This format is similar to the panel session, except papers are generally not written. Instead, presenters speak for 15 to 20 minutes each around a theme or work. Most round tables are composed of more senior faculty who are well known in the field and can draw on a larger body of work in their comments. Most conferences also include a placement service, where graduate students and junior faculty can participate in informal interviews with interested departments. Academic publishers often set up booths within or near the conference's paper room and many excellent books are offered at a discount for conference attendees.
Many conferences also have luncheons and sight-seeing trips at an extra cost.
While it is certainly important to be attending conferences as a presenter, some students find it worthwhile to attend academic conferences even if they are not presenting. Simply attending will give you a good feel for how conferences are run and what is expected of participants, not to mention the opportunity to learn about the hot new issues in the field. The most prestigious conference at which to present a paper is the APSA annual meeting, which is held right around Labor Day every year. In addition, most of the political science associations listed on the APSA web page have an annual conference. The GSA will also try to inform students of such deadlines well in advance.