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The Montpelier Summit at James Madison's Montpelier is an exclusive opportunity for young professionals in government and public policy to connect with the source of American democracy in an inspiring, non partisan setting steeping in history and natural beauty. On this powerful stage, participants engage in study and conversation about democratic self-government, citizenship, natural rights, and the rule of law. Each Summit is designed to provide balance between intense engagement and relaxed social environments to explore the future of policymaking and forge lasting friendships.

Young Professionals based in Washington, D.C. between the ages of 25 and 35 currently working in the executive or legislative branches of government or in the wider public affairs community are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have 3 to 10 years of workplace experience in the fields of government, politics, media, and/or public affairs. Advanced knowledge of the U.S. Constitution is not necessary. A commitment to fully participate in the three-day program is required. 

James Madison was in his mid-20s when he began to influence the world with his political thinking. In his 30s, his ideas and political skill shaped and solidified the U.S. Constitution. At the age of 40, Madison drafted the Bill of Rights. Madison didn't wait for an invitation or permission to lead. He was inspired to improve society and move our nation forward. His work serves as the source of motivation for countless leaders working on and around Capitol Hill today. Yet the fast-paced, heavily politicized, and global nature of policymaking makes it difficult to remain connected to the ideas and principles that underpin our democracy. The Montpelier Summit aims to rekindle and reinvigorate nonpartisan, principled discussion and debate about the process of formulating and enacting policy - through the lens of current pressing issues - and create lasting bonds among emerging leaders that can be called upon for years to come. 

As a Montpelier Summit participant, you will challenge yourself and your peers to reconcile the need for a new approach to policymaking that recognizes the challenges we face in an interconnected world. Below is a sample itinerary of activities held at each Summit:

Day 1: Friday

 

Dr. Lauren C. Bell holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center at The University of Oklahoma.  She is a former American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow on the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and a former United States Supreme Court fellow at the United States Sentencing Commission in Washington, D.C. She is the author of Filibustering in the U.S. Senate (2011); Warring Factions: Interest Groups, Money, and the New Politics of Senate Confirmation (2002); and The U.S. Congress: A Simulation for Students (2004); as well as co-author of Perspectives on Political Communication: A Case Approach (2008). Professor Bell joined the faculty at Randolph-Macon in 1999 and served as Associate Dean of the College from Fall 2007 until her appointment in 2014 as Dean of Academic Affairs.

Mary Katharine Ham is a writer and political commentator who used to spar weekly with Bill O’Reilly before “The O’Reilly Factor” was cancelled. A Fox News Contributor, Ham appears regularly on “America’s Newsroom,” “Red Eye,” and “Your World w/ Neil Cavuto.” She is Editor at-large for HotAir.com, a conservative and libertarian news site, a Twitter enthusiast, and a recent guest-host of “The View.” As a newspaper journalist, she did a stint covering NASCAR, high school football, and the county’s largest legumes before embracing New Media and heading to Washington, D.C., where her career goal has been to discover the formula for talking about politics without being a blowhard. She is the co-author of End of Discussion: How the Left’s Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters, and Makes America Less Free (and Fun) (2015).Mary Katherine serves on the board of the Travis Manion Foundation, a non-profit that does work with returning veterans and families of the fallen.