Model United

Nations
 What is UN?
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental
organization that was tasked to maintain international
peace and security, develop friendly relations among
nations, achieve international co-operation and be a
centre for harmonizing the actions of nations

Currently 193 countries

 What is MUN?
MUN is a student level simulation of the original UN
conferences where the role of delegates is played by
the students
Terminology used in
MUN
 Delegates
Delegates are the representatives of various nations,
they are the ones who represent their respective
countries in the conference and speak in behalf of the
entire nation keeping their personal views away.
 Placard
Placard has the delegate's country name tagged on.
Placards are used to identify the delegate and to sign
the chair that the delegates wishes to address the floor
if raised.So if a delegate wishes to speak anything, the
placard must be raised.
 Committee
All delegates are divided into various committees
each one made for a specific field like the General
Assemblies or GAs which deal with the
administration, budgetary and legal issues. The
delegate’s work is to explain the beliefs of their
respective country in the various committees.
 Chair
A moderator or chairperson for the debate who rules of
points and motions, keeps time, and enforces the rules
of procedure. Chair may be a member of the committee
or simply a neutral third party moderato
 Council
Council is the team or staff of the Model UN
conference. They might be referred to for taking
decisions by the chair.
 Decorum
Order and respect that delegates must abide to. The
chair calls for decorum whenever he/she feels the
committee is being disrespectful.
 Roll call
Roll call is the attendance where the chair calls out the
names of all the countries in alphabetical order and the
delegate of each country has to answer either “present” Or
“present and voting” Which refers to whether or not a
particular delegate wishes to cast his vote for the various
resolutions that would be taken during the conference. If
answered “ Present and voting” the delegate cannot abstain
from voting.
 Agenda
- It is the main topic or order on which the delegates
would speak and put their nation's views forth. It is
announced after the roll call.
 Speaker's list
A list of nations wishing to speak on the agenda and
take part in the debate. When a new topic is open, the
Chair will call for states wishing to be put on the
speaker’s list. Once the debates starts, delegates must
send a note to the Chair requesting for their country to
be put on the speaker’s list.
 Opening speech
Opening speech is made by delegates once the agenda
has been declared and they are called upon to speak in
order based on the speaker’s list.
 Time limit
Whenever a speech is being made a specific amount
of time commonly 2 minutes is given to the speaker
and the speech must end in the given time.
 Second
The action of a state to agree with a previous motion,
often seconds are mandatory for a motion to be
recognized by the chair.
 Caucus
A disruption form the formal debate in which states
may effectively discuss topics in a less formal manner.
 Moderated caucus
It's one of the two caucuses in which a delegate can
get into a formal debate with another delegate if he
does not agree with the other delegate's point of
view and wishes to express the same.
Unmoderated caucus
Unmoderated caucus allows delegates to stand up
and move around and informally and freely discuss
with their counterparts and write resolution papers
with the delegates of other countries.
 Draft resolution
A document drafted by one or more delegates that
aims to address the topic of the debate. If passed, it
becomes a resolution.
 On the floor
Once a draft resolution/working paper is ready to be
presented to the chair and the committee for
discussion and eventually voting, the draft is put “on
the floor” and may be discussed.
 Voting
Voting is done to decide
various things like if a given like to pass a draft resolution or to
decide whether a given agenda should be discussed or not. One
can either vote for the motion, against the motion or abstain
from voting during the roll call.
 Adjourn
Most international conferences (UN and others)
terminate their sessions with a vote to adjourn.
Adjourning a session is for a short time (e.g., coffee
break and overnight).
 Motion
An official request made by a delegate which impacts
the whole committee. Motions are made for different
topics, such as a caucus, introduce a draft resolution,
move into voting procedure, to adjourn and etc.
 Challenge
Challenge is when you don't agree with the points
made in a specific resolution and wish to challenge it.
 Amendment
Once a draft resolution is officially on the floor, its content
may be changed by any member of the committee. Any
change to the tabled draft resolution that is not supported
by all the sponsors of the draft resolution, is considered an
amendment
 Position paper
- It is a document in which a delegate describes his
country's belief on a specific agenda and possible
solution.
PARLIAMENTARY
PROCEDURE
 Procedural Point
1.Point of Personal Privilege
2.Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
3.Point of Order
4.Point of Information
 Motions
1.Motion to Open Debate
2.Motion to Set the Agenda
3.Motion to Adjourn the Session
4.Motion to Suspend the Meeting
5.Motion to Enter Unmoderated Caucus
6.Motion to Enter Moderated Caucus
7.Motion to Table the Topic
8.Motion to Divide the Question
9.Motion for a Roll Call Vote
10.Motion to Introduce a Working Paper
11. Motion to Limit Debate
12.Motion to Reconsider
POWERS OF THE ORGANISING
COUNCIL
 Chair and the council
The decision of the chair on matters regarding debate is final and
binding on all delegates. Any deviation from the rules of
procedure, which is final and binding on the delegate needs
written permission and consent from the chair and council of the
conference. Also if a delegate is not behaving in a parliamentary
fashion he/she can be barred from council after being given three
warnings. The council has the power to question any delegate and
ask for justification about his/her stand on a particular issue if they
feel it is contrary to their country policy or could help enlighten
committee better. However, a decision of the council can be
appealed against and so also the chair impeached.
 Appeal
The delegates have an option to appeal to the chair, if
dissatisfied with the verdict of the chair or if they wish to
question the chair about the way they are conducting the
committee. Example: After being recognized ‘Permission
to appeal to the chair’, on being given permission, the
delegate can voice his/her grievance to the chair within a
minute’s time frame, after which the chair may or may not
take into consideration the delegate’s recommendation. A
delegate if further dissatisfied with the verdict of the
council can raise a plea to follow up. A maximum of two
pleas will be allowed which may or may not be recognized.
Position Paper
What is a Position Paper
A position paper is a document describing a
topic, your country's position, and possible
solutions.
How to Write a Position
Paper
Model UN conferences require delegates to submit
"Position Papers on their topics beforea conference starts
to demonstrate their research and knowledge. Position
Papers are normally 1-2 pages per topic, and should have
3-4 paragraphs. They should be written from the
perspective ofthe government of your country, include a
header, and answering the following questions.
Heading
Topic: Your Topic
Country: Your Country
College: Your College
 Topic Background
What is the definition of the topic?
Where does the topic take place?Who is involved?
How many people does it affect? Where, and in what way?
Why is this topic important?
Past International Action
Interesting statements by UN officials ?Try to find a
quote.
Most important UN resolutions and treaties on this
topic?
Do any major Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) work on this topic?
 Country Policy
Impact on your country?
What has your country tried to do about this topic?
What types of policies would your country want the
UN to adopt (or not adopt) on this topic?
 Possible Solutions
What specific plans would your country like
the UN to undertake to address this issue?
Why would your ideas work? Give specific
plans
Example of Position
Paper
Example of Position
Paper
Topic: Gender Equality
Country: Russian Federation
College: Best Delegate University
College: Best Delegate University
According to UN Women, gender equality refers to "the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunitiesof women and men and girls and
boys." Gender inequality is a global issue: many women lackadequate access to healthcare, are underrepresented in political arenas (women
hold only 22% ofparliamentary seats worldwide), are victims of gender-based violence (approximately one in threewomen worldwide have
experienced physical or sexual violence), face discrimination in the workplaceand in wages, and lack equal access to education (two-thirds of
illiterate adults are women).These issues have myriad causes, including cultural beliefs about gender and marital roles, and legalregulation.
These detrimental inequalities are cyclical and complex: a female's educational careerfor example, is affected by pregnancy, household work,
access to sanitation facilities at school,and the danger of physical and sexual assault.
The creation of United Nations Women in 2010 through resolution A/64/588 was a "historic step"in achieving gender equality, by "bringing
together resources and mandates for greater impact". Inaddition to UN Women, the main mechanism to promote gender equality worldwide
is the legally binding Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).adopted in 1979 with nearly
universal participation. The UN General Assembly has also recentlyadopted A/RES/69/149 on combatting trafficking of women and girls,
A/RES/69/147 to eliminateviolence against women, and A/RES/69/236 to emphasize the role of women in development.Through these
resolutions, organisms, and NGO partners, the UN and Member States work toinvest in women, provide legal protections, and educate
women to accomplish these goals andachieve gender equality.
Given the integral role of women's economic equality and independence in achieving gender equality,the Russian Federation strives to ensure
that women had equal access to education and employmentin order to achieve their potential, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated
to the UN GeneralAssembly. Russia encourages cooperation between UN Women and Developing Countriesnot just Developed Countries.
Because of the importance of economic development in empoweringwomen, Russia would like cooperation between UN Women and the
International Labor Organizationas well as other UN bodies to craft plans for equality based in each nation's traditional values andnorms.
Russia also feels it is critical that the United States ratified CEDAW, as it is the largest nationnot to do so.
The Russian Federation feels that important subtopics that must be addressed are gender-basedviolence, women's lack of access to education
and jobs, and women's lack of representation in politicsand political decision-making. To address women's lack of representation in politics,
countries can beencouraged to ensure inclusion of women candidatesand create recruitment and training programs tointroduce young
women to politics. In order to combat and prevent gender based violence, countriescan develop crisis centers and hotlines for women and
develop rehabilitation programs for victims ofviolence. Also, Russia believes countries should ensure the safe transport of girls and women to
andfrom schools, invest in hiring female teachers, provide adequate sanitation facilities at schools, andemphasize skill-based hiring programs
in all industries, including those normally reserved for men.
Resolution
 How to write a
resolution
Resolution is the main result of the work of your
committee, and is meant to do exactly what the name
implies: “resolve” the problem that your committee is
focused on. Resolutions are the documents the UN
uses to make decisions, and are written by groups of
Member States collaborating on their ideas
 Three main sections
1)Header,
2)The preamble
3)Operative section.
 1)Sponsor: An author of all or parts of a resolution,
that agree with the content of the resolution.

2) Signatory: A delegate that wishes to see the

resolution debated before the committee, but does not
necessarily contribute content or agree with the
content of the resolution.
 The Header
There are four main pieces of information in the
header of the resolution:
1.Committee
2.Topic
3.Sponsors
4.Signatories
 The Preamble
The goal of the preamble of a resolution is to set the
scene for the resolution.
 The Operatives
Operative paragraphs determine what
action the UN will take on the issue.
 Operative Phrases
Acknowledges , Adopts , Confirms , Determines that ,
Emphasizes , Requests Resolves , Suggests that ,
Supports , Takes note , Expresses its concern,
Recognizes
Sample Mun Resolution