#Firstly what is a MUN Conference?

Model United Nations (MUN) simulations are popular exercises for those
interested in learning more about the UN. Students take on the roles of diplomats
from different countries, representing their nation in discussions on a particular
agenda topic in the conference.

These agendas reflect issues taken up by the UN for discussion, ranging from
relatively general topics such as rights of religious minorities in a General
Assembly, to specific issues such as improving accident safeguards surrounding
nuclear plants in the IAEA.

# Preparation for Model UN

1)TOOLS OF A DELEGATE

CHIT (PAD)S

Chit(pad)s can be used as messages to an official sitting inside the council, be it a

Delegate or an Executive Board Member.

Various uses of a chits are:

• To inform the Executive Board of any points you might want to raise in council or
ask them a question (via Executive Board);

• To ask or answer questions from other Delegates;

To persuade other members of the Committee to support your Resolution.

SPEECHES AND QUESTIONS

The main presence of a Delegate is assured by this main tool in Council, which is
to be supplemented by Chits, knowledge of the Rules of Procedure, and Informal
Debate in unmoderated caucuses.

The central purpose of Model UNS is for Delegates to get together and discuss
issues, not argue and fight. One must realise that it is not important to prove
another Delegate wrong, or to show that they have insufficient knowledge. One
must strive to contribute to the learning of others, as much as of their own selves.

RULES OF PROCEDURE

Rules of Procedure is another tool a Delegate can use. As with any structure, full
knowledge of the structure enables you to use it most efficiently and to work
around the obstacles sometimes. Delegates are accorded the right to speak and
question, debate and create resolutions and other outcome documents using this
structure called the Rules of Procedure.

DELEGATE DECORUM

An MUN is meant to be a simulation of the real United Nations. As such, the

delegates are expected to act with utmost respect toward each other, as would
any actual member of the diplomatic arena. Delegates are to note that during
formal, as well as informal debate, they are to speak in third person, and the
usage of personal pronouns such as Me, I. My, etc. is prohibited.

Another thing for a delegate to keep in mind is Diplomatic Courtesy. As a

representative of a nation, any statement made formally or informally is taken as a
statement of that nation itself, if taken on public record. At this point of time, no
delegate can afford making any statement, which might be misinterpreted as
offensive to another delegate or council member. Utmost respect is extended to
the executive board, mutual respect extended to all the delegates and the
International Press members, and appreciation for the Administration
(Secretariat) of the Conference.

2) Flow of Debate
1st - Roll Call
2nd- Establish Quorum
3rd- setting the order of agenda
4th- Opening GSL ( General Speakers List)
5th- GSL speeches and yields
6th- Points
7th- Moderated Caucus(topic, total time, indivisual time)
8th-Formation of working papers
9th - Verification and apporval of working papers
10th-Discussion/ mergers and/or formation of blocks
11th- Formation of draft resolution
12th-approval of draft resolution (by EB)
13th- Discussion and mergers
14th- Amendment procedure
15th- closure of debate
16th-Voting of draft resolution
17th- Passage/failure of draft resolution
END OF CONFERENCE

now lets give a brief info on the imp things

#ROLL CALL

Every committee session starts with the roll call, without which quorum
cannot be established No debate can ensue without Quorum being
established. .

1. Present -A Delegate can vote in Yes, No or Abstain for a Draft

Resolution when s/he answers the Roll Call with Present.

2. Present and Voting - A Delegate is bound to vote decisively, i.e., in a

Yes or No only if s/he has answered the Roll Call with a Present and
Voting. A Delegate cannot Abstain in this case.

3. Abstention: When a Delegate is in doubt, or if his/her country

supports a few points in the resolution and is against the other points, a
Delegate may Abstain. Abstention can also be used in case the Delegate
believes that the passing of the resolution will not as such harm the
world, even though it might not be highly specific or [Link]
Abstention counts as neither Yes, nor No, and his/her vote is not
counted during the total tally of votes.

#QUORUM
Quorum (also known as the minimum number of members of a
committee required for the committee proceedings to commence) for
the Conference, is set at one-third of the members of the committee
present.

#DEBATE IN A MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Debate is of two types:

1. Formal Debate

1.a. General Speakers' List

2.a. Moderated Caucus

2. Informal Debate

1.b. Provisional Speakers' List

2.b. Unmoderated Caucus

#POINTS AND MOTIONS

The flow of debate is in the hands of the Delegates and moderated by

the Executive Board with mechanisms called Points and Motions, which
are central to the democratic nature of the Committee.

Points are individualistic, and are used in regards to a certain Delegate.

Motions are liable to voting, and are used to shift from one form of
debate to another, or to introduce changes in the scope of debate from
time to time.
Points (In the order of Disruption)

Point of Personal Privilege - A Delegate may rise to a Point of Personal

Privilege whenever s/he experiences any inconvenience, which could
affect his/her involvement in the proceedings, so that the discomfort
may be mitigated or prevented. This Point may interrupt a speaker and
thus, should be used with the utmost discretion so as not to disturb
others' debate.

Point of Order-A Point of Order is used to point out factual or a

procedural error. The final decision regarding a Point of Order rests with
the Executive Board. A Point of Order can interrupt the speaker if
permitted by the Executive Board. The specifics of this should be
verified at the beginning of the committee by the Delegate. It can also
be raised against the Executive Board in case they violate their own
Rules of Procedure without prior intimation to the committee, in case
this hampers debate or is unfair to one or more Delegates in the
committee.

Point of (Parliamentary) Inquiry - When the floor is open, a delegate

may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to ask the Chair a question
regarding the rules of procedure. This however, should never interrupt a
speaker.
Point of information (A Question to another delegate about the
Agenda) - A delegate may ask a question to another delegate on the
agenda topic of discussion through the executive board when the
speaker has yielded the floor to Points of Information. This also should
never interrupt a speaker.

#GSL
After the agenda for the session has been established, a motion is raised to open
the GSL... All forms of debate during the conference are carried out within the
GSL, and this list is open throughout the duration of the discussion on that
agenda. A new GSL is established for each agenda.

• To speak in the GSL a delegate must intimate the Executive Board, by raising
his/her placard when the Executive asks for Delegates wishing to speak in the GSL.
The countries' names will be noted in the order in which they will be making their
speeches.

• After their GSL speech, a Delegate has the option to Yield his/her time to a
specific Delegate, Points of Information (questions) or to the Executive Board.

#YIELDS

On conclusion of any speech in the GSL, a Delegate can choose to Yield in any one
of the following ways:

. Yield to another Delegate: In case a Delegate has some time left to speak, and
does not wish to utilise it, then s/he may choose to yield the remaining time to
another Delegate. This must be done with the prior consent of the other delegate
(taken either through chit or in person)
. Yield to Points of Information: A Delegate may also choose to yield to Points of
Information. The Executive Board will recognise a certain number of Delegates
wishing to ask questions regarding the agenda or the speech made by the
Delegate. It is upto the Delegate to answer the question. Ways of refusal include
repling via chit later etc.

. Yield to the Chair: Should a Delegate yield to the Chair, any leftover time is
considered null and the Executive Board will move on to the next speaker in the
GSL. Some Executive Boards may also request the Delegate to answer substantive
questions from them in case necessary for debate. This usually happens when a
country's stance is crucial to resolution of the problems.

Provisional/Special Speakers List(PSL or SSL)

A PSL is started in two circumstances:

A debatable motion - In a debatable motion, before the Executive Board moves

for the final vote, it'll ask for certain no. of speakers For and Against the topic.

Special Procedure - When a controversial issue is raised and the Committee feels
that it cannot be solved through the GSL or Moderated Caucuses, it sets up a PSL,
which will work like the GSL. but with a Provisional Agenda. Eg. A crisis situation.
However, one does not usually encounter this format in MUNs unless it is a
decisive committee, such as the Security Council.

A PSL is usually established only for Procedural Motions, such as Motion to

Change the Order of the Agenda or Motion to Table Debate. Speakers are
recognised by the Executive Board to speak for and against (alternately) on the
motion at hand. The Executive Board decides the number of speakers for and
against, and specifies the individual speaker's time.

During the Provisional Speakers' List speech, a Delegate attempts to convince

fellow Delegates whether to support or not support a motion, citing reasons and
arguments why. These reasons might be based in foreign policy, or even the scope
of debate.

#MODERATED CAUCUS
Moderated Caucuses are meant to have specific topics of discussion so that one
can narrow down and try to address one sub-topic at a time. Sub-topics can be
derived from the main agenda either by common themes/issues, region, legal
regime and political debate.

It is generally advisable to keep documenting the suggestions being made so as to

make a more comprehensive Resolution in the Committee.

The delegate proposing the motion must state its purpose and specify a time limit
for the moderated caucus as well as the speaking time per delegate.

This motion needs a simple majority vote (50%+1) in order for it to pass.

. However, the Executive may rule such a motion out of order if it is not worded
properly or in case it is out of the scope of the agenda.

#UN-MODERATED CAUCUS
• Only the total time needs to be specified when raising this motion. When it is
put to vote, it requires a simple majority to pass.
• An un-moderated caucus would mean that Delegates can informally interact
with their co-Delegates without moderation by the Executive Board. They can
utilise this time to discuss pertinent issues within their blocs, or it can be used to
frame draft resolutions, working papers or amendments, depending upon the
stage the committee is at.

Reasons to propose an Unmoderated Caucus

If the committee feels that certain clarifications need to be made regarding the
agenda which formal debate is not permitting, or the delegates wish to giving a
certain direction to debate with consensus.

• To start working on the Draft Resolution and to prepare official committee

documentation. Lobbying is required to persuade countries to join a bloc, and it
forms an integral part of being a Negotiator.

#MOTION TO THE TABLE DEBATE

During the discussion of any matter, the committee may consider a motion to
table debate on the item under discussion at the recommendation of the Chair or
any Delegate. If the is seconded, two representatives may speak in favour of, and
two against the motion. Then, the motion shall immediately be put to a vote. A
two-thirds majority(substantive majority) is required for passage.

If a motion to table debate is passed, the topic is considered tabled and no further
actions or votes will be taken on it. A topic may be reintroduced to the committee
so that debate can resume through the same process. The motion to resume
debate on a tabled topic shall also require a two-thirds majority for passage.

#CLOSURE OF DEBATE
A delegate may at any time move for the closure of debate on the item under
discussion, after which debate will end and all draft resolutions and amendments
will be put to an immediate vote. Permission to speak on the closure of debate
shall be accorded only to two speakers opposing the closure, after which the
motion shall be immediately put to a vote. This motion requires a two-thirds
majority decision. Upon passage of this motion the Executive Board shall declare
the closure of debate and immediately move into voting procedure on the
substantive proposals introduced and pending before the committee (these may
be amendments or draft resolutions). The committee shall also close debate by
default, and move into voting procedure when the speakers list has been
exhausted.

#ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING

During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may move for the adjournment of
the meeting. Such a motion shall not be debated but shall be immediately put to a
vote. After adjournment, the committee shall reconvene at its next regularly
scheduled meeting time; adjournment of the final meeting shall adjourn the
session.

#SPECIAL MOTIONS

Right Of Reply

The Chair may recognise the Right of Reply only in instances of a grave personal
insult. Rights of Reply must be submitted in writing to the Chair as a first step, and
may only be granted after a speech is completed. The Chair shall inform the
Secretariat of the circumstances surrounding the Right of Reply. No ruling on this
matter is subject to appeal.

Appeal to the Chair's Decision

An appeal is made when a delegate feels that a member of the Executive Board
has made an incorrect ruling. The Delegate formally challenges the said member
in writing by sending a note to the dais, moving to appeal the Chair's decision. The
appeal will be taken to the Secretariat, who will decide if the appeal shall be
considered or not. Once the motion is acknowledged, the Advisors will hear from
both the Delegate and the Chair before taking a decision.

#WORKING PAPER

A Working Paper may be introduced on the floor at any point of time after viable
solutions have emerged. This document is a rough draft of the solutions that the
committee members wish to recommend for the agenda at hand. It has no format
as such. More than one Working Paper can be made in a committee. A working
paper has only signatories, not sponsors

TIP FOR WORKING PAPERS

A Working paper in Draft Resolution Format minus the Roman numbering, or

the clauses, can help the delegates format the working paper into a draft
resolution at a later point of time.

Discussion of the Working Papers is done through a Moderated Caucus. Working

Papers should ideally be merged, so that all the ideas that the various members of
the committee have can be consolidated into a Draft Resolution. However, the
same is not advised in case the reasons for differences arise out of foreign policy
concerns. After discussion of the Working paper, an Un-moderated Caucus can
ensue to finalise the merger and/or edit the Draft Resolution.

DRAFT RESOLUTION
A draft resolution may be introduced when it has the required number of
signatories and the approval of the Executive Board. A Draft Resolution requires
20% of support from the committee to be introduced. The respective Executive
Board shall intimate the maximum number of Sponsors to the Council.

What are Sponsors and Signatories?

SPONSORS: Countries having read ALL the points of the draft resolution, agreeing
to it completely. Sponsors have to vote a YES to the draft resolution when it goes
to voting. They cannot vote a 'no' or 'abstain' from voting.

SIGNATORIES: All countries that wish to merely hear the draft resolution being
discussed. They have no obligation regarding voting, they can vote yes, no or
abstain as they wish and according to their roll call.

[STRUCTURE OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTION]

Preambulatory Clauses

The preamble of a draft resolution states the reasons for which the committee is
addressing the topic and highlights past international action on the issue. Each
clause begins with a present participle (called a preambulatory phrase) and ends
with a comma. Preambulatory clauses can include:

1) References to the UN Charter;

2) Citations of past UN resolutions or treaties on the topic under discussion;

3) Mentions of statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN body

or agency:

4) Recognition of the efforts of regional or nongovernmental organisations in

dealing with the issue; and

5) General statements on the topic, its significance and its impact.

Operative Clauses

Operative clauses offer solutions to issues addressed earlier in the preamble of a

resolution. These clauses are action oriented and should include both an
underlined verb at the beginning of your sentence followed by the proposed
solution. Each clause should follow the following principals:

1) Clause should be numbered as 1,2,3, etc.;

2) Each clause should support one another and continue to build your solution, try
to place solutions to one aspect together rather than having them spread out in
the draft:

3) Add details to your clauses as sub-points, in order to have a complete solution

that is self-explanatory, comprehensive, and that can be implemented by a
country without interpretation:

4)Operative clauses end with a semicolon, with the exception of your last
operative clause that should end with a full stop.
#AMENDMENT PROCEDURE (IN THE ORDER OF
DISRUPTION)

Approved draft resolutions are modified through amendments. An amendment is

a written statement that adds, deletes or revises an operative clause in a draft
resolution. The amendment process is used to strengthen consensus on a
resolution by allowing delegates to change certain sections.

2 types of amendments:

1. A friendly amendment is a change to the Draft Resolution that all sponsors

agree with. After the amendment is signed by all of the draft resolution's sponsors
and approved by the Committee Director or Vice Chairperson: it will be
automatically incorporated into the resolution.

2. An unfriendly amendment is a change that one or more sponsors of the Draft

Resolution do not support and must be voted upon by the committee. The
author(s) of the amendment will need to obtain a required number of signatories
in order to introduce it (usually 20% of the committee). Prior to voting on the draft
resolution, the committee votes on all unfriendly amendments..

NOTE: Ultimately, resolutions passed by a committee represent a great deal of

debate and compromise. They are the tangible results of hours if not days of
Model UN debate. As a result, it is important to become familiar with the
resolution process and practice drafting resolutions using the proper structure
and wording A misplaced comma, or even a full stop in between, can change the
entire nature of the Draft Resolution.

There are three types of amendments according to the kind of change it proposes
to the Draft Resolution:

1. Addition Amendment: This seeks to add a clause to the proposed Draft

Resolution. The clause, if added, becomes the last point of the original Draft
Resolution.

2. Deletion Amendment: This amendment seeks to remove/delete a clause from

the original Draft Resolution.

3. Modification Amendment: This is to allow for changes of any kind within the
clauses in the original Draft Resolution. For this, the complete original clause has
to be written first. followed by the fully amended Clause. Make sure that the part
being changed in the original clause, and the part that has been changed in the
modified clause, both are underlined.

NOTE: All Unfriendly Amendments will be voted upon, and need the same
substantive majority to pass that a Draft Resolution does. For example, in a
Security Council they require 2/3rd majority, whereas in most other committees
they require 50%+1 majority. All Friendly Amendments are passed
automatically.

#DRAFT RESOLUTION AND VOTING

Each country will have one vote. Delegates, depending on whether they have said
Present/ Present and Voting in their roll call, can vote either "Yes", "No" "Abstain",
or "Pass"
# A Draft Resolution needs three things before it can be introduced to the floor

First, it needs the signatures (but not approval) of at least 1/5th of the total
members. Being a signatory in no way necessitates implicit approval for the
resolution. Being a signatory merely implies that the Representative feels that the
resolution should be introduced to formal debate.

Secondly, a resolution needs to present a logical, simple and above all feasible
solution to the situation at hand. Working papers may contain the most
imaginative and creative ideas, but in a resolution these ideas have to stand up
against the real world. If the Executive Board feels that the solutions presented in
the resolution are improbable, s/he will not approve the same to be introduced in
committee. The Draft Resolution has to be coherent and consistent. What this
means is that when you set the intent in the preambulatory clauses, the operative
clauses should address those problems and not deviate.

Thirdly, a resolution needs authors, who will actually be sponsors (although they
are not officially recognized as such), and who are willing to amend and emend
the resolution until it suits the majority, without compromising the meaning, or
diluting the essence of the solutions or original premises of the resolution. The
amendment has to be presented in resolution format, and along with it a short
note specifying which parts of the resolution need to be amended should be
added.

# There is only one final resolution. If a resolution passes, all other competing
resolutions will have failed automatically. In case multiple resolutions address
different parts of the issue, and none of their solutions clash in implementation,
then multiple resolutions can be passed as well.
. Voting proceeds in three rounds in the first of which voting rights can be asked
for. Rights are explanations generally permitted only to sponsors who wish to say
no to their own drafts. If the Representative wishes to change his/her vote in the
second round, his/ her rights are null and void. The first two rounds proceed in
alphabetical order by roll call and the last by show of placards. However, the
method of the Voting process is upto the Executive Board of each committee.

• "The Delegate of Country wishes to Close debate and move into the voting
procedure." To close debate on an agenda and move into voting process. No
further discussion takes place until a vote has been conducted for the draft
resolutions.