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 2025.

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

View sample bills here.

Upload your final bills, made with the YMC template format before the deadline (date TBA). This form will be active in October for the upcoming 2025 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 is given by 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)

Yale Model Congress is committed to making the conference accessible to all students, regardless of financial circumstance. Delegates may apply for financial aid to offset the cost of the delegate fee by completing our financial aid application, which will be released in fall 2025. Applicants will be asked to indicate the type of aid they are seeking and to complete a brief statement in the “Further Information” section explaining their interest in attending Yale Model Congress.

Review and Notification Process

Applications will be reviewed in two rounds. Round I forms must be submitted by early October (exact date TBA), and Round II forms by early November (date TBA). Please note that applications will only be considered if we have confirmed receipt; if you do not receive confirmation, your application has not been received. Delegates who apply for financial aid will be granted an additional two weeks to submit their delegate fee. Financial aid decisions will be finalized and shared by mid-October for Round I and early November for Round II. Applicants and their advisors will be notified of the outcome via email. Awards are determined based on demonstrated financial need, the delegate’s expressed enthusiasm for the conference, and the potential benefit of their participation. Aid may be awarded in the form of partial or full waivers of the delegate fee.

Award Disbursement

Delegate fee waivers are processed immediately upon award notification.

Special Programs

Presidential Cabinet

Presidential Cabinet Form will go live in fall 2025. Stay tuned!

The experience offered by the Presidential Cabinet stands apart from that of other Yale Model Congress committees. While delegates in House and Senate committees draft, debate, and pass legislation in the pursuit of enactment, members of the Presidential Cabinet are tasked with shaping a cohesive executive agenda. Their responsibilities include establishing departmental budgets, evaluating legislation, and responding swiftly to simulated national crises.

Cabinet members are expected to approach these challenges with collaboration and strategic thinking—crafting a unified budgetary vision, signing or vetoing legislation, and coordinating emergency responses. To ensure a realistic and enriching simulation, delegates should arrive prepared with a strong understanding of their assigned role and the broader political landscape. For instance, the Secretary of Energy should be well-versed in the department’s jurisdiction and objectives, while also understanding how their priorities intersect with those of other Cabinet members.

If you are eager for a dynamic, immersive experience that mirrors the real-world complexities of executive leadership, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Supreme Court

Supreme Court Form will go live in fall 2025. Stay tuned!

Unlike most Yale Model Congress committees, which center on the drafting and passage of legislation, the Supreme Court program challenges its members to engage with the nation's most consequential legal questions. Tasked with interpreting the Constitution and upholding the integrity of the judicial system, delegates step into the roles of justices and attorneys to argue cases that mirror those before the real Supreme Court.

Ahead of the conference, participants will receive case briefs outlining the legal disputes to be heard. It is each delegate’s responsibility to prepare thoroughly—studying the materials, developing persuasive oral arguments, and familiarizing themselves with judicial reasoning. During committee sessions, delegates will rotate between the roles of petitioner, respondent, and justice, rigorously debating constitutional questions and delivering decisions from the bench. Members of the Court may also be called upon to evaluate the constitutionality of legislation authored by delegates in other committees.

If you’re drawn to legal reasoning, constitutional debate, and the high-stakes atmosphere of the courtroom, we encourage you to apply.

Please contact Daniel Mora, Director of Special Programs, at specialprogram@yalemodelcongress.org with any questions or concerns about the Presidential Cabinet and/or Supreme Court.