Special Programs

Dear Special Programs Delegates,

It is my immense pleasure to welcome you to Harvard Model Congress Special Programs 2009!  You are about to embark on an engaging, educational, and exciting journey through the inner workings of the American government. Your dedicated staff has devoted months of hard work and compiled years of experience to develop the most interactive conference yet. Now begins your contribution to our combined effort at Special Programs success. It is ultimately your eagerness, dedication, participation, and preparation that will drive the conference. We trust that you will take advantage of every opportunity provided to get the most out of this simulation. We are so eager to share the experience of American government with you!

Whether in the annals of history, the whirlwind of the media, the intensity of the executive branch, or the rigor of the courts, come February, you will find yourself in the midst of vigorous debate, nail-biting decision-making, and breaking news. From the halls of the 1787 Constitutional Convention to the heated debate over Manifest Destiny during the Mexican War of 1846 to the manifold debates, challenges, and decisions facing the American government today, you will be engaged in a simulation that demands your thoughtfulness and ambition. Immersion in historical committees will require you to transport yourself into another time and set of political concerns and give you the opportunity to rewrite history as we know it. Stepping into the roles of prosecutors, defendants, and justices, you will find that the court committees demand nuanced consideration and persuasive argument. In the position to reinterpret law and the Constitution, you will hold immense power ¬– and with it carry great responsibility – to assure legal protection to American rights and freedoms. These freedoms are often challenged by foreign agents, and in the Joint Cabinet Committee and National Security Council, you will meet both national and international security challenges which you will have to prioritize and confront in the interest of protecting the state. The Executive Branch of the government serves to coordinate American efforts to support, parry, and/or contradict Congressional and Judicial action. As such, both the West Wing and the Presidential Cabinet advise the president on all issues of government, and members are responsible for acting as liaisons between various executive branches and the president. Finally, we turn to the roles of civilians in connecting the American democracy with its people. Lobbyists work hard to bring special interest concerns to the attention of lawmakers, while the media, both written and broadcast, is responsible for bringing the events of American government to the people in easily accessible forms. The great variety of Special Program committees is a testament to the great diversity of function and responsibility within the American government, a reminder that the US democracy is much more than the simple machine we learned in middle school Social Studies.

In order for you to benefit the most from your HMC experience, I suggest that you take some time to reflect on what special talents and qualities your bring to the conference and what you hope to gain from your time with us. Now is the time to invest yourself in preparation and exploration of the many difficulties facing US government. In a few short months and for a few days, responsibility for this democracy will rest on your shoulders. How will you meet that challenge? HMC grants you the opportunity to develop important leadership, debate, and compromise skills and encourages you to explore your potential, challenge your peers, and reach for greater goals. How will you use your time at HMC? This is your chance to make it all happen, so do not just sit back and enjoy the debate among your colleagues, engage yourself in the debate and come prepared to have your voice make a difference.

Again, on behalf of the entire Special Programs staff, I welcome you to HMC Special Programs 2009! We hope that you enjoy preparing for the conference and eagerly look forward to working with you in the months ahead and at the conference. Please use the resources provided to you in this Briefing Book and on your committee websites in preparation for the conference. I hope that you will take this opportunity to stay apprised of the world’s events and use these goings on to supplement your preparation. Please feel free to contact myself or your committee chairs  with any questions about your briefing materials, conference preparation, your committee, or the conference in general. I sincerely look forward to meeting each of you in February.

Sincerely,

Laura Dean
Director of Special Programs
specialprograms@harvardmodelcongress.org