Preparing for the Conference

Bill Writing

Want tips and tricks on writing a good bill for YMC? See Tips for Bill Writing in our Guide to Yale Model Congress 2016.

When you write your bill, use this template. Please do not change the format to Pages or any word processor other than Word.

View a sample bill here.

Upload your final bills, made with the YMC template format before Friday, November 10th, 11:59 PM ET to the google form. This form will be active in mid-october for the upcoming 2023 conference.

Summary of Committee Debate Structure

Yale Model Congress Committee Selection Form will be available shortly.

I. Structured Debate

A. Primary Speeches: 1 pro / 1 con, 4 min. each 
(Note: the first 4 min. pro-speech typically goes to the author of the bill. Delegates are encouraged to practice this “authorship speech” beforehand).

B. Secondary Speeches: 1 pro / 1 con, 2 min. each

Speakers may yield their remaining time to the chair or to questions.

II. General Debate

After the first four speeches, structured debate ends and general debate begins. In general debate, speeches are up to 2 minutes long and alternate between pro and con. Speakers may yield their time to the chair, to questions, or to one other speaker.

III. Amendments

A. Structured Debate: 1 pro/1 con, 2 min. Each

B. General Debate: 2 pro/2 con, 1 min. each

Debate on an amendment will take place during general debate if the proposed amendment is seconded and deemed unfriendly by the bill’s sponsor.

Robert’s Rules of Order

Click here to access Robert’s Rules Of Order.

Financial Aid (Delegates)

Delegates can apply for financial aid to cover the delegation fee. Delegates should fill out the financial aid application and select what types of aid they would like to apply for. Delegates should use the further information section to explain their desire to attend Yale Model Congress. Forms must be submitted by October 13 at 11:59 pm ET for Round I applications and November 3 at 11:59 pm ET for Round II applications. If you do not receive confirmation that we have received your application, you will not be considered for financial aid. Delegates who apply for financial aid receive an additional two weeks to pay their delegate fee.

Financial Aid Decision Process

Yale Model Congress will decide financial aid awards by October 15th at 11:59 pm ET for Round I applications and November 5th at 11:59 pm ET for Round II applications at the latest and notify applicants and their advisors of our decision by email. Decisions are based on demonstrated need, desire to attend the conference, and prospective benefits of attendance. Depending on the delegate’s application, we may award partial or full delegate fee waivers.

Receiving Financial Aid

Delegate fee waivers are processed immediately.

Special Programs

Dear Delegates,

My name is Sushant Kunwar and I am very excited to be serving as your Director of Special Programs for Yale Model Congress 2022! As a delegate in high school, I served in various special program committees at a number of conferences. From the structure, to the fascinating and diverse debate, to the distinctive roles delegates must play, I remember how special programs provided me with a much more unique and challenging experience compared to other House and Senate committees. As the Director of Special Programs, I can assure you that this year will be no different and that I will strive to provide many of you with the same special experience that I had when I was a delegate.

This year we will be offering both the Presidential Cabinet and Supreme Court special programs for delegates to participate in. As part of the Presidential Cabinet, delegates will take on the role of a member of the cabinet including the Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, and more. A few of you will also take part in the presidential election, which is conducted during the opening ceremonies of the conference. As part of the Supreme Court, delegates will be given a number of cases that will be argued during the conference. For each case, they will be assigned the role of petitioner, respondent, or justice, and will argue for or against the case depending on their role.

I would like to emphasize that, although both the Presidential Cabinet and the Supreme Court tend to attract more seasoned Model Congress delegates, anyone that is passionate and interested in these programs should apply. The Special Programs can be scary at first, requiring more pre-conference preparation and research than most House and Senate committees. Yet, I promise that if you participate in either program, you will have a fantastic experience as you debate the size of America’s military spending, the merits of a petitioner’s case, or even the constitutional legality of a fellow delegates bill. I’m looking forward to reading your applications and seeing you in session come December! If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out and email me at specialprograms@yalemodelcongress.org.

Best wishes,

Sushant Kunwar

Director of Special Programs

Yale Model Congress 2023

• Presidential Cabinet

• Supreme Court

If you'd like to apply to either special program, applications are due October 27th, 11:59 PM ET.

Presidential Cabinet

Presidential Cabinet Application is now CLOSED.

The experience provided by the Presidential Cabinet differs substantially from the rest of YMC’s committees. In House and Senate committees, delegates are expected to compose bills, debate and pass them in committee, and push for their enactment in full sessions. On the other hand, the mission of the Presidential Cabinet is to set an agenda for the Presidency by establishing departmental budgets, consider legislation, and respond to any crises that may threaten the nation. In committee, members of the cabinet will be expected to work towards these goals by collaboratively developing the nation’s budgetary agenda, sign or veto passed bills, and respond to any crises.In order to provide a realistic simulation of the workings of the cabinet, Presidential Cabinet members are expected to have a strong familiarity with their position and the current U.S. political climate. For example, the Secretary of Energy should understand the position’s jurisdiction and objectives while understanding how their agenda interacts with that of other cabinet members.

I strongly encourage anyone interested in the Presidential Cabinet program to apply! While at first it may seem more challenging than most Model Congress committees, I promise you that the Presidential Cabinet will provide you with an invaluable, rewarding, and most importantly, fun experience. I look forward to working with you in December!

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Application is now CLOSED.

While most YMC committees aim to debate and pass legislation, the Supreme Court program presents its members with the daunting—yet inarguably fun—task of arguing the nation’s most important legal cases. The Supreme Court seeks to uphold the nation’s judicial system and interpret the law and its application. At the Yale Model Congress, members’ experience will be no different. Prior to the conference, members of the court will receive case briefs for the cases that will be debated during the conference. It will be a delegate’s responsibility to complete the necessary preparations, which include reading the briefs and developing oral arguments for them. During committee sessions, for each case, members of the court will be assigned the role of petitioner, respondent, or justice, and will debate cases accordingly. Members of the court may also be asked to uphold or strike down legislation authored by their fellow delegates in the House and Senate that could be unconstitutional.

If you are interested in being a part of the Supreme Court program this year, I strongly encourage you to apply! Compared to most YMC committees, more preparation will be required of you prior to the conference, however, I promise that you will be rewarded with challenging and educational debate that will bring the best out of you. I look forward to working with you in December!

The deadline to apply for a special program will be October 27th, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET. 

For more specific questions regarding special programs, please reach out to specialprograms@yalemodelcongress.org