About PMC

Princeton Model Congress is a Public Policy class at Longwood High School that trains students for participation at the Annual Princeton Model Congress in Washington, DC in November. During the class, students will learn about:

  • modern public policy issues
  • the Congressional Committee process
  • how to write a bill
  • how to debate a bill using Roberts Rules of Order

In 2008, this process becomes much more relevant with the backdrop of a national election for the President of the United States. Students in this advanced course will conduct research into:

  • the electoral process
  • the debate process
  • the politicization of candidates' views
  • economic issues which effect the election
  • the importance of proper public speaking and engagement

The structure of this Honors level course divides the issues that intersect American politics into the following four subcategories:

  • Foreign Policy Issues
  • Economic Issues
  • Domestic Issues
  • Social Issues

Students learn all of the procedures and issues listed above, then engage in practice debate in class, simulating the Conference in Washington DC. Students then travel to Washington DC in November and work with thousands of students from around the country in a Model Congress setting, just down the street from the actual Capitol of the United States of America! Students debate and attempt to get their bill passed through Committee, then the full House or Senate that they are assigned to. Students also engage in meaningful debate on all other students' bills that are present in their committee and full sessions.