Manan Manchanda ’19
EE Staff Writer
Trumbull High’s Model Congress team had the honor of going to Yale University this past weekend to partake in Yale Model Congress (YMC). These students were given the opportunity to debate real world issues and formulate opinions on other delegates’ bills.
Model Congress provides high school students with an opportunity to learn about and experience the American legislative system first hand. Yale Model Congress, like the U. S. Congress, consists of small, specialized committees of approximately 20 students modeling the committees in the U.S. House and Senate. Delegates from all over present their bills in these specialized committees. Bills and resolutions passed in committee sessions earn consideration in the full House or Senate. Those passed during full sessions reach the Yale Model Congress President, modeling the Unites States’ president, who signs them into YMC law.
The students’ hours spent writing, formatting, and practicing bills were worth it since they represented THS very well, with 10+ bills passed out of the 16 that were created.
Miss Boland, advisor of THS Model Congress, says, “Yale Model Congress is showing that it’s a bit more efficient at passing legislation than the U.S. Congress.”
Two THS Model Congress members earned awards at closing ceremonies. Nick Marchenko (’17) earned an award for Best Delegate in the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development. David Marchenko (’17) earned an Honorable Mention in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
After the conference, Junior and Model Congress member Jacob Fried (’17) said, “After going to Yale Model Congress last year with less than 10 members, it was amazing to see so many of our students participating this year.”
This is a great start to the year for the Model Congress team. Hopefully, they will continue to do as well at other conferences later this year.