either in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives or one of our many Special Programs. Since 1985 Harvard Model Congress has been devoted to educating high school students through experimental education. Over the past 23 years, this carefully designed government simulation has grown into a program that not only teaches students about the procedures and policies of American government, but also inspires them to directly participate in it. We believe that the best way to excite students about civic participation is to immerse them in a realistic and comprehensive weekend-long simulation. THE CONFERENCE This year s conference will be held from Thursday, February 21, 2008 to Sunday, February 24, Although the specifics of the conference schedule change slightly every year, each conference includes daily committee sessions during which congressional delegates work to draft legislation and special program delegates prepare their own contributions to the conference. Variations of this committee time for congressional programs include full sessions in which legislation passed in committee is brought before the full House and Senate and party caucuses in which parties join to discuss their party s position on legislation going to full session. Friday morning is Harvard Day when delegations are invited to visit Harvard s campus and faculty are invited to a luncheon on campus. An HMC favorite, every conference concludes with a Congressional Ball for delegates on Saturday night. In order to thoroughly simulate the full workings of the U.S. Government in just four days, HMC keeps a rigid committee schedule. Although the hours spent in committee are well planned, HMC is always full of surprises. No two conferences are ever the same and we embrace the unpredictability of our simulation to stay true to the real Washington D.C. Whether it is a late night national security crisis, an unexpected filibuster on the Senate floor, the impeachment of the Vice-President or a member of the press spying on classified committee sessions, HMC is a dynamic operation. 2

4 CONGRESS As our name indicates, HMC runs simulations of congressional committees from both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Students are assigned the role of a specific Senator or Congressman and are expected to debate and vote in committee as this specific representative would in the actual committee. Committees draft and eventually vote on legislation. These smaller committees also convene into Full Session with other committees from the House and Senate to vote on legislation that has passed through committee. Delegates will receive briefings in November to help familiarize themselves with the topics they will be discussing. This unique experience not only simulates the work of American legislators, but also the frustrations and rewards of lawmaking. Delegates feel the frustrations that result from trying to hold to their party and personal values while compromising enough to pass legislation. Those legislators in the majority party learn to take advantage of their numbers while those in the minority party feel the annoyance of having little political pull. Nevertheless, most delegates emerge from committee sessions understanding that debate and compromise are often the most efficient and satisfying methods of legislating. SPECIAL PROGRAMS HMC enhances the congressional experience with Special Programs to simulate the Executive and Judicial branches of government as well as the media and special interest groups. Special program committees simulate the participants in government, other than legislators, who directly or indirectly affect lawmaking. Ranging from the Presidential Cabinet and National Security Council to the Press Corps, Special Programs are unique to Harvard Model Congress and make our congressional simulation into a true government simulation. Members of special program committees interact with congressional committees in several ways. Members of the Presidential Cabinet often testify in Senate and House committees to convey the President s opinions on issues and legislation. Members of the press cover the decisions being made in congressional committees while members of the Lobbyist committee try to influence these decisions. Meanwhile, historical committees could be changing the course of history. Special Programs is always full of surprises. To stay true to our commitment to an accurate simulation, Special Programs staffers are currently constructing a creative way to incorporate the 2008 Presidential Election into this year s conference. For a more complete description of all Special Programs please visit our website: This unique experience not only simulates the workings of American lawmaking, but also the frustrations and rewards that come with the territory. Delegates feel the frustrations that result from trying to hold to their party and personal values while compromising enough to pass legislation. 3

5 While faculty advisors are registering their schools and student delegates are preparing for conference debate, HMC staffers have been preparing for the conference for almost a year. STUDENT AND FACULTY PREPARATION This extensive simulation requires much preparation. HMC Executive Board members and staff work all year preparing for the conference in February; however, success at the conference depends on students and faculty as well. The pre-conference duties of students and faculty are very important. All school delegations are required to have a faculty adviser. This faculty adviser is responsible for organizing the delegates, registering with HMC and the Sheraton and collecting fees. We require that all faculty advisers have access to the internet and as registration occurs online and is the best way to communicate with HMC staff. This year we are also hoping to better help faculty bring HMC lessons into the classroom. A Faculty Guide will be sent to faculty advisors in November. Students preconference responsibilities are reading all briefings assigned and submitting pre-conference written materials, which vary by program. The most successful committees are those in which delegates have properly prepared. Please refer to pages 6-10 for full descriptions of faculty and student responsibilities. STAFF PREPARATION While faculty advisors are registering their schools and student delegates are preparing for conference debate, HMC staffers have been preparing for the conference for almost a year. Although our conference only lasts four days, from Thursday, February 21 to Sunday, February 24, the conference preparations take many months. Our staff of over one hundred Harvard undergraduates devotes an enormous amount of time and energy to making each conference successful and unique. Topics for committee debate change every year and HMC does not reuse topics for at least four years to ensure that every student will have a unique experience every time he/she attends HMC. HMC staffers work all summer writing new briefings and begin to compile the Briefing Book in September. Briefings are written with the intention of being used exclusively for our conference to maximize student understanding and usefulness in committees. This extensive preparation on the parts of faculty, students and staff contributes to a truly magnificent weekend that is continually described by attendees as the best model congress experience available to American high school students. 4

6 THE HMC EXPERIENCE Despite the many hours of preparation and sleepless nights leading to the conference, all of us at HMC love the program and feel fortunate to be a part of such a dynamic learning experience. Students, faculty and staffers alike learn invaluable lessons not just about American government and the issues at hand, but also about public speaking, debate, teamwork and compromise. Year after year, delegates, faculty and staff reflect on the lasting relationships built in the process. Delegates often leave the conference with friends from other high schools as well as friends from our HMC staff. HMC staffers are Harvard students of all ages from freshmen to seniors and are always excited to interact with and teach delegates. Many HMC staffers were delegates at HMC when they were in high school and enjoyed the experience enough to work on the other side of the operation. We are dedicated to making every conference a meaningful educational experience, but also a fun and enjoyable weekend for delegates, faculty and staff. WHO ATTENDS HMC? HMC is designed for everyone regardless of prior experience, political prowess, or knowledge of the American system of government. All high schools and students are invited to attend HMC. Students who participate in debate programs, political groups or similar organizations often participate and excel at our conference; however, students who have never spoken publicly or even thought about politics also really enjoy and learn a lot from our program. HMC is as much a teaching conference as it is a simulation. Our staff is prepared and excited to help students before and during the conference to ensure that every delegate draws as much from the conference experience as possible. HMC is very appreciative of the high schools who return to our conference every year. The experience of the students and faculty is an invaluable resource and benefit to the conference. We also are very excited to welcome new schools every year. New faces and minds bring new excitement to the conference. HMC welcomes any and all schools to register for our Boston conference. The coming sections of this guide thoroughly explain the registration process. Although we do conduct a very large conference with almost 1500 delegates, we do have space constraints. All schools are welcome to register, but we are sometimes forced to put schools on our waiting list. Nonetheless, we encourage all schools to register as we always try our best to accommodate all role requests. We are dedicated to making every conference a meaningful educational experience, but also a fun and enjoyable weekend for delegates, faculty and staff. 5

7 ROLES OF FACULTY ADVISORS ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATION The role of the faculty advisor is very important to a school s success at Harvard Model Congress. Faculty advisors are responsible for registration in October, collection and submission of conference fees, role assignments, hotel reservations and transportation arrangements. In addition, faculty advisors are our contacts at each school and therefore, our liaison to the delegates. Registration: Registration is completed almost entirely online. Registration opens Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at noon and closes on Friday, October 12, 2007 at 5pm. Faculty advisors must submit the initial registration materials on the HMC website at some point during those four days. Applications received prior to noon on October 9 th or after 5pm on October 12 th will not be accepted. Application submissions will not be considered on a strict first-come, first-serve basis, but rather HMC will distribute as many roles as possible to each school. All applications submitted during the specified registration period will be considered on the basis of the school s role preferences, prior HMC participation, and the order of submission during the week. Therefore, it does remain in a school s best interest to register earlier in the week. HMC Fees: HMC charges a $70 faculty fee, regardless of the number of advisors, and $75 per student delegate to attend HMC. Faculty advisors are responsible for collecting these fees and mailing one check to HMC. The initial deposit, due October 26 th, is $25 per student delegate and $25 for the faculty fee. The remaining $45 of the faculty fee and $50 per student delegate is due by December 10 th. Although we offer the option of splitting the fees, you are more than welcome to mail the entire payment in October. Faculty advisors, especially advisors new to leading student groups at their schools, are encouraged to be in contact with the schools Financial Office as soon as possible. Since we ask payments to be made in one check, schools usually issue the check and this can sometimes take more time than expected. Hotel Registration and Fees: Although we are in close contact with the Sheraton staff, faculty advisors must register with the hotel and pay the hotel directly. Forms B1 and B2 must be mailed to the Sheraton. These forms ask faculty advisors to specify the number and type of rooms needed and the names of the rooms occupants. Most schools request four person rooms to minimize the cost per person. Form B1 indicates the hotel s reduced rates for our conference and has payment instructions. These forms need to be mailed directly to the Sheraton by January 4 th. 6

8 Role Assignments: The process of assigning roles begins with registration in October. At that time we ask faculty advisors to specify the number of roles they d like for their school. Five-year schools (schools that have attended the conference for five or more years) are guaranteed ten roles. No school will be assigned more than 25 roles. The week following registration faculty advisors will be ed the number of roles assigned to their school. Travel Arrangements: Faculty Advisors are responsible for coordinating travel arrangements for their students. Many airlines offer discounts for multiple passengers traveling on the same flight (the minimum group size varies among carriers, but discounts typically apply for ten or more passengers). When making your arrangements, you may wish to call your desired airline s group reservation line to inquire whether there are any volume discounts available for your trip. Listed below are the group sales lines for some major carriers. United Airlines: Delta Air Lines: JetBlue Airways: US Airways/America West: Communication: We encourage Faculty Advisors to be in touch with HMC staff often throughout the registration and conference preparation processes. We require that faculty advisors provide us with an address at which he or she can be contacted. is the most efficient way for us to contact you and for you to be in contact with us. We ask that you check your often as it is how we will send important reminders before deadlines. We can also be reached by phone, but please note that the our new phone number this year is (617) Student Interaction: While we require that faculty advisors and not students register and serve as school contacts, we encourage faculty advisors to communicate with student leaders within their high school. Student leaders and experienced HMC delegates are an invaluable resource for faculty advisors and newer delegates. This year s faculty guide will provide details ideas and suggestions for involving student leaders in conference preparations. Codes of Conduct: Faculty advisors are also responsible for making photocopies of HMC s Student Conduct Form and requiring each student and his/her parents to read and sign the form prior to the conference. Completed forms for each student must be mailed to HMC by January 24, along with the signed Faculty Code of Conduct Form for each advisor attending the conference. Students will not be able to participate without the signed contracts. Advisors may also require students to agree to school-specific conduct regulations. 7

9 EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION Delegations whose advisors instruct their students in conducting research on their assigned roles or legislative issue, rules of debate, and effective public speaking, consistently have more productive experiences at HMC. HMC staff is also eager and willing to help students, before and during the conference, to more fully understand the details and implications of the issues. Delegates who understand parliamentary procedure and their issues tend to have a more enjoyable and fulfilling conference experience. This year, we are hoping to better assist faculty advisors in their efforts to prepare students before the conference. In HMC s November mailing, students will receive guides to their specific programs and faculty advisors will receive a Faculty Guide offering ideas of how to incorporate HMC lessons into the classroom. AT THE CONFERENCE Faculty Meetings: The Faculty Liaison conducts four faculty meetings over the weekend. The purpose of these meetings is to respond to advisors concerns and to communicate regarding conference logistics. We require that at least one advisor from each school attend every faculty meeting. Student Supervision: HMC requires that for every twelve students per delegation, one faculty advisor must be present. The size of our conference (almost 1500 students) requires us to ask that faculty assist HMC staff in keeping students in compliance with hotel guidelines and HMC conduct rules. Faculty advisors are asked to be present in the hallways near student rooms to help enforce curfews. Participation: During the conference, we encourage faculty advisors to visit committee sessions or program meetings. We also welcome faculty advisors to participate in committees by providing testimony to congressional committees! 8

10 DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES CONFERENCE PREPARATION Role and Issue Research: In November, HMC will send students issue briefings and program guides, information about their roles. These materials should not be the only resources students use to prepare for their roles and issue debates, but should be considered catalysts for additional research. The Guide to Congress instructs students on how to conduct additional research on their assigned roles, whereas the issue briefings offer a broad outline of the terms of debate and suggest additional research sources. In December, students will also receive issue and program updates, informing them of recent developments regarding their issues. Harvard staff members are available to assist student participants via , and are always happy to respond to student inquiries. Students should also check the HMC website for links to helpful articles and websites. Students should start researching early to allow sufficient time to submit pre-conference work before the conference and to become knowledgeable in their fields. Special Programs: When registering for the conference, students who wish to participate in certain Special Programs must complete an application and answer role request questions. These applications are due October 26, 2007 and are to be submitted on the HMC website. Written Work: After receiving issue briefings and updates and researching topics thoroughly, students will be expected to turn in pre-conference documents in mid-january. These materials, like registration and applications, will be submitted on the HMC website. Guidelines fore these documents will be specified in the Guide to Congress and Special Program guides. These papers not only give students an opportunity to think critically about possible solutions to the problems posed in the issue briefings, but also form the starting point for committee and program discussions at the conference. 9

11 AT THE CONFERENCE Active Participation: Students are urged to make the most of their experience at HMC by balancing their own eagerness to contribute to committee with constant respect and attention towards the opinions of their peers. By involving themselves in formal debate, informal caucuses, drafting legislation, and strategic brainstorming with their peers, students will get much more out of the conference than if they choose to not fully engage themselves in the simulation. Students role playing members of Congress should put themselves in the shoes of reallife representatives and senators, and challenge themselves to represent their constituents, their parties and their personal beliefs. Members of the media should be diligent in asking tough but responsible questions, and should abide by journalistic ethics. Members of the judicial branch must consider the legal and constitutional ramifications of their decisions, and executive branch members must faithfully and responsibly serve the president and the country. HMC believes that students may only reap the full benefits of the conference by putting forth effort and enthusiasm in the portrayal of their roles. Codes of Conduct: Conference participants are guests of the Sheraton during the conference and must be considerate of both hotel property and other guests staying at the hotel. HMC staff will not tolerate excessive noise, use of illegal substances, or violation of curfew. Each student participant and his/her parents must read and sign a copy of the Student Conduct From located at the end of this guide. Faculty advisors should collect all forms and send them, along with the signed Faculty Code of Conduct forms, to HMC by January 24th. Students who violate the standards of conduct risk personal dismissal from the conference, expulsion of their entire delegation from the conference, and/or future restrictions on the school s participation in HMC. By acting responsible throughout the duration of the conference, students can help to make Harvard Model Congress a success and ensure our future use of Hotel facilities. 10

12 REGISTRATION PROCESS STEP ONE: Tuesday, October 9 to Friday, October 12: Application and role requests due online by Friday at 5:00pm Eastern Daylight Time. Worksheets A1 and A2 should be filled in prior to registration online to ensure faculty advisors have all necessary information to submit on the HMC website. These worksheets need not be mailed to HMC, but are instead meant to help faculty advisors gather information they will need to successfully complete the online registration process. This part of registration provides us with necessary school information and initial role requests. Schools may request up to 25 roles. Five-year schools are guaranteed ten roles but should request the total number of roles desired including the guaranteed ten. After we have received this information, we will reply to faculty advisors by to indicate the number of roles that each school has been assigned. We will not, at this time, indicate the distribution of roles among programs. Please note that we can not always assign as many roles as have been requested. STEP TWO: October 26: Deposit due. It is very important that deposits are mailed to HMC and postmarked no later than October 26 to confirm role assignments and secure your school s spot in the conference. The amount of the deposit is dependent on how many delegate roles have been assigned. The deposit is $25 per student plus $25 for the faculty fee. STEP THREE: October 26: Student application essays due on website. Any students interested in Special Program or Ranking Member roles must submit application materials (available on pp. 16 and 17) online on or before October 26. HMC will notify schools of specific roles by program during the first week of November. STEP FOUR: November 13: Dropped role deadline. Schools are responsible for all roles that have been assigned to them. If faculty advisors notify HMC before November 13 th that not all roles will be filled, the $25 deposit will be returned. After November 13 th, no dropped role deposits can be returned. STEP FIVE: November 19: Student role assignments due on website. Worksheet A3 should be completed prior to logging into the HMC website but does not need to be mailed to HMC. By November 19 th we ask that faculty advisors indicate the names of students filling each specific role. 11

13 STEP SIX: December 10: All remaining fees need to be mailed to HMC. Faculty Liaison will notify schools of this amount prior to December 10 th. STEP SEVEN: January 4: Form B1 due at the Sheraton Hotel. Mail directly to the Sheraton. It is very important that this Hotel Registration Form is completed properly and submitted on time. This form is your school s hotel reservation while at the conference. STEP EIGHT: January 4: Form B2 due at the Sheraton Hotel. Mail directly to the Sheraton. This Hotel Room Assignment Form asks faculty advisors to indicate the names of the students or faculty in each room. STEP NINE: January 24: Student Code of Conduct due to HMC. Mail to HMC. STEP TEN: January 24: Faculty Code of Conduct due to HMC. Mail to HMC. WORKSHEETS AND FORMS: All worksheets and forms are available at the back of this guide. Please note that WORKSHEETS are not to be mailed. WORKSHEETS have been made available for your use in gathering the information we will require for online registration. FORMS, however, need to be completed and mailed to the Boston Sheraton Hotel or HMC. Instruction for submitting each worksheet or form and their due dates are marked in the top right corner of each sheet. 12

14 HMC REGISTRATION CHECKLIST September/October 2007 Complete Worksheets A1 and A2 before October 9th Register online between October 9th and 12th Receive number of assigned roles by during the week of October 15th Have students apply for Special Programs roles (Worksheet A3) before October 26th Submit Special Programs applications (A3) online by October 26th Mail deposit to HMC by October 26th Investigate travel arrangements Begin fundraising November 2007 Receive student roles by program by during the first week of November Notify HMC of any dropped roles before November 13th to receive deposit refund! Complete Worksheet A4 before November 19th Submit student role assignments (A4) online by November 19th Receive Briefing Book and Faculty Guide by mail before the end of November Continue making travel arrangements Assist with issue research December 2007 Mail remaining fees to HMC by December 11th Begin completing Hotel Forms (forms B1 and B2). Due January 4th Make copies of Student Codes of Conduct, distribute to students to have signed Finalize travel arrangements Guide students in drafting student papers Conduct seminar on parliamentary procedures Invite local lawmakers to address students January 2008 Complete Forms B1 and B2 before January 4th Mail Forms B1 and B2 to the Sheraton Boston Hotel before January 4th Remind students to be working on pre-conference papers Collect signed Student Codes of Conduct forms before January 24th Mail Faculty and Student Codes of Conduct forms to HMC before January 24th Submit pre-conference papers online by January 24th February 21-24: HMC 2008! 13

15 DUE OCTOBER 9-12, 2007 SUBMIT ONLINE A1 Application Please complete this worksheet before registering online. Please also read this guide before registering, especially the Registration Process section. Registration takes place on the website and can be accessed at School: School Postal Address: Street Address City State Zip Code Primary Faculty Advisor: (Mr., Ms.) First Name Last Name Advisor s Address: Other Advisors Attending: (Mr., Ms.) First Name Last Name (Mr., Ms.) First Name Last Name (Mr., Ms.) First Name Last Name School Telephone Number: voic ext. School Fax Number: Advisor s Home Phone Number: Advisor s Cell Number: FEES: Number of Faculty Advisory: Number of Roles Requested: Deposit Due: October 26, 2007 Remainder Due: December 10, 2007 Deposit: $25 = Faculty Fee Deposit $25 x = Requested Role Deposit # Roles Requested Total Deposit: $25 + Requested Role Deposit Remaining HMC Fees: $45 = Remaining Faculty Fee $50 x =Remaining Role Fees # Roles Requested * Although we require only a deposit for registration, schools are welcome to send full payment at the time of application if they so choose. Please also not that HMC FEES do not include hotel fees. Hotel fees can be calculated in Form B1. 14

16 DUE OCTOBER 9-12, 2007 SUBMIT ONLINE A2 Role Requests ROLE REQUESTS: Each student will receive a role assignment for the conference. While we cannot guarantee particular assignments, we will do our best to give as many requested roles as possible. The U.S. Congress is more diverse than the students who attend the conference. Playing the role of a politician with political beliefs different from one s own can be a valuable learning experience. Keep in mind that nearly three-quarters of participants will be members of Congress: approximately 750 representatives and 300 senators. The are approximately 1500 positions in all. Representatives Mark each box in the chart at the right with the number of requested roles of each party. For example, mark a 2 in the left box to request two Democratic representative roles. Please make sure the total number of representatives is the sum of the number of requested representative roles. Representatives Democrats Number of Representative Roles Requested Independents Republicans Senators Number of Senator Roles Requested Mark each box in the chart at the right with the number of requested roles of each party. For example, mark a 2 in the left box to request two Democratic senator roles. Please make sure the total number of senators is the sum of the number of requested senator roles. Senators Democrats Independents Republicans Special Programs Available Special Program Roles: Supreme Court (in pairs of 2) District Court (in teams of 6) Presidential Cabinet (max. 1 per school) National Security Council (max. 1 per school) Historical Committee West Wing Joint Cabinet Committee (max. 1 per school) Press Corps Constitutional Convention Number of Roles Requested. Note: Because Special Program roles are not assigned until students apply for them, please request the total number of Special Program roles your school would like to fill. We will initially reply with the total number of Special Program roles allotted to your school. Students are then responsible for submitting applications for the specific committees they are intererested in. 15

17 DUE OCTOBER 26, 2007 SUBMIT ONLINE A3 Special Programs Faculty Advisors: Please have students who are applying for roles in the following Special Programs or congressional committee roles respond to the appropriate program-specific questions. Special Programs applicants should rank at least FOUR committees, but should only respond to the essay questions for their first two choices. For each set of essay questions, please have students limit their answers to one double-spaced page. Please collect all of your students applications and submit them on the HMC website by October 26, Presidential Cabinet 1) Why do you wish to be a member of the Presidential Cabinet? 2) What role do you prefer on the Cabinet and why? Rank your second through fifth choices as well. Ambassador to the United Nations Attorney General Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Director Of Homeland Defense Director of the CIA Director of the Office of Management and Budget Drug Czar EPA Administrator AVAILABLE CABINET ROLES 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 National Security Council 1) What qualities do you feel are most important for a member of the National Security Council to possess? 2) Rank in order the 3 NSC roles that you most desire to represent and, in no more than a paragraph, explain your choices. Air Force Chief of Staff Army Chief of Staff Attorney General Chief of Naval Operations Commandant of the Marine Corps Director of Central Intelligence Director of the FBI Secretary of Homeland Security AVAILABLE NSC ROLES Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Director of National Intelligence Ambassador to the United Nations Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism Director of the National Security Agency Secretary of Defense Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Undersecretary of State for South and Central Asia The White House Chief of Staff The White House Press Secretary Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Undersecretary of State for International Security and Low-Intensity Conflict Nonproliferation Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Press Corps 1) Describe your interest and relevant experience in journalism (note that no experience in journalism is necessary). 2) What issues or beats would you most like to cover at the conference and why? Beats may include any of the different programs and committees, e.g. Lobbyists, Supreme Court, Cabinet, or the House Committee on Government Reform. 16

18 DUE OCTOBER 26, 2007 SUBMIT ONLINE A3 Special Programs West Wing 1) Why are you applying to the West Wing? What previous experience (HMC or other) do you believe makes you a strong candidate for this program? 2) List your top three preferences for role assignments. Explain what you expect the most difficult aspect of your top preference will be, and how you plan to tackle it. 3) Do you have a preferred party affiliation? How strong is this preference? AVAILABLE WEST WING ROLES White House: Chief Political Strategist, Press Secretary, Communications Director, White House Chief Policy Advisor, Presidential Liaison to the House of Representatives, Presidential Liaison to the U.S. Senate, Presidential Liaison to the U.S. Congress, Special Advisor, Chief Public Liaison, Opposition Analyst, White House Chief Counsel The Opposition: Chief Political Strategist, Speechwriter, Communications Director, Special Advisor, Party Liaison to the House of Representatives, Party Liaison to the U.S. Senate, Party Liaison to the U.S. Congress, Opposition Analyst, Chief Counsel Lobbyists 1) Describe three different strategies that you, as a lobbyist, could use to convince Congress to pass a bill you promoted. 2) List your top three lobbyist group preferences from the list below. In your opinion what are the two biggest issues being discussed at HMC 2007 that your group would want to fight for or against?. Why do you feel these issues are important? American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Amnesty International, Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, Sierra Club, US Chamber of Commerce Constitutional Convention 1) Why are you interested in the US Constitutional Convention of 1787? Please list any relevant classes or experience. 2) Which colony would you wish to represent at the US Constitutional Convention and why? Conference Committees 1) As the Conference Committee will focus on sharpening public speaking and debate skills in an intensive setting, please write a speech that you would deliver to the United States Congress on a controversial issue of your choice. 2) Rank your ideological leanings (1 = very liberal, 5 = politically neutral, and 10 = very conservative). Historical Committee 1) Why are you interested in serving on the Historical Committee? Please list any relevant courses or experience. 2) This year, the Historical Committee will focus its attention on the period after World War I and the formation of the Treaty of Versailles. Why does this specific topic interest you? Joint Cabinet Committee 1) Why do you want to participate in the Joint Cabinet Committee? 2) Identify a past diplomatic or military conflict between the United States and another country. How, if at all, would you change the way the US handled the conflict? How, if at all, would you change the way the other country handled 17

19 DUE NOVEMBER 19, 2007 SUBMIT ONLINE A4 Student Role Assignments Please complete this worksheet on the private HMC faculty website to fill in role assignments by November 19, After submitting this information via our website, please mail to HMC your school s remaining fees by December 11, Faculty Advisor: School: 18 Program/Committee Specific Role Name Student Name Ex. Senate Judiciary NY-JR (Sen. Clinton) Meaghan Graul

20 DUE JANUARY 4, 2008 MAIL TO SHERATON B1 Hotel Registration HMC requires that all school delegations stay at the Sheraton Boston Hotel, except in special circumstances. HMC is not responsible for arranging accommodations for the school delegations at our conference. The Sheraton reservations staff will use this form to confirm reservations and to assign rooms to each delegation. Faculty Advisors: Please complete one form per school and mail the signed form and deposit (see below) to the address the address on the back of this form. This form must be received at the Sheraton by January 4, Schools that return their forms after January 4 cannot be guaranteed the Sheraton group rates listed below. School Name: Faculty Advisor: School Address: School Phone: Advisor s Home Phone: Arrival Date: Estimated Time of Arrival (check in after 3pm) Departure Date (Check-out by 10:00am): (room rate plus 12.45% tax rate) Singles at.. $ x Nights = $ Doubles at.$ x Nights = $ Triples at...$ x Nights = $ Quads at...$ x Nights = $ Total Rooms TOTAL DUE: $ *Rates listed include the current 12.45% tax rate. Should the tax rate change before the conference, HMC will inform delegations of additional taxes due at the time of check-in. All rates are subject to state and local taxes at the time of check-in. Payment: A deposit of at least one night s rent plus tax, for each room reserved must accompany forms B1 and B2 no later than January 4, Remaining payment for rooms and all taxes must be made at the time of check-in. Incidental charges must be paid at the time of check-out. Checks may be made payable to the Sheraton Boston Hotel. See reverse for additional details. Faculty Advisor Signature: Date: Amount Enclosed: Payment type (check one): Check Enclosed Bill Credit Card (below) Credit Card Number: Card Name: Exp. Date: / 19

21 ADDITIONAL INFOMATION B1 Hotel Registration Additional Hotel Stipulations: Actual room assignment is not guaranteed prior to 3:00pm on the day of check-in. The Sheraton will provide storage space for your luggage if you check in before 3:00pm and at time of check-out. Check-out time on Sunday will be 10:00am. All students rooms will be inspected by hotel management with faculty advisors prior to NOON for any damages. Every effort will be made to assign all rooms close together, but this cannot be guaranteed. The Sheraton cannot provide bedding additional to that which exists in the guest rooms assigned. Room assignments will be made to fit within existing hotel room configurations. Please mail this form by January 4, 2008 to: Harvard Model Congress 2008 Reservations Sheraton Boston Hotel Attn: Ms. Jennifer Doherty, Groups Coordinator Reservations Department 39 Dalton Street Boston, MA Please direct hotel questions to the Sheraton Reservations Department at: (617)

22 DUE JANUARY 4, 2008 MAIL TO SHERATON B2 Hotel Room Assignments Faculty Advisors: Please complete one form per school only and mail form to the address on the back of this form. This form must be received by January 4, School Name: Faculty Advisor: Total # of Students: Total Rooms: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 2 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 3 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 4 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 5 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: 21

23 DUE JANUARY 4, 2008 MAIL TO SHERATON B2 Hotel Room Assignments School Name: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: ROOM SINGLE DOUBLE OF ROOMS TRIPLE QUAD (e.g., room 1 of 5 reserved) (check one and list appropriate names below) NAME 1: NAME 2: NAME 3: NAME 4: 22 Please mail this form by January 4, 2008 to: Harvard Model Congress 2008 Reservations Sheraton Boston Hotel Attn: Ms. Jennifer Doherty, Groups Coordinator Reservations Department 39 Dalton Street Boston, MA NAME 4:

24 DUE JANUARY 24, 2008 MAIL TO HMC HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS 2008 STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT (Advisors: Please photocopy this form for each delegate, have students and parent/legal guardian sign and return by January 24, 2008.) HMC 2008 participants must take the issue of security very seriously to ensure a safe, successful conference. The Sheraton Boston Hotel and the conference directors have established the following guidelines for conduct. Please read and understand the following: 1. We have two primary security concerns: student safety and hotel property. If you are responsible for any malicious damage to hotel property or endanger your own safety or the safety of any other person at the Sheraton, you and potentially your entire delegation will immediately be expelled from the hotel and conference. Each delegate will be held legally and financially responsible for any damage to his or her hotel room. The hotel management may choose to prosecute people who damage property in any way. 2. Smoking is prohibited in the conference rooms and lobby areas of the hotel. Students may not possess drugs or alcohol in the hotel at any time during the four days of the conference. Conference and hotel security will have the authority to confiscate any drugs or alcohol in the possession of any HMC delegate. Delegates found to possess or use drugs will be required to leave immediately and may be held criminally liable. 3. Theft of hotel, student, or other hotel guest property is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 4. Curfews will be strictly enforced. All students must be in their own rooms by HMC s designated times. Since hotel guests not involved with the conference are on every floor, there will be no late night runs to the soda machine, social encounters, or delegation meetings. 5. Noise level must be kept to a minimum at all times, and delegates must not disturb other hotel guests. 6. The above rules supplement those dictated by United States Code, laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and laws and ordinances of the City of Boston, Sheraton policy, your school policy, and common sense. Violation of any of the above rules will result in the expulsion of the student's) involved and may extend to their entire school delegation. HMC 2008 cannot accept any liability; faculty advisors are responsible for the actions of their students, though ultimate responsibility rests with the students themselves. The Sheraton has authorized Harvard security to exercise appropriate supervision of delegates, which may entail entry into delegates rooms, but excludes searching of their person. 7. Proper attire is vital to maintaining a high degree of professionalism and the atmosphere of our conference. During the conference, HMC staff will enforce the dress code for delegates. All students should dress in a professional manner. Women should wear a suit, dress, dress slacks, or skirt with a blouse or sweater. Men should wear a suit or a jacket and dress pants, with a dress shirt and tie. Student who do not obey the dress code will be required to change their attire. Jeans, sneakers, T-shirts, and baseball caps are unacceptable. 8. Students must wear their conference badges at all times for their own safety and for identification purposes. HMC staff and faculty advisors need to be able to identify conference participants. 9. Male delegates are not allowed in the rooms of female delegates, and female delegates are not allowed into the rooms of male delegates. The only exception to this rule is during a delegation meeting in the presence of a faculty advisor. Student Signature: Date: Print Student Name: School: Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: 23

25 DUE JANUARY 24, 2008 MAIL TO HMC FACULTY CODE OF CONDUCT (Advisors: Please photocopy this form for each delegate, have students and parent/legal guardian sign and return by January 24, 2008.) HMC 2008 faculty advisors must take security and hotel property very seriously to ensure a safe, successful conference. The Sheraton Boston Hotel and Harvard Model Congress have established the following guidelines for faculty advisor accountability. Please read and understand the following: 1. Sheraton Boston Hotel Management reserves the right to terminate any activities which it determines to be jeopardizing the safety and/or comfort of any hotel guest or employee. 2. There are limits to the number of persons who may occupy a room/suite at any time, base on Fire and Safety Code regulations. 3. All registered guests are held responsible for payment for damages, missing items, and excessive cleaning as a result of any activities taking place within the room/suite. 4. A charge of $75 will apply to any hotel window damage incurred, including but not limited to the breaking of or writing on windows in guest rooms. A charge of $100 will apply to any damage incurred to the hotel carpets. 5. The Sheraton Boston Hotel will consider the registered occupants of each guest room as the responsible parties for any damages sustained to said area. Occupants will be responsible for payment at the prevailing replacement value for said damaged areas. 6. Faculty advisors representing their schools will be held accountable for disciplinary actions on the damages incurred by the students under their supervision. Their responsibility will also include any unsettled charges on guest folios upon departure and the settlement of any damages incurred. 7. Harvard Model Congress reserves the right to suspend and/or expel any faculty advisors who violate any of the following guidelines, or whose conduct is deemed inappropriate, unfit or potentially dangerous. HMC also reserves the right to contact school administrators in regard to the misconduct of their students and/ or faculty advisors. 8. Faculty meetings are mandatory; at least one faculty advisor form every school is expected to attend each meeting. 9. Active participation of faculty advisors in monitoring student activity is expected. This includes helping HMC staff to enforce curfews. 10. Faculty advisors are asked to abstain form excessive alcohol consumption over the course of the weekend. Any faculty advisors found to be publicly intoxicated will be asked to leave the conference and school administrators will be notified. I certify that Harvard Model Congress has made me aware of my responsibilities as a faculty advisor and that I have accepted these responsibilities. Faculty Advisor Name School: Faculty Advisor Signature: Date: 24