Yale-New Haven

Model Congress
Training Program
Week 2 October 3rd, 2014

What did we do last week?

Introductions
What is Yale Model Congress?
What does a bill look like?
What are some committees?
Topics of Interest?

A little bit about Me

Sophomore at Yale University
Interested in: Ethics, Politics
and Economics with a focus in
education
From: Princeton, New Jersey
Interests: Teaching/Mentoring,
Violin, Food

Plan for the Upcoming

Weeks
BIG IMPORTANT DATES
11/7: Bills are due
12/4: Conference start!

Schedule

Week 1 (9/26): Introductions to Model

Congress; Explore Topics; Learn to
Research;
Week 2 (10/3): Parliamentary
Procedure; Structure of Debate
Week 3 (10/10): Finalize Bill Topics
Week 4 (10/17): Research & Bill
Writing Day
No meeting 10/24: Fall Break for Yale

Schedule Continued

Week 5 (10/31): Work on Finalizing Bills

Week 6 (11/7): Bills are due
Week 7 (11/14): Mock Committee
Session
Week 8 (11/21): Mock Committee
Session
No meeting 11/28: Thanksgiving Break
Week 9 (12/5): YALE MODEL
CONGRESS CONFERENCE!

Interested News?
Discuss in groups of three or four,
news articles that you found
interesting
What are some potential topics that
you could turn into a bill?

Structure of Debate
Structured Debate
General Debate

Structured Debate
Primary Speeches:
1 pro/1 con, 4 min each

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

General Debate
Points or Motions?
Speeches (preferably alternating
positions), 2 minutes long
Amendments

Debate on an
Amendment
Structured Debate
1 pro/1 con, 2 min each

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

Motion to the Previous Question

Points and Motions?

Point
Point
Point
Point

of
of
of
of

Inquiry
Information
Personal Privilege
Order

Motions

Motion
Motion
Motion
Motion
Motion
Motion

to Consider a Bill
to Introduce a Bill
to Amend
for the Previous Question
to Recess
to Rise

Preview of Next Week

Finalizing Bill Topics
Issues and what can be done to
change them

Homework
Pay attention to some of the current
events
Brainstorm a list of 3 issues that you
could potentially address in a bill
For each issue come up with a 5
point plan to address the issue