Join Us!

Are you a Yale student interested in chairing a YMC session?

Yale Model Congress is the oldest student-run model government conference in the Ivy League. For thirty years, Yale Model Congress has held conferences that provide high school students with the opportunity to assume the responsibilities of our elected representatives and to tackle the issues that face our nation. Over the course of four days, more than 600 students will come to Yale’s campus to participate in Congressional committees, focusing on topics that range from national security to the environment.


To help create an accurate simulation of our federal government, we integrate all three branches of government into the YMC experience. Our two special programs, the Presidential Cabinet and the Supreme Court, interact with the Congressional committees to enhance our delegates’ understanding of the legislative process.

Yale Model Congress requires student volunteers to chair our annual conference where hundreds of high schoolers from all over the country/world come to New Haven to role play as members of the United States Congress. Our delegates arrive at the conference with their pre-submitted bills which they hope to pass in committee and full sessions, and then to be signed by the president. It is our job as Yale students to chair the committees and ensure the proper code of conduct is followed. This includes:

  • Calling sessions into order

  • Recognizing motions

  • Keeping track of the time of speeches

All of this will be taught in the several YMC chair trainings we will hold. Absolutely no experience is required and we will teach you everything you need to know. Outside of conducting committees, we are here to help our delegates better understand college and Yale life, and you will be in charge of deciding awards!

The commitment includes at least one training (about one hour) this fall term as well as our conference, December 5th - December 8th. The conference weekend will be very busy yet very rewarding (if there is a session you absolutely cannot attend we can definitely work with you). Additionally, we have social events throughout the year to bond as a team and repay you for all your hard work.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Christian Thomas, the chief of staff at chiefofstaff@yalemodelcongress.org. Additionally, Alex Medel, our deputy chief of staff, can be reached at deputychiefofstaff@yalemodelcongress.org. Please feel free to reach out to one or both of us for any reason at any time.