HMCE's Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who can participate in HMCE?

HMCE is open to all secondary school students (typically grades 9-13) who are registered with a school or group. If you have any questions about whether you or a student you know is eligible to participate, please e-mail hmceurope@gmail.com.

Q. How are roles assigned?

Once a school has paid all registration and participation fees, they are asked to submit the number of roles from each committee that their delegation would prefer. The Faculty Liaison for HMCE then uses that information and information about roles that have already been assigned to other schools to make an assignment that matches the request as closely as possible. The role assignment list is then sent to a school’s faculty advisor who determines which student will fill which role. Once this determination has been made, the final list is sent from the school to be processed by HMCE.

It is important to note that while every effort will be made to accommodate schools’ role requests, that there are few requests which, as a general rule, are typically not accommodated. While there is no absolute prohibition, and delegations should feel free to inquire about their possibility, the following types of requests are not typically granted:

• Requests for more than three students in any program other than the House of Representatives or Senate (or more than two in G8).
• If delegations are smaller, requesting that more than half of a delegation be placed in one program (except for House of Representatives or Senate).
• Requests for specific roles (e.g. “Secretary of State” rather than a request for Presidential Cabinet).
• Requests for more than two teams total from Supreme Court and International Court of Justice.
• Requests for all the delegates from a school to be placed in one specific political party in the House of Representatives or Senate.

Q. Is prior debate or public speaking experience required?

While past experience in debate or public speaking is likely to help participants feel comfortable at HMCE more quickly, each year a large portion of the delegates have never before participated in debate or public speaking. While some committees (such as G8 and Presidential Cabinet) are likely to involve more debate or public speaking, others (such as Historical Committee or Press Corps) involve other skills like writing or informal communication with other members of the committee. In short, regardless of a student's skills or background, there is likely a committee at HMCE that will match his or her experience and preferences.

Q. What is the minimum/maximum size for a delegation?

There is no minimum size for a delegation, and delegations with just one student have enjoyed the conference experience quite a bit. While there is no absolute upper limit on a delegation size, delegations may be asked to limit the number of participants to 30 in an attempt to allow more schools to participate. If this is a concern for your delegation, please e-mail hmceurope@gmail.com.

Q. What is the schedule of this year's conference?

HMCE 2010 will be held from March 13-15 in Brussels, Belgium. Please see the conference information page or this year's registration guide for more information.

Q. What are the costs associated with attending HMCE?

Detailed information about conference costs can be found in this year's registration guide. If you still have questions about costs or fees after reading the registration guide, please e-mail hmceurope@gmail.com.

Q. How can students prepare for the conference?

There are a number of ways that students can prepare for the conference. The most important responsibility of any student participant is to review the program guide and topic briefings for his or her assigned committee. Another important preparation tool for students is to keep informed about current events by reading a daily newspaper or reviewing articles published online by a reputable news source. Students' efforts to practice public speaking or research the role assignments they have received are also sure to provide excellent preparation.