mun for dummies

MUN

Model United Nations

Statement of Purpose• The Model United Nations program is an

extension of The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN). It seeks to reflect the ideas and principles of a peaceful post Cold War world.

• The program accurately reflects the original motives of the authors of the 1945 San Francisco Charter.

• MUN strives to operate in a spirit of cooperation and consensus. Seeking compromise

The Country Assignment

At the MUN, as in the UN, delegates are representatives of nations.

Small Conferences delegates may represent a country by

themselves. Large Conferences (ie. THIMUN, BAIMUN)

schools are assigned countries, and all the members of the delegation which a school sends to the conference represent that country in their different committees.

Committee Selection

The MUN as with the real U.N. is divided up into committees, each dealing with a specific issue.

The committee selected will determine the general topics, as well as the specific issues one explores during the conference.

Examples of General Committees

General Assemblies These are the

largest committees, in the MUN, and the topics vary from year to year.

ECOSOC The economic and

social committee.

Human Rights Disarmament Special Conference

This conference may deal with any general topic (ie: peace and security), though is smaller than a General Assembly.

Note: Each of these general categories contains subcategories; current individual issues in the topic of the committee.

Timeline of Events

1. Prep Work1. Research Research2. First Resolutions

2. First Conference Phase

1. Opening Ceremony2. Opening Speeches3. Merging4. Getting Approved

3. Second Conference Phase

1. Formal Session (DEBATING)

This is the bulk, of the conference and is where all the other work comes together.

4. Closing Ceremony

Preparing for the Conference

Researching

A delegate’s goal at this stage is essentially to find out everything possible about the issue before their committee, and how it relates to the country they represent.

During this stage there are two assignments which an MUN director may decide to assign the delegates as preparatory work; a country profile, and a policy statement.

Country Profile

One or two pages of general information about the country.

Possible Topics History Stability Government Economy International Relations

Country Profile – Countries Unrelated to the Issue

Key points to consider

Economic interestsDonors (Aid recipient?)

Allies History Population Demographics

Policy Statement

Approximately three hundred words Details nations policy on a particular

issue. Delegates write one statement per issue.

(More than one issue per committee)

Delegation: CubaCommission: Economic and Legal

The Treatment and Trial of Perpetrators of Act of International Terrorism with the International Criminal Court.

Cuba applauds the signatories of the Rome Statute in their efforts to address the issue of international terrorism. Cuba has not ratified the Rome Statute, but requests all participating nations to take extreme caution in any decision or action they take. Any vagueness or lack of detail can lead open individuals worldwide to injustice. Cuba also asks the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider the consequences of this decision on high tension regions such as Palestine and Israel. Though due to a variety of reasons Cuba has been unable to ratify the Rome Statute, it has often communicated with the ICC on several matters. The Republic of Cuba is constantly threatened by terrorist for two main reasons: The island’s geographical location acts as a stepping stone, attracting drug trafficking and money laundering from the Americas. There are individuals that cling to the guerilla tactics and wish to overthrow the Cuban government. There have been several attacks on the Republic of Cuba, as well as Fidel Castro himself. Cuba is eagerly willing to join the ICC.

Heading

Issue Title

Issue Discussion

Writing Resolutions

What is a Resolution? A resolution in MUN is the same as one in the

real UN. It is a document comprised of clauses or points, which states the organization’s intended solution to a problem.

In dealing with a problem in the MUN the issue is discussed and debated, and a resolution is drawn up, calling for a certain action.

What is unique and valuable about a resolution in the UN is that it is an agreement between many nations, not the dictum of one.

Clause Writing

Two Types of Clauses Preambulatory Clauses:

Background information on the issue. Argumentation and reasoning.

This is basically the research on which one bases later arguments.

Operative Clauses: Calls for action, based on evidence supplied in

perambulatory clauses.

Preambulatory ClausesExample Clause Committee: Special Commission on Peace and Security, Question of: Combating terrorism in the Middle East)

1. Recalling UN resolution 52/165 on Measures to eliminate international terrorism, defining terrorism as criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons for political, philosophical, ideological, racial ethnic, religious or other reasons that may be invoked to justify them.

Starting Phrase

Defines Terrorism

Operative Clauses

Example ClauseCommittee: Special Commission on Peace and SecurityQuestion of: Combating terrorism in the Middle East

Urges relevant UN bodies and Middle Eastern nations to increase public awareness of the effects of terrorism through the use of mass media and education, that would describe,

(A) The horrors of terrorism, and it’s ineffectiveness as a constructive means of protest. Often the target group for terrorist attacks is only a small percentage of the

total affected (ie: embassy bombing in Kenya).

(B) Outlining and affirming Islam’s discordance with terrorist activities in accordance with the UN definition of terrorism.

Starting Phrase

Formal Header

Reference to Preamb.

Resolutions Continued…

Before the conference write, 4 perambulatory clauses 5 operative clauses

Note: Some directors will require more clauses, however clauses tend to deteriorate in quality

when more are required.

The Conference

The Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony is essentially a presentation to the delegates. It is a series of speeches made by the secretary general, the chairs, and possibly a guest speaker. This is where delegates take one last breath before the conference begins.

Opening Speeches

In an opening speech a delegate should outline his country’s policy towards an issue that will be discussed in their committee.

The opening speech is approximately one minute thus delegates must speak generally and concisely about issues, though be sure to convey a clear stance.

The speech is a delegate’s first opportunity to make his/her view’s known, and the better this is done, the easier the merging process is later, as like-minded nations may locate one-another more quickly.

A Sample Speech…

Opening Speech (Notes)

Opening Phrases- “Honorable chairs, fellow delegates…”- “Madame President… honorable

delegates”

Presentation- Dramatic + Informative - Must respectably represent nation, may

not slander other nations

Lobbying + Merging(grouped together at MUN)

Lobbying

1. Meeting People Forming resolution groups

2. Stick to country policy N. Korea and the United States are

not signed on to the same treaty regarding nuclear proliferation.

Merging

Forming groups Combining resolutions Writing new resolutions

Recommendations- Locate countries with similar policies - Form groups strategically- Collect two best points from all submitters

Signing On

Main Submitter Reads out the operative clauses before

resolution is debated. (should be a confident speaker)

Co-Submitters Are signed on in support of the resolution Usually stand to speak in favor of a

resolution, though are not obligated to. (less comfortable delegates)

Getting a Resolution Approved

Description Resolutions are checked by administrators for

errors. Once checked and corrected resolutions get

approved.

Notes: Follow conference specifications exactly for

resolution formatting. Potentially very frustrating

Formal Debate

Debate Outline

1. Presenting the Resolution

2. Debate Time For

3. Debate Time Against

4. Amendment Time

5. Voting

Key Phrases for Delegates

General phrases and terms, necessary for understanding and using formal speech.

Key Terms

The Floor Refers to the forum or committee of delegates

as in “would the floor please come to order” - Chair

Or signifies speaking rights. “I would like to yield the floor to the delegate of

______” – A delegate already speaking.

The Chair The individuals in charge of the committee.

They keep order, and run the debate.

Key Phrases

Yielding This refers to

speaking rights.

One “yields” the “floor” (their right to speak).

Key Phrases/Points

Point of Personal Privilege

Used very commonly. Only point a delegate may make whenever

they wish. Means a privilege is violated

I can’t hear the room is too hot/cold, I don’t have a copy of ____

Key Phrases/Points…

Point of Informationa) When directed to the chair

i. Asking the chair to explain something

b) When directed to a speakeri. Used when questioning a speaker, often in the

form of a leading question.

Point of Ordera) Directed to the chair

i. Used to question the legality of an action or decision

Motions

“Motion to move to voting procedures” Directed to the Chair

The delegate would like to end the debate and vote on the resolution

This motion must be seconded (another delegate shouts out “second”) in order to be considered by the chair.

“Motion to table the resolution” Directed to the Chair

The delegate feels debate on the resolution should go on, but has reached a standstill. Therefore they propose the resolution be set aside and discussed later.

Must be “seconded”.

Debating Explained

Presenting the Resolution

1. Main Submittera) Reads operative clauses of resolution

b) Takes “points of information”

2. Co-Submittersa) Delegates signed on in support of the

resolution. (helped write it)

b) The main submitter will often yield the floor to a co-submitter to speak on an issue.

Taking the Floor (speaking)

To get the floor Chair may ask, “are

their any delegates wishing to take the floor” – delegates raise their placards.

After speaking one yields the floor to

another delegate or back to the chair

Debate Time “For” and “Against”

The Chair sets debate time “For” and “Against”.

Time For Individuals speaking “for” the resolution take

the podium to speak.

Time Against Individuals speaking “against” the resolution

take the podium to speak

Amendments

Submitted in time “against”. Delegates write out and submit proposed

changes of a clause to the chair.

If chair approves the amendment Submitter takes the floor, reads the

amendment, and speaks for it. A mini debate is held (time “for” and “against”

and a vote) to see if the amendment is added.

Voting

Voting

Time “Against” lapses. “Debate time on this resolution has lapsed, we

will now move into voting procedure.” – Chair

Voting Placards are raised “for”, and then “against” Abstaining

A neutral vote; not “for” or “against”. Nations may abstain if they cannot decide one way or the other, or as an act of dissention.

Resolution either “Passes” or “Fails”

Overview

Each committee debates multiple resolutions on different issues. There is usually time for four or five,

depending on conference length. The debating process is used in each.

At the end of the conference the passed resolutions are published.

The Closing Ceremony

And it’s all over…

It’s really that abrupt.