HARVARD
MODEL
CONGRESS
DUBAI
2017
Welcome!
We are so excited to host you and your students at the fourth annual Harvard Model
Congress Dubai conference, which will take place in Dubai, UAE at the American University in
Dubai (AUD) on January 19-21, 2017.
Harvard Model Congress Dubai (HMCD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run entirely
by Harvard University students who are passionate about politics, international relations, and
international education. Above all, HMCD is committed to providing an immersive educational
experience for high school students from across the globe. We attract the leaders of tomorrow to
tackle sensitive political questions today, under the close mentorship of Harvard students. Over the
past three years, we have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of students from countries all
over the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa. We are thrilled to continue our tradition of
excellence in education, and have already begun implementing improvements for the coming
conference. Our Executive Board has big plans for this year, focusing on expanding our student
attendance and deepening our relationships with delegates and you, the faculty. The goal is to make
HMCD a lasting experience for you and your students not just during the weekend of the
conference, but for the entirety of the year.
Throughout the intensive three-day conference, students will work closely with their
committees to debate briefings written by Harvard students and draft legislation to be presented in
full sessions. In previous HMCD conferences, delegates have written over thirty bills and
resolutions during the conference. Students have the opportunity to present their ideas to their
peers and learn to compromise to get their legislation to pass. With the introduction of a new
committee, the Central Intelligence Agency, we hope to increase committee interactions and make
the conference even more exciting for our students.
This is the second year we have published a conference faculty guide in advance of the
conference; we hope that it provides you with the tools you need to help to prepare your delegates
for HMCD in January. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can further help you in any way.
We look forward to working with you in the months ahead!
Sincerely,
Carlos Mendizabal| HMCD President, 2017
[email protected]
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Meet The Executive Board
PRESIDENT
Carlos Mendizabal
Carlos is a junior studying Computer Science with a minor in
Government. Beyond HMC, he spends a lot of time following
politics and international affairs, and he enjoys programming in his
free time. Carlos has been a part of HMC since his freshman year
of college, and he is very excited to come back for the fifth annual
HMCD conference!
If you have questions regarding AUD facilities or other operational
inquiries, please reach out to Caroloa at [email protected].
VICE PRESIDENT
Caroline Ferguson
Caroline is a Senior in Dunster concentrating in Social Studies. A
native of Washington, DC, Caroline developed her love for
government at a young age and thus joined HMC her sophomore
year in hopes of fostering a civic spirit in high schoolers today. In
addition to her work with HMC Boston and Europe, Caroline
served as co-captain of the Harvard Club Field Hockey team and
works on the College Events Board planning college-wide social
events. If you have any questions about the conference, please
reach Caroline at [email protected].
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Matthew Webb
Matthew is junior concentrating in Economics with a secondary in
Computer Science. He has been involved with government
simulation since his freshman year in high school. At Harvard, he
teaches pregnancy prevention to Boston high school students,
participates in Harvard’s financial analysts club, and manages
custodial crews. He is extremely excited for HMC 2017!
If you have any questions about the conference logistics, please
reach out to Matthew at [email protected]
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FACULTY LIAISON
Isabella Huber
Isabella is a junior studying History with a possible secondary in
Chemistry. In addition to HMC, she plays two club sports at
Harvard, teaches civics in Boston classrooms, and is involved with
the Institute of Politics. Originally from New York City, Isabella
likes reading, hiking, and watching hockey. She is so excited for her
second HMC Dubai conference!
Please contact Isabella if you have questions with regards to
delegate role requests and general inquiries at [email protected].
BUSINESS MANAGER
Shing-Shing Cao
Shing-Shing is a junior at Harvard concentrating in Economics
with a secondary in Computer Science. She grew up in Newark,
Delaware but now lives in San Diego, California. Outside of HMC,
she competes on the Mock Trial team, works with refugees in an
immigration law clinic, and volunteers at a student-run youth
homeless shelter. She can't wait to meet you all!
Contact Carlos if you have any payment inquiries or submissions at
[email protected].
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS
Ben Delsman
Ben Delsman is a sophomore originally hailing from the beautiful
state of Oregon, now studying Economics and Government here
at Harvard. When not furiously typing into his computer, you can
usually find Ben hiking or playing intramural basketball poorly.
He’s excited to share his passion for all things political with the
delegates at this year’s conference!
If you have questions with regards to the structure or content of
HMC Dubai’s domestic and international programs, please contact
Ben at [email protected].
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DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH
Will Delaney
William is sophomore from New York concentrating in
Economics with a secondary in Linguistics. Outside of HMC, he is
involved in the JFK Jr. Forum at the Harvard Institute of Politics
and the Harvard Financial Analysts Club. William staffed HMC
Boston in 2016 and is very excited for HMC Dubai 2017!
If you have questions with regards to conference registration,
please contact Willat [email protected].
CHIEF OF STAFF
Bryan Otero-Gilmer
Bryan is a junior concentrating in Economics at Harvard. He has
been involved in government simulations since his freshman year
of high school. Originally from Flint, Michigan, Bryan enjoys
traveling, music, and fashion. At Harvard, Bryan enjoys working as
a part of the Eleganza Board and Satire V staff. He is very excited
for HMCD 2017!
If you have any question regarding the conference’s staff of
scholars, please contact Bryan at [email protected].
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Table of Contents
Pre-Conference Logistics.............................................................................................................................. 7
VISA Requirements ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Dubai Metro ................................................................................................................................................. 10
Pre-Conference Preparation ....................................................................................................................... 11
Committee Details ....................................................................................................................................... 12
Domestic Programs ..................................................................................................................................... 13
International Programs ............................................................................................................................... 14
Committee Time vs Full Session vs Crisis Session................................................................................. 15
Preparing Students for the Conference .................................................................................................... 16
Parliamentary Procedure Guide................................................................................................................. 18
Conference Logistics.................................................................................................................................... 23
Conference Schedule ................................................................................................................................... 24
AUD Facilities .............................................................................................................................................. 25
Faculty Advisor’s Role at Conference ...................................................................................................... 26
Meal Information ......................................................................................................................................... 26
Top Things to Do in Dubai ....................................................................................................................... 27
Post-Conference ............................................................................................................................................ 29
Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................................................................................... 30
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Pre-Conference Logistics
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VISA Requirements
Visa requirements vary by country. The following information- from
http://www.dubai.com/v/visa_requirements/- will help you determine what sort of visa you need
to attend the conference.
IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION
Citizens of the following Countries will get their visa upon arrival to the UAE airports, if the
duration of stay is less than one (1) month and they hold visas in their passports or entry stamps
from other countries:
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong
Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand,
Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The
Netherlands, United Kingdom (except the British overseas citizens), United States, Vatican
For all other nationalities, a visa must be applied for before the visitor enters the country either
through their respective embassy, a local UAE sponsor or a local hotel.
GCC NATIONALS
Visa requirements for entering Dubai vary greatly between different nationalities, and it is always
advised to check regulations before traveling. Currently, every nationality entering the UAE needs a
visa except citizens of GCC countries (Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar
and Saudi Arabia) expatriate residents of the GCC (certain nationalities and professions) and British
citizens with the right of abode in the UK, who will be granted a visa on arrival in the UAE.
GCC nationals can stay more or less as long they like. British citizens can stay for a month and then
apply for a visa for a further two months.
Please note that Israelis and travelers whose passports bear Israeli stamps will be denied a visa.
VISAS THROUGH HOTELS
Tourists can get a visa from a tourist company or a hotel by first making a reservation for at least
one night. They must fax/courier the hotel a copy of their passport along with the reason for the
visit (tourism is an acceptable reason) and their arrival date. You must also make sure that the hotel
faxes you a copy of the visa when it is ready. Airlines may require confirmation (preferably a fax
copy of the document) that a visa is held before check-in at the airport. The original is held at Dubai
Airport for collection before passport control.
SERVICE VISA ENTRY APPLIED THROUGH A HOTEL:
Standard process of application, but please check with your hotel first.
The visa is valid for 14 days from the date of issue and 14 days from the date of entry. The visa fees
and security deposit will vary from country to country. The security deposit is also required per
person and will be refunded once the visa holder leaves the country. It is advisable to contact your
nearest Dubai Embassy or the hotel for more details.
Please be aware that once the visa is applied for, charges for the cost of the visa will not be
refunded in such cases as Expiration, Booking cancellation, Rejection.
For the visa to be processed by the hotel, the visitor must remain a guest in that hotel for the entire
duration of their stay. Port of entry and exit of the visitor must be Dubai only. Three working days
are needed to process the visa excluding, Friday, Saturday and Public Holidays.
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Documents required:
Visa Charges and Security Deposit. An authorization letter with the signature of the cardholder, as
well as a copy of the credit card used (front and back side). Passport copies of card holder and
visitors. Please note all document copies, passport copies and credit card copies must be scanned
clearly and with color when sent, otherwise they will be rejected by Dubai Immigration.
TOURIST VISA
This visa is issued through tourist companies and it is valid for 30 days. You cannot renew it or
extend it. If the visa holder stays more than 30 days, that person has to pay a fine per day plus some
charges for an out pass.
VISIT VISA
This Visa is issued through DNRD. It is stamped for 30 days validity but it is valid for 60 days and
can be extended for 30 more days by paying an extra amount. The extension needs to be done
before the 60th day. If the visitor stays more than 60 days or more than 90 days (after the extension)
they will have to pay a fine per day plus some charges for an out pass. Certain passport holders can
enter the UAE without obtaining a visit visa prior to arrival and stay up to 30 days.
Documents required:
1. Photocopy of the visitor's passport
2. Visit Visa Application form, completed and signed by the sponsoring company.
3. Photocopy of the trade license of the company
4. A Guarantee letter from the company stating its responsibility of the visitor during his visit.
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Dubai Metro
AUD is just steps away from the Sheikh Zayed Road exit of the Metro Red Line Station 35
(Nakheel). The airport is located at Red Line Stations 13 and 12. An online, interactive version of
the following map can be found at: http://dubaimetro.eu/dubai-metro-map
Metro Operations Hours
Sunday – Wednesday 5:50am to 00:00am
Thursday 5:50am to 01:00am
Friday 1:00pm to 01:00am
Saturday 5:50am to 00:00am
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Pre-Conference Preparation
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Committee Details
As you prepare your students for the conference, many of them may have questions about
the work they’ll be doing in committee. Harvard Model Congress is a government simulation in
which delegates assume the roles and responsibilities of a member of a governmental body -whether it be representing China in the United Nations Security Council or a United States Senator
in the Senate Foreign Relations committee. In committee, delegates will work together to create
solutions to problems presented by the briefings that they have read before the conference. The
shape and focus of these resolutions are driven by the delegates. While we hope delegates will think
critically about these issues before the conference, and are encouraged to come to committee with
questions and ideas, pre-written resolutions are not allowed at Harvard Model Conference.
Through a series of discussions, both formal and informal, and regulated by parliamentary
procedure, delegates will narrow down their thoughts into polished resolutions, which will be voted
on by their committees. Should they pass, they will be voted on by other committees in either a
Congressional Joint Session or an International Summit.
It is important to stress to your students that Harvard Model Congress emphasizes
cooperation, not competition. Unlike other government stimulations that delegates may have
participated in, the goal of a Harvard Model Congress committee is to find creative solutions rooted
in compromise and collaboration. Delegates will be recognized for their work with others, and their
pursuit of excellence in the final product. Delegates should not antagonize one another in
committee, and should be respectful of everyone’s thoughts. The issues addressed in committee
rarely have one perfect answer, and delegates are encouraged to try to find creative solutions. To do
this, it’s essential that delegates feel comfortable enough in committee to share their ideas -- the
attitudes of their fellow delegates are a key component of creating this environment.
Below, you will find descriptions of each of our committees, including the briefing topics for
each committee. You will also find a description of the differences between committee time, full
session time, and crisis sessions.
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Domestic Programs
This part of the HMCD experience is comprised of the House and Senate committees.
Modeled after congressional committees in the United States Congress, delegates in the House and
Senate will assume the role of congressmen and women and debate contentious issues currently
relevant in the United States. Although these committees are more US-centric than their
international counterparts, these committees will cover a wide variety of topics, both domestically
and internationally focused.
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House Space, Science, Technology: If you're interested in policy regarding space travel or
how funding for research on robots and artificial intelligence is allocated, the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology (SST) is for you! The Committee on SST oversees federal
agencies such as NASA and the Department of Energy. It has jurisdiction over all nondefense, federal scientific research and development.
House Education and the Workforce: Have you ever thought about a skill that wasn't
taught in school, but wished that it was? Have you ever wondered why the government
wants you to learn the specific things you're being taught over other things that are not being
taught? Have you ever wondered why men are paid more than women all over the world?! If
you are interested in any of these questions, the U.S. House Committee on Education and
the Workforce is a good fit for you. The committee is quite broad and oversees all general
matters relating to education and the workforce.
Homeland Security: The US Department of Homeland Security is responsible for
preemptively protecting the United States from terrorist attacks and natural disasters as well
as for responding to these events. It arose partly in response to the terrorist attacks on the
World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001. The House Committee on Homeland Security
oversees security legislation for the Department of Homeland Security.
Presidential Cabinet: The Presidential Cabinet is the only committee made up of
Presidential appointees. It includes the Vice President as well as the heads of fifteen
executive departments. Its role is to advise the President on what bills become laws.
Press Corps: The White House press corps is a group of journalists who cover the
President of the United States. Members of the press corps are responsible for delivering
objective news coverage to the nation on all political matters that go through the West Wing.
Senate Foreign Relations: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is involved with
discussing and debating international treaties and legislation. For example, it played a large in
affirming the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 and also was instrumental in the
rejection of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. It also oversees funding for foreign aid
programs. If you are interested in interactions between different countries' political bodies,
then this committee is for you!
Senate Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Have you been following the story
of Eric Snowden and the NSA or Julian Assange and WikiLeaks? If so, the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence could be for you. The committee oversees the agencies and
bureaus of the US federal government who provide information for leaders in the executive
and legislative branches.
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International Programs
The variety of international organizations represented at HMC Dubai allows delegates to
take on the role and perspective of different nations. Even though this is Harvard Model Congress we
recognize the impact international organizations have in our globalized world
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• African Union: The African Union, formed in 2001, is dedicated to promoting peace,
stability, and economic growth within the continent, and the increased presence of African
interests abroad. Representing every African country except Morocco, the African Union has
a variety of powers that allow them to effect change across the continent. Some of their
most prominent actions include sending peacekeepers into Sudan, Somalia, and Comoros
during conflicts in those countries, and creating policies on addressing AIDS and malaria.
• Arab League: Formed in 1945, the Arab League works to strengthen the stability and
prosperity of the Arab world and promote its interests in the world. The League has created
many policies and treaties, which often center on economic cooperation in the region.
Additionally, the League has been involved in military interventions, the promotion of
human rights, and fostering literacy.
• CIA: The Central Intelligence Agency is the foreign intelligence service of the United States.
It is tasked with gathering counterintelligence, cyberintelligence, and information on events
abroad. Additionally, they work on counterterrorism efforts and stopping the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction.
• UNSC: The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal bodies of the United
Nations. The UNSC is tasked with maintaining international peace and security. To do this,
the UNSC the power to take decisive actions, including establishing economic sanctions,
creating peacekeeping missions, and authorizing military action.
• World Bank: The World Bank is a financial institution associated with the United Nations.
Their official goal is reducing poverty, and they have attempted to do so through a number
of initiatives, including loans to the poorest countries, raising money for food security, and
creating financial education programs.
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Committee Time vs Full Session vs Crisis Session
Committee
After countless hours of preparation and research, students will finally get a chance to
showcase their role in committee session. Committee sessions are what drive the conference: most
of students’ time and efforts will be expended in these sessions. In session, students will delve deep
into the issues at hand and debate them at length. Students will interact with Harvard staffers in
small classroom settings and given the opportunity to interact on a personal level. The staffer will
guide each student through the process of parliamentary procedure, bill/resolution writing, and
provide tips on public speaking. The end goal of committee is for students and their peers to
develop a bill in domestic programs and a resolution in international programs. These
bills/resolutions will be the result of hours of debate and compromise between delegates and will
then be voted on by the body. Those that pass the committee session will then be passed onto full
session.
Full Session
To simulate the structure of the US Congress, full session allows the bills passed in
committee to be debated by the full House, Senate, or International Summit. In domestic programs,
all Senate committees are convened and all House committees are brought together to have one full
House session and one full Senate session. Bills are first reviewed by the house and voted on. If
passed by the House committee, then the full Senate committee debates the bill and if passed, the
bill becomes law. Students will debate in each of these sessions presenting pros and cons for each
bill to sway their fellow delegates. In international programs, all international committees are
convened in an International Summit. Students will come together to debate the bills that were
passed in their committee sessions. Like domestic sessions, authors of the bills will be given an
opportunity to present the bill and answer any questions. If this bill is passed by the Summit, it
becomes a valid international resolution.
Crisis
During the “Special HMCD Event” (see conference schedule, but keep it secret from the
delegates!), an international crisis will strike. The crisis will affect every committee, and domestic
and international delegates alike will have to stop debate immediately and attempt to resolve the
crisis. Last year, our crisis involved two oil tankers crashing in the Suez Canal. No one will know
how or when the crisis will occur; it is designed to get delegates to think on their feet and apply what
they’ve learned throughout the conference to a new scenario.
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Preparing Students for the Conference
HMC Dubai staffers and board members are available via email to answer any of you or your
students’ questions and help the students prepare for the conference. Staffers will also create preconference assignments for each of their committees to help student better prepare for the
conference. Staffers will also work throughout the conference to support your students and to
ensure that all students are getting the most out of the HMC Dubai conference experience
Still, some faculty members find it useful to further prepare their students in advance of the
conference. If you wish to do so, we recommend you focus on the following topics:
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Understanding the Conference
Public Speaking
Researching Roles and Briefing Topics
Parliamentary Procedure
Understanding the Conference
Your students will benefit greatly from understanding the general flow of the conference. If
they come into the conference with a good idea of how they will be spending each day they are likely
to be less nervous and thus perform better. It would be wise to share information about committee
time, full session time and crisis sessions with your students.
Public Speaking
Students will present pieces of legislation and debate bills in front of the committee and full
sessions. For some students, this is a very nerve-wracking part of the HMC Dubai experience.
However, it is a great opportunity for students to learn and grow. It might be a good idea to have
your students practice public speaking a bit before HMC Dubai. These following websites provide
helpful activities to get your students familiar with public speaking:
http://www.write-out-loud.com/public-speaking-activities.html
http://www.threedimensionalleader.com/3-d-education-blog/teaching-public-speakingskills-to-high-school-students
You might also have students give brief speeches on their view of their briefing topic or
their opinion on a specific policy put forth in the briefing topic. At the conference, students should
feel free to write an outline of their speech before they speak. However, we recommend students try
to not read directly from a pre-written speech but rather use written notes for reference.
Researching Roles and Briefing Topics
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There are two main components of pre-conference research: researching the briefing topics
and researching one’s role.
Briefings are the key resource for research for each delegate. Some committees will issue
briefing updates in the next few months and delegates ought to read these carefully as well. A guide
for further research is included in most briefings. Encourage your students to follow the advice in
this guide to learn more about their topics. Also encourage students to periodically google-search
their topic to see if there is any news related to the topic.
Delegates ought to do careful research on the position their assigned role. Delegates are
expected to represent their role to the best of their ability. While delegates do not need to represent
each role exactly they need to embody the spirit of their role. For example, a delegate representing a
conservative republican should not write a bill in favor of stricter gun control. As another example, a
delegate representing Russia should not sponsor a resolution that requires all countries to cede
control of their nuclear weapons. Students must be well-informed on the opinions their
representative, senator or country would have on their briefing topic.
Students in congressional committees ought to refer to their representative or senator’s
website. On those sites, they will find biographical information about their role as well as stances on
specific issues. Though these issues may or may not be directly related to the topics your delegates
will debate in committee, they will certainly give your delegates an idea of the values and motivations
that their Congressional role prioritizes. They can also find information about voting record and
more at: www.govtrack.us/congress/members.
Students in international committees have a trickier role, as they do not represent any one
specific person. Rather, they will play the delegate from an entire country. Still, they should represent
the majority opinion in that country’s government -- even if that opinion is not widely held among the
country’s people. For example, even if most Russian citizens support increased food aid in West
Africa, an HMC delegate should not express that viewpoint unless the Russian government leadership
also holds that view. In order to simulate how international organizations actually work, it is vital
that delegates are mindful of the politics surrounding the committee issues within their own country.
News articles will be key sources for delegates doing pre-conference research, as will publications
from government agencies and cabinet- or ministry-level offices. Delegates should also pay close
attention to their country’s history of action in their briefing topics.
Parliamentary Procedure
Most of our committees follow some form of parliamentary procedure. The following pages
outlines the rules of parliamentary procedure, the rules of full session and a sample dialogue to help
students understand parliamentary procedure rules in context. Please be aware that each chair has
his or her own unique chairing style and thus may use parliamentary procedure slightly differently
than other chairs. Chairs will review key parliamentary procedure terms and rules at the start of
committee.
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Parliamentary Procedure Guide
(from the Harvard Model Congress Boston Handbook)
FUNDAMENTALS
1. Powers of the Chair: The Chairperson of a committee shall set the agenda, direct discussions, put questions, announce
decisions, accord the right to speak, decide all questions of order, sign all written proposals, and ensure and enforce
observance of these rules. He shall have the right to name any staff member to perform duties of the Chair. The
Chairperson shall, subject to these rules, have complete control of the proceedings at any meeting and over the
maintenance of order. The Chair shall not vote, except in the case of a tie. A Chair may suggest that a motion pass with
unanimous consent.
2. Members: Every Member shall be present unless excused or necessarily prevented, and he shall vote on each question
put, unless he has a direct personal or pecuniary interest, which has been brought to the attention of the Chair. A Member
may not authorize any other individual to cast his vote or record his presence. No Member shall be recognized without his
placard and badge of office. Senators shall be addressed as “the Junior (or Senior) Senator from [State]”; Representatives as
“the Congressman (or Congresswoman) from [State].”
3. Motions: When the floor is open, Members may rise and be recognized by the Chair by raising their placards. The floor
is defined as open if no Member of the committee or congressional staff is speaking or has been recognized to speak.
ONLY points of personal privilege and order may interrupt a speaker. Only one motion may be on the floor at any given
moment. If a new motion takes precedence over the motion currently on the floor, then the motion currently on the floor
will be tabled while the new motion is resolved. The old motion will then return to the floor. No motion may be
recognized that falls below the current motion in precedence. In order to be considered by the Committee, a motion must
be immediately seconded by another Member. A Member may ask that his motion (or amendment, etc.) pass by
unanimous consent, in which case the Chair shall ask if any Member objects. If there is an objection, the motion shall be
considered normally; otherwise it passes immediately.
4. Quorum: The Chairperson shall declare the opening of a session when at least one-third of the Members are present. A
quorum shall be assumed to be present unless challenged and shown to be absent.
5. Courtesy: All Members shall show courtesy and respect to the congressional staff and to other Members. If any
Member should transgress these rules, the Chairperson shall call him to order, in which case he shall immediately sit down.
No Member shall impute another Member any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Member. No Member in
debate shall refer offensively to any Member or to any State of the Union.
DEBATE
6. Speakers List: When a Member desires to speak on any question, he shall submit his State (and District number in the
House, or rank in the Senate) to the Chair to be entered on the Speakers List for that question. There should be one
continually open general Speakers List on the issue before the floor. Separate Speakers Lists shall be established on all
debatable questions, including motions, amendments, and bills. The Chairperson may rotate between majority and minority
parties or between Members “For” and “Opposed”. The Chairperson may, with the consent of the committee, recognize
Members directly without using a Speakers List.
7. Time-Limit on Speeches: The Chairperson may limit the time allotted to each speaker and the number of times
Members may speak on any question. If a Member exceeds his allotted time, the Chairperson shall call him to order
without delay.
8. Yields: A speaker who has remaining time at the end of his speech has three options:
1. Yield time to the Chair, whereby his time is ended and the floor is open for motions.
2. Yield time to questions, whereby the Chair- person will recognize questions from the floor until time expires. Only the
speaker’s responses to questions shall be deducted from remaining time.
3. Yield time to another Member, who may then rise and use this time to address the Committee.
At the end of a speech, if the speaker neglects to yield his remaining time to any of the above, any Member may rise and
ask, “Will the speaker yield to questions?
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NOTE: A speaker may not “double-yield.” In other words, a speaker to whom time has been yielded may not then yield
time to a speaker or to question.
POINTS
Point of Personal Privilege: At any time, a Member may rise to a Point of Personal Privilege to correct conditions
adversely affecting the rights and personal comfort of the Members. Questions of privilege shall have precedence over all
other questions and shall be resolved by the Chair.
Point of Order: At any time, a Member may rise to a Point of Order if he or she feels that the rules are not being
followed. Questions of order shall be decided by the Chair without debate, subject to appeal. The Chair may, at his or her
discretion, submit any question of order for decision of the Committee. No dilatory question or motion shall be
entertained by the Chair.
21. Point of Information: When the floor is open, a Member may rise to ask a question relating to the Committee’s
business, excluding parliamentary and substantive issues.
22. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: When the floor is open, a Member may rise to ask a question of the Chair regarding
parliamentary procedure.
MOTIONS
23. Precedence: Motions shall be considered in the order of precedence listed on the chart entitled Table of Points and
Motions. Motions at the same level of precedence shall be decided in the order in which they were introduced.
24. Consider a Different Issue: A motion to change the stated topic shall require the approval of the Chair and the
seconds of a majority of the Members and shall be debatable to the extent of one speaker in favor and one opposed. It
shall require a 2/3 majority to pass. It shall have the effect of tabling discussion on the current topic and any bill or
amendment currently on the floor. Following the passage of this motion, committees will move directly to the next topic.
25. Testimony: When the floor is open, a Chair or Member may rise to ask that the Committee hear the testimony of an
expert on the issue being discussed. This expert must either be a member of the Special Programs, most often a Cabinet
member, or a member of the congressional staff. The motion requires a second, is not debatable, and re- quires a 1/3 vote
to pass. The first time it passes for each expert on each topic, the expert shall have four minutes to speak followed by two
minutes to answer questions. Each subsequent time that same expert is called to speak on the same issue: he or she may
only have two minutes for questions.
26. Appeal: A Member may appeal the decisions of the Chair. If a decision is appealed, then the Chair may speak briefly in
defense of the ruling. The appeal shall then be put to a vote, and the decision of the Chair shall stand, unless overruled by a
majority of the Members voting. Unappealable are decisions of the Chair regarding (1) dilatory questions or motions, (2)
adjournment or recess, (3) signature or distribution of bills, amendments, working papers or other proposals, and (4)
motions requiring the Chair’s approval.27. Caucusing: When the floor is open, a Member may move to caucus for a
stated reason and a stated period of time, not to exceed twenty minutes. The motion is not debatable and requires a
majority to pass.
28. Introduction of a Bill: Once a bill has been submitted to the Chair with proper signatures and has been copied and
distributed to the Committee, a Member may rise to introduce it for consideration. If the motion is seconded, then the
Chair shall allow one speaker in favor and one opposed. If the motion passes with support from at least 1/3 of the
Members voting, then a new Speakers’ List shall be drawn up with the Member who made the motion placed first, and the
bill shall be debated until a Motion for the Previous Question passes.
29. Introduction of an Amendment: Once an amendment is submitted and the Chair has either distributed copies or
publicized the amendment in some fashion, a Member may rise to introduce the amendment. Upon receiving a second, the
amendment shall be immediately placed on the floor. If there is absolutely no objection to the amendment, then it shall
pass by Acclamation. Otherwise, the amendment shall be debated with a new Speakers’ List until there is a Motion for
Previous Question or for Laying on the Table. Although there is no vote as to whether or not an amendment may be
introduced, a Member may Object to Consideration of the motion.
30. Objection to Consideration: A Objection to Consideration of any bill, amendment, or motion requiring debate may
be made immediately following introduction of the motion and before debate has commenced. Objection to Consideration
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is not debatable and requires the support of 2/3 of the Members voting to prevent consideration of the bill, amendment,
or motion in question.
31. Suspension of a Rule: A Motion to Suspend a Rule is in order if it receives the approval of the Chair. The motion
must be seconded by a majority of the Members present. The motion may then be debated by one speaker in favor and
one opposed and shall require the support of more than 2/3 of the Members voting.
32. Laying on the Table: A Motion to Lay [a bill, amendment, or motion] on the Table is not debatable and required the
support of 2/3 of the Members voting. It removes an item from the floor and from immediate consideration by the
Committee. A motion to resume debate on any tabled motion (to “Take from the Table”) is not debatable and requires a
majority to pass.
33. Previous Question: When the floor is open and a bill or amendment is under discussion, a Member may move the
Previous Question. If the motion is seconded, the Chair will recognize one speaker against the motion. The motion
requires a 2/3 majority to pass; if it passes, then all debate shall end and the Committee shall move to a direct vote on the
proposal in question. Note that if an amendment is on the floor, a Motion for Previous Question on a bill or resolution is
out of order.
34. Reconsideration: When a substantive question has been decided, any Member that voted with the prevailing side may
move to Reconsider. This motion is debatable to the extent of one speaker in favor and requires a majority to pass; it
places the decided issue back on the floor for another vote. No question may be reconsidered more than once without
unanimous consent. Only decisions regarding bills, amendments, and other substantive proposals may be reconsidered.
35. Recess: When the floor is open, a Member may move to Recess until the next scheduled meeting. The motion is
debatable, requires a majority to pass, and suspends all committee functions until the next meeting. The chair reserves the
right to rule this motion out of order.
36. Motion to Rise: This motion is not debatable and re- quires a simple majority to pass. It is only in order after 3/4 the
time allotted for the last meeting of the Committee has elapsed. When a committee rises, the Chair shall be required to
make a report to the Presiding Officer of the proper chamber. The Committee shall cease to exist as soon as the report is
made, and the Committee Members shall rise to enter the full session of the proper chamber.
37. Taking the Vote: Each Member shall have one vote and shall vote “Aye” or “Nay.” Each question shall be decided by
voice or placard vote. Any member may request a roll call for votes on substantive proposals such as bills and
amendments. If more than 1/5 of the Committee seconds the request, then the yeas and nays shall be ordered. The Chair
may, however, rule such a request to be dilatory without appeal. The Members shall, without debate, declare their assent or
dissent without abstention, unless excused by the Chair. Members may decline to vote only when they believe their voting
would be a conflict of interest; in this case, they may instead vote “Present.” No Members may change or withdraw their
votes except with unanimous consent.
38. Division of a Question: Any Member may ask to divide a bill or amendment, in order to vote separately on individual
parts of the proposed legislation. A Member would move to Divide the Question if he or she agreed with all but certain
sections of a bill. The motion must clearly state which sections are to be divided from the bill or amendment to be voted
on separately. A Member may ask to vote separately on every section of the bill or may ask to vote separately on one clause
only. After the divisions have been stated, the Chair shall call a vote on each division. Those parts that pass by simple
majority shall remain part of the bill. Those parts that do not pass will be omitted from the original bill. A final vote will be
taken on the bill as it remains — i.e., on the surviving sections of the bill as a whole. Only this final vote shall be eligible
for a Roll Call Vote.
NOTE: If those divisions that do pass form an incomplete or self-contradictory final bill or amendment, then the Chair
may, subject to appeal, rule the bill incoherent. This ruling will cause the bill to be removed from the floor without further
FULL SESSION RULES
1. Scope: The rules of procedure for Committee sessions shall be in force for House and Senate sessions as well, except as
modified by the following changes.
2. Congressional Staff: The President of the Senate shall be the Presiding Officer of the Senate. The Speaker of the
House shall be the Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives. Each body shall have a Majority Leader, Minority
Leader, and other party officials who shall organize their parties and coordinate support and opposition to a proposal.
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3. Powers of the Chair: The Speaker of the House shall vote at his discretion; he shall be required to vote in the case of a
tie. The President of the Senate shall only vote in the case of a tie. The chair shall select the members of the Conference
Committee.
4. Motions: In the House, all motions except Points of Privilege, Appeals, Points of Order, and Points of Parliamentary
Inquiry must be submitted in writing to the Presiding Officer.
5. Senate Docket: The agenda in the Senate shall be set in advance of the first session by the President of the Senate in
consultation with the Committee Chairs. Motions to Re-order the Agenda must receive the signatures of the Majority or
Minority Leader and the Presiding Officer before they may be introduced.
6. House Docket: The docket for the House shall be set by the Speaker of the House, in consultation with committee
chairs, prior to the beginning of each session. Members will have ten minutes at the start of each session to debate the
motion to accept the docket as a whole. At the end of the ten minutes, the previous question shall be ordered
automatically, and members may either agree to the docket or disagree and order that a new docket be set. If Members
reject the docket set by the Speaker, ten minutes of debate and discussion shall follow, for the purposes of establishing a
new docket. If, at the end of that ten-minute period, no new docket has been set, the original docket is accepted
automatically.
7. Speakers’ Lists: In the House, the Speakers’ Lists on each bill shall be kept by the party leaders. One party leader shall
be designated the bill manager, and all members wishing to speak in favor of the bill should request time from him/her.
The other party leader all be designated the manager of the opposition, and all members wishing to speak against the bill
should request time from him/her.
8. Bills: Bills may be introduced in the order specified by the agenda. In order to be introduced, bills not on the agenda
must be signed by 35 House or Senate members, the Majority or Minority Leader, and the Presiding Office
9. Amendments: Amendments to bills may be proposed once they have received the signature of 8 Senators or
Representatives, the Majority or Minority Leader, and the Presiding Officer. Amendments in the House must be germane
to the bill and section being amended; amendments in the Senate need not be germane.
10. Previous Question: Motions for the Previous Question in the House of Representatives shall be in order only after
two members of each side of the bill (pro and con) have spoken.
11: Motion to Recommit: In the first full House session, if a bill fails to pass, any member may make the motion to
recommit that bill to the committee from where it originated. The bill then returns to committee for further changes or
amendments. The motion to recommit is non-debatable, and requires both a second and a vote of the majority to pass.
12. Motion to Adjourn: The Motion to Adjourn replaces the Motion to Rise for session. Following adjournment, the
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall submit their reports to the Joint Session of Congress.
13. Voting: There shall be no roll call votes on amendments.
14. Laws: In order to become a law, a bill must receive the approval of both Houses of Congress and the signature of the
President. If the President vetoes a bill, then it shall require the support of two-thirds of the Members of each House to
become law.
15. Constitutional Amendments: Bills to propose Constitutional amendments shall require the support of two-thirds of
the Members of both Houses.
SAMPLE DIALOGUE
The following is a transcript of a short segment of a sample committee session. The setting is a conference room with about 20 members: a Senate
committee. At the head of the table and directly facing the committee members is the Harvard congressional staff—a Chair and a Vice Chair.
Chair: (striking the dais with a gavel) Please come to order! (The room quiets.) Welcome back from your lunch break. I
hope that it provided an opportunity for more casual discussion. We will resume by taking speakers from the Speakers List.
The next Member on the list is the Senator from Massachusetts. As before, the speaking time will be limited to two
minutes.
Senator Kennedy: Thank you, Madame Chair. Senators! As I speak before you today, our nation is in peril! I believe that
the social security system must be reformed . . . (The Senator continues speaking for another two minutes) Furthermore, ...
Chair: I’m sorry, Senator. Your time has expired. (Kennedy returns to his seat.)
Senator Hatch: (raises his placard)
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Chair: Yes, the senior senator from Utah.
Senator Hatch: Point of Parliamentary Inquiry. Is it in order at this time to comment on the previous speaker’s speech?
Chair: Yes, Senator. Let me explain. A speaker may end a speech in one of four ways.
He or she may sit down, in which case comments are in order. The Chair then selects someone at random to
comment on the speech. After that Member speaks for 30 seconds, the Chair picks another Member to speak for 30
seconds. Comments must pertain to the speech.
The second option is that the speaker yields remaining time to another speaker. That speaker cannot yield to
anyone else or to questions, though.
The third option is that the speaker yields to questions. The time spent asking questions does not count in the
total time allotment to the speaker.
The fourth option is that the speaker yields to the Chair. Motions are in order and we may continue with the
speakers list. But there is no second speaker, comments or questions.
Just remember that after a yield occurs, no other yields are in order. That is, there is no double-yielding. If there
are no other questions . . . (Debate continues)
Senator Boxer: I move to previous question!
Chair: That motion is in order at this time. The motion allows one speaker against and requires a simple majority to pass.
If the motion passes, then we will move immediately to a vote on the bill proposing a decrease in social security benefits.
Are there two speakers who oppose closing debate?
Senator Thomas: Point of Order! Moving to Previous Question requires a two-thirds majority.
Chair: I’m sorry – point well taken. The Chair stands corrected. A Motion for Previous Question requires a two- thirds
majority! Thank you for calling that Point of Order, Senator. Please raise your placards if you would like to speak against
closure. (Several Congressmen raise their placards) The Senator from California will have 30 seconds.
Senator Schumer: Fellow Senators, I implore you not to close debate at this time. There is still much to be said on the
topic of social security . . . (she finishes and sits down. Senator Boxer raises her placard).
Chair: To what point do you rise, Senator?
Senator Boxer: Point of Parliamentary Inquiry. First, why did the Senator from New York only have 30 seconds? Second,
would it be in order at this time to move for a caucus? Thirdly, may I comment on the Senator’s speech?
Chair: Whew! That’s a lot of questions! In this case, keep in mind that we are in the middle of a procedural motion. There
are two types of motions: procedural and substantive.
Substantive motions deal with the issues. For example, discussion of an amendment would be substantive. The
debate involves many speakers who each have two minutes to speak. Comments and yields are in order. Since substantive
actions affect the legislation passed by this body, they must be carefully deliberated and approved.
Procedural motions deal with the action of the committee - whether to caucus, close debate, recess for lunch, or
so on. For these motions, little debate is allowed: at most, two speakers for 30 seconds each. Comments and yields are
never in order during a procedural motion.
Senator Boxer: What about a motion to caucus? Doesn’t that take precedence over a motion to close debate?
Chair: That’s true. If there are two motions, one for caucus and one for closure of debate, we must vote on the caucus
first. However, the Chair has already recognized the motion to close debate, as we have heard from one speaker.
Therefore, we will continue with the motion. If the committee feels it would rather caucus, then it should vote
against closure and then move to caucus. OK, are there any more motions on the floor at this time?
(The committee hears the other speaker against closure and votes against closure. Several more speakers are heard.)
Senator Kennedy: (raises his placard)
Chair: To what point do you rise, Senator?
Senator Kennedy: I move to caucus for ten minutes.
Chair: That motion is in order at this time. There is no debate on this motion. All those in favor, raise your placards. (25
Senators raise placards.) All opposed? (18 placards go up.) The motion passes. You have ten minutes to caucus.
(Ten minutes later, the Senators return to their seats.)
Chair: Welcome back, the speaker’s list has expired. Let’s hear from some of the people I saw writing amendments during
caucus. Would anyone like to speak?
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Conference Logistics
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Conference Schedule
Thursday, January 19
13:30 – 16:00 Registration
16:00 – 17:00 Opening Ceremonies
17:00 – 20:00 Committee Meetings for All Programs
20:00 – 22:00 Delegate Meet and Greet Social and Dinner
Friday, January 20
8:15 – 12:00 Committee Meetings for All Programs
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:00 Full Session of Congress and International Summit
15:00 – 16:00 Harvard-AUD College Panel
16:00 – 19:00 Committee Meetings for All Programs
Saturday, January 21
9:00 – 12:00 Full Session of Congress and International Summit
12:00 – 12:50 Committee Meetings for All Programs
13:00 – 14:00 Closing Ceremonies
14:00 Schools Depart
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AUD Facilities
Harvard Model Congress Dubai is pleased to partner with the American University in Dubai for our
third year in a row. AUD is situated next to Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, and the Palm Islands. It is
15 minutes from the heart of Dubai's financial and commercial center and 25 minutes from Dubai
International Airport. AUD's multi-complex facility is situated on grounds of approximately 121,000m² and
encompasses three academic buildings, a student center, an administration building, residence halls, a cafeteria
area, and open-air sports facilities. We are delighted that delegates will have the opportunity to debate, speak,
and learn in AUD’s beautiful campus and facilities.
This year, we are exploring the possibility of making campus tours open to HMCD delegates. In addition,
we are hoping to incorporate AUD’s Admissions Office in conference planning to ensure that delegates
interested in AUD as a college prospect can take full advantage of their time at HMCD. More on that to
come!
In addition to using AUD’s beautiful space, we have also had the pleasure of working with both students
and faculty at the university. AUD’s MUN Club shares a similar mission as HMCD, hosting their own MUN
conference for college students each year as well as competing in competitions throughout the area. The
MUN Club staff will serve during the conference as additional resources for delegates and faculty. They are
so excited to meet you all!
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Faculty Advisor’s Role at Conference
Observing committee
Faculty advisers are encouraged to observe the committees that their students are in! We
simply ask that faculty advisers enter committee rooms quietly and don’t engage their students
during committee time. A HMC staff member will come check-in with you when they are able to do
so.
Faculty lounge
The faculty lounge is a great place to pass time during the conference. The lounge will
feature snacks and materials from committees. Lauren Greenawalt, our faculty liaison, will be on
hand to answer any questions or concerns of faculty advisers. The location of the lounge will be
announced at the conference.
Meal Information
HMC Dubai will provide two meals for conference participants: dinner at the delegate
social on Thursday night, and lunch during the conference program on Friday. School groups will
responsible for all other meals over the course of the weekend.
Breakfast will be available in hotel for non-commuting schools. We encourage all groups to
explore Dubai for dinner on Friday night after conference programs end at 19:00. If not, there are
several restaurants near the AUD campus at which school groups can dine.
If you have any concerns about meals, please feel free to reach out to us and we would be
happy to compile a list of restaurants in the area of AUD. We will also be in touch to confirm
allergies and dietary preferences for your delegates as we plan the menus for delegate social
dinner and Friday lunch.
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Top Things to Do in Dubai
(According to www.theguardian.com)
The Burj Khalifa
Visit the world’s tallest viewing gallery, At The Top, at the Burj Khalifa. This piercing tower is the
world’s highest building at 828 meters in height (more than eight times the Big Ben tower) and a
true feat of engineering. It was completed in just six years and today stands testament to Dubai’s
desire to reach new heights.
The Desert
The desert is on the doorstep in Dubai and there are few better experiences than bashing through its
sands in a 4x4. You can also take a camel ride, surf the dunes on a board and feast on barbecue
under the stars. Sit still for a moment to enjoy the absolute silence of the desert.
Skiing in the desert
Go skiing in the desert at Ski Dubai, an indoor ski resort located inside the vast Mall of the
Emirates. Take a lesson if you’re a beginner or, if you’re confident on two skis, hire your own
equipment and hit the slopes. Don’t miss a hot chocolate in the cafe-bar halfway up.
Shopping
Head to the souks of Deira for a shopping experience you will never forget – and may need to
prepare for. Brush up on your haggling skills as you barter over spices, gold and bespoke suits in the
traditional marketplace next to the creek – where much of what you see for sale still arrives from
Asia.
The Beach and Burj El Arab
Pose for the ultimate Dubai selfie by heading to the public beach located next to the Burj El Arab.
Here you can snap a picture of yourself standing on the sands with the iconic skyscraper that has
become Dubai’s unofficial symbol just behind you.
Eat at Ravi
At Ravi they say you eat like a prince but pay like a pauper – and it only takes one bite of their
delicious curries to see why this long-running Pakistani restaurant is so popular. Pakistani staples
such as Nihari beef or lamb stew are available for about £3.
The Burj Khalifa Lake
Yet another world’s largest can be seen at the Dubai fountains on the 30-acre Burj Khalifa lake.
These are the biggest dancing fountains on the planet, at 275 meters long and shooting water as high
as 150 meters. There are performances daily, some including a central beam of light that is said to be
visible from space.
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Jumeirah Mosque
Non-Muslims are rarely permitted to see the inside of a mosque, but at Jumeirah Mosque, the “open
doors, open minds” project allows you to do just that. Join an organized tour here and you’ll not
only see the vast interior of this Fatimid-style architectural marvel, but you can also ask anything you
like – about local culture or Islam itself.
Fine-dining at Al Mahara
At the other end of the scale is Al Mahara, a fine-dining restaurant located inside an aquarium. Here
the backdrop is a prelude to what’s on your plate, with a fish-focused menu that combines eastern
and western influences impeccably.
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Post-Conference
Though the January conference weekend is certainly the capstone of you and your students’
HMCD experience, we do not want the delegates’ learning to stop when they depart from the AUD
campus on January 21. This year, we want to partner with you to make sure delegates are
implementing the skills they learn through HMCD in order to ensure lasting impact.
1) Debrief with delegates once you get back home. When the conference is still fresh in
their minds, delegates will be able to relate constructive feedback and reflection on their
experience. By purposefully distilling the lessons, challenges, victories, and new relationships
sure to come with HMCD 2017, we hope delegates will not only realize all they
accomplished at the conference, but can chart a map forward to build on their gains.
2) Relay to us the feedback you receive. Every year, we conduct a post-conference survey
with faculty to assess what aspects of the conference went well and what we should work on
for the following year. This year will be no different, but we also hope to include more indepth survey questions on delegate experience and academic curriculum. HMCD is a
learning experience, and we want to focus on improving the HMCD challenge from year to
year.
3) Make plans to come to HMCD 2017! As we have learned through our more longstanding
conferences in Boston and Europe, HMC delegates have the best experience when they
return for consecutive years. We hope to maintain our connection with you after the 2017
conference so that we can improve for 2017 and provide the best possible experience for
delegates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What material or assignments should my delegates bring to the conference?
Committee staffers will not accept bills or resolutions prepared before the conference. The
purpose of HMCD is for students to work collaboratively to develop policy solutions. To foster that
collective environment, we do not allow students to use bills or resolutions that they drafted before
the conference. We do, however, allow students to bring paper copies of research materials to
assist them in topical discussions. Laptops, iPads/tablets, phones and other electronics are not
allowed in committee.
How accurately do delegates need to represent their assigned role?
Delegates ought to do careful research on the position their assigned role. Delegates are expected to
represent their role to the best of their ability. While delegates do not need to represent each role
exactly, they need to embody the spirit of their role. For example, a delegate representing a
conservative republican should not write a bill in favor of stricter gun control. As another example, a
delegate representing Russia should not sponsor a resolution that requires all countries to cede
control of their nuclear weapons. Students must be well-informed on the opinions their
representative, senator or country would have on their briefing topic.
What sort of preparation is necessary for HMCD?
All delegates are expected to have read the briefings for their committee and completed their
respective pre-conference assignments. While those are the minimum necessary requirements, any
and all further research regarding your topic and your committee is highly encouraged!
Where can I find all of the materials needed for committee?
You can find the briefings that you are required to read in the “Briefings” page of our website. To
conduct further research on your topics, be sure to refer to the “Guide to Further Research” section
of each briefing. Otherwise, be sure to keep up on the current events surrounding your topic!
Do students have to represent the views of their role, even if they disagree?
Yes! While a delegate may not agree fully or at all with the views of their assigned role, they are
expected to represent them to the best of their ability. For students, this represents a great
opportunity to practice their argumentation skills and think critically about all sides of the issues at
hand.
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What should my delegates pack for the conference?
HMCD dress code is western business attire! There is also a comprehensive packing list in the
delegate guide to which students can refer. In addition to attire for the conference, delegates should
bring some leisure clothing for free time, and classroom supplies, if possible (notebook, pen, pencil).
If some of my delegates are in the same committee, will they work as a team?
No. Chances are, some of your delegates will be placed in committees together. However, they will
work in committee as individual representatives, and should look to other committee members to
partner on resolutions, explore key issues, and foster consensus. While we love to see our delegates
have fun with friends from their home schools, we want them to take full advantage of HMCD as a
chance to befriend students from around the world.
Will my delegates need to turn in any assignments before the conference in January?
Yes. There will be pre-conference assignments assigned in early winter. Each committee will have a
slightly different assignment, and will require students to answer preliminary questions about
briefing materials. After turning in pre-con assignments, staffers will provide delegates with feedback
to consider as they make final preparations for the conference.
How are awards of excellence determined during the conference?
Awards are based on a multitude of factors, and are given at the discretion of staffers. Most (if not
all) staffers would say that there are always more great delegates than available awards, so we
certainly do not want you or your students to interpret awards as the single marker of achievement
in committee. Rather, awards are given to delegates who showed exceptional commitment to the
spirit of HMCD, exhibiting excellence both in topic discussion and peer engagement.
What are the differences between the domestic and international committees?
Domestic committees simulate the two chambers of American Congress: The House and the Senate.
The international committees, on the other hand, simulate various international bodies of policy
cooperation. Domestic committees tend to use a style of debate more adherent to parliamentary
procedure. International committees may vary in committee style depending on the topic of the
debate and the preferences of both staff and delegates.
How will HMCD staffers accommodate religious observances?
We, of course, allow students who request it time out of committee for religious observances such
as prayer times throughout the course of the conference. AUD’s campus has a prayer room available
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to all HMCD participants, and we will provide all conferences participants with campus maps in
order to access the facility.
Will I receive feedback about my student at HMC Dubai?
Yes. by the end of the conference, committee chairs will write feedback about each of your students
and reflect on their performance during the conference. We will then deliver this feedback to each
faculty advisor.
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