9/19/2016

Caucusing
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Model UN :: Resources for Students :: Model UN Preparation

Caucusing
Model UN Preparation

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Caucusing,orinformaldebate,isanimportantpartoftheModel
UNsimulationbecauseitprovidesanopportunityfordelegatesto
collaborate,negotiateandformulatedraftresolutions.Duringa
ModelUNconference,caucusescanbeeithermoderatedor
unmoderated.
Whenacommitteeholdsamoderatedcaucus,theChaircallson
delegatesoneatatimeandeachspeakerbrieflyaddressesthe
committee.Duringanunmoderatedcaucus,thecommitteebreaks
foratemporaryrecessfromformalproceedingssothatdelegates
canworktogetherinsmallgroups.Toholdacaucus,adelegate
mustmakeamotionandthecommitteemustpassthemotion.
Manydelegatesprefertospeakduringamoderatedcaucusrather
thanbeingplacedonthespeaker'slist.Inamoderatedcaucus,
speakersareusuallyabletoconveyoneortwokeypointstothe
entirecommitteeorsharenewideasthathavedevelopedthrough
thecourseofdebate.Adelegatesometimeschoosestomakea
motionforamoderatedcaucusifhisorhernameisclosetothe
endofthespeakerslist.Byspeakinginamoderatedcaucus,
delegatesareabletoaddressthecommitteemuchearlier.
Inmostcases,morethanhalfofcommitteetimeisusedfor
unmoderatedcaucusing.Manydelegatesfeelthisistheeasiestway
forthemtocollaborateandstarttoformulatedraftresolutions.

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Tips for Effective Caucusing

Enterthecaucuswithaplaninmind:Formulateideason
whatyourcountrywouldliketoseeincludedinaresolution.
Decidewhichclausesyouarewillingtonegotiateonandwhich
youarenot.
Finddelegatesinyourregionalbloc:Thisistheeasiest
waytoseekoutallies.However,ifyoufindthatthegroupyou
areworkingwithisnotmeetingyourneeds,donotbeafraidto
switchgroups.
Provideideas:Tellotherswhatyourcountryishopingto
achieve.Ifyoudonotagreewithanidea,donothesitatetosay
thatitisagainstyourcountry'spolicy.
Negotiate:Whileitisoftennecessarytogiveupsomethingthat
youwant,makesurethatyouarenotgivingupanythingtoo
important.

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Caucusing

Listen:Bylisteningtowhatothersaresayingyouwillableto
buildonotherpeople'sideasandaddmoretothediscussion.
Listeningalsoshowsrespectforeachdelegateinyourgroup.
Donotinterrupt:Allowotherdelegatestofinishtheir
thoughtsratherthaninterruptingothersinthemiddleofa
sentence.Itsometimeshelpstowritedownyourideasothatyou
canbringitupwhenthedelegateisfinishedspeaking.
Recordideas:Starttoformulatearesolutioninwriting.
Ratherthanwaitinguntilthelastminute,beginrecordingfellow
delegates'ideasrightaway.
Beresourceful:Byprovidingfellowdelegateswithresolution
text,mapsorinformationastheyneedit,youwillshowthatyou
arevaluabletothegroup.
Haveoneononeconversations:Speakingwithan
individualorinasmallgroupisthebestwaytofindouta
delegate'spositiononanissue.Largergroupsarebettersuitedto
brainstorming.
Staycalm:Incaucuses,delegatescansometimes"losetheir
cool."Stayingcalmwillnotonlyhelpyourgroupbemore
effective,butwillbenoticedbytheconferencestaff.Alwayskeep
yourvoiceatanormallevel.Ifyouseethatyouarebecoming
upsetorraisingyourvoice,excuseyourselffromthegroupfora
fewminutes.
Usetimeeffectively:Makesureyouhaveenoughtimetohear
everyone'sideassothatyoucandiscussthemduringformal
debate.Trynottowastetimearguingoversmalldetailsthatdo
notseriouslyaffectthedraftresolution.
Showrespect:Nevergiveordersortellotherdelegateswhat
theyshouldorshouldnotdo.Bepoliteandtreatallyourfellow
delegateswithrespect.
Provideconstructivecritique:Ratherthannegatively
criticizinganotherdelegate,focusonprovidingconstructive
critique.Ifyoudislikeanidea,trytoofferanalternative.
Critiqueideas,notpeople.
Establishconnectionswithotherdelegates:Althoughit
canbetemptingtocallafellowdelegate"Pakistan,""Brazil"or
"Sweden",youcanformabetterconnectionwithadelegateby
learninghisorhernameandwhereheorshecomesfrom.Ask
thedelegateabouthisorherideasandimpressionsofthe
debate.Showinginterestinyourfellowdelegatesatthe
beginningoftheconferencewillhelpyougainmoresupport
lateronandcanhelpyoutoformlastingfriendships.

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