An effective Hamiltonian for the study of the quantum Hall effect is proposed. This Hamiltonian, which includes a "current-current" interaction has the form of a Hamiltonian for a conformal field theory in the large N limit. An order parameter is constructed from which the Hamiltonian may be derived. This order parameter may be viewed as either a collective coordinate for a system of N charged particles in a strong magnetic field; or as a field of spins associated with the cyclotron motion of these particles.