MUN

ORIENTATION
SESSION

-BY SAJAL YADAV & SOUMYA

YADAV
WHAT IS UNITED NATIONS?
• The United Nations is an international organization founded in
1945. It is currently made up of 193 Member States.

• The United Nations can take action on the issues confronting

humanity in the 21st century, such as peace and security,
climate change, sustainable development, human rights,
disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health
emergencies, gender equality, governance, food production,
and more.

• The UN also provides a forum for its members to express their

views
What is Model United
Nations?
 Model United Nations is an academic
simulation of the United Nations where
students play the role of delegates from
different countries and attempt to solve
real world issues with the policies and
perspectives of their assigned country.
What does a conference look like:
BASIC TERMINOLOGY:
DELEGATE

 A delegate is an individual representative of a country

in a MUN committee. The delegate’s objective is to
introduce policy suggestions in a written document,
called a draft resolution, and try to get it passed with a
majority of votes of their fellow delegates in the
committee. A delegate moves their policy ideas
forward through speeches, lobbying, negotiation, and
writing with the intention of influencing the outcome of
the committee session in their favour and securing the
best interests of their nation.
COMMITTEE

 It is a deliberative body tasked with debating over

policy issues and issuing actions pertinent to their
domain and in the interests of International Society. Eg:
UNSC (United Nations Security Council) deliberates and
acts on matter of international security and
UNCSW(United Nations Commission on Status of
Women) on Women Rights and other issues.
SO, WHAT REALLY
HAPPENS??
• A Model United Nations conference is one where students act as government
delegates representing countries from around the world to discuss and
debate on pressing world issues.
• The United Nations comprises various different committees that address
different problems in order to unanimously reach the UN's goal of world
peace. For example the Disarmament and International Security Committee
(DISEC) has in the past dealt the problem of small arms and light weaponry
(SALW) in the African regions of Congo, Sierra Leone , Uganda, and found the
links to child soldiers, blood diamonds, and drug proliferation.
• The MUN committee will have delegates who will discuss and debate the
above problem, find out their caused and deliberate on prospective solutions.
The debate arises due to the conflicting opinions of the delegates, difference
in their proposed solutions and a deadlock in case of difference in political
ideologies.
• In order to facilitate a smooth flow of debate, there are various rules and
procedures that need to be adhered to as per the direction of the committee
chairperson/director.
SPECIFIC FLOW OF EVENTS
Rules of
Procedure
 ROLL CALL

• Dais (Chairs) begins with roll call.

• Delegates may respond “present” or “present and voting”.
• Next, the Dais will ask the floor for a motion to “open the debate”.
• In the first committee session, a delegate must move to open the
Speakers’List.
• During the first committee session, the agenda must also be set
(choose topic 1 or 2).
 GENERAL SPEAKERS LIST
• The Speakers’List is the default format of committee, if there are no points or motions
• A country may only appear on the list once at any given time/ by the discretion of the Dais
• A delegate can be added by raising their placard when the dais asks or by sending a note to the
Dais
• The speaking time will be set by the delegate who moves to open the Speakers’ List, but a delegate
may move to change the speaking time. However, it will depend on the chair’s discretion.
• If the Speakers’ List is exhausted and no other delegates wish to be added, the committeemoves
immediately into voting procedure on any draft resolutions that have been introduced.
• If there is still time remaining when a delegate concludes his or her speech, he or she must yield
his or her time (to the dais, to another delegate, or to questions, by saying either “I yield my time to
...”)
• Yielding to dais will automatically end the speech, yielding to another delegate allocates the
remainder of the time to that delegate (the second delegate may not yield to a third delegate), and
yielding to questions allows for feedback from other delegates.
 TYPES OF CAUCUS
Moderated caucus
• The caucus will be carried upon in
a moderated debate on one aspect
of the topic.
• Delegates must specify total caucus
time, individual speaking time and
topic when motioning.
• Delegates that wish to speak must
raise their placards when the chairs
ask (raise hand for online) Sample:
Motion for a moderated caucus 5 to
1 discussing root causes of the
issue.
Unmoderated Caucus
• Unmoderated debate, formal order
will not be adopted.
• Draft resolutions paper/ working
paper can be written during this
time.
• Delegates must specify total time
when motioning the unmoderated
caucus. Sample: Motion for a 10
minutes unmoderated caucus
discussing about …
 POINTS VS. MOTION
Points Motions
• Usually questions aimed at the • Requests for continuing debate
chair or the delegate(s) • Votes are needed to continue
speaking in front
• Must be phrased in question
form
• No votes are needed
• Must not interrupt a speaker,
unless it’s a point of personal
privilege in regards to the
audibility of the speakers.
 Types of Points
Personal Privilege
• ▸ If delegates have issues
with audibility or need to
leave committee for a short
time.
• E.g. Point of Personal Privilege
- may I leave for a moment and
comeback, I have internet issues?
Parliamentary Inquiry
• If delegates wish to ask the chair
for questions regarding
procedure.
• E.g. Point of Parliamentary
Inquiry - how many votes are
needed for a majority?
Types of Points
Information
• ▸ If delegates wish to ask the
current speaker questions related
to their speech.
• E.g. Point of Information - when
crisis updates come up.
Order
• ▸ If there is something wrong
in committee, in regards to
parliamentary procedure.
• E.g. Point of Order - Chairs, isn’t
my motion more constructive?
RESEARCH
 Purpose of Research

• Gaining basic understanding on the topic

• Knowing the mandate and the tasks of your designated council
• Knowing your country’s stance, interest, and position
• Knowing your possible allies on your council
 Flow of research
Country research > Committee Research >Topic
Research
 FLOW OF RESEARCH
• Researching your country :
-analyze the region your country

• Analyze your country’s stances

Read the news on your country’s position towards the issue - and the
general picture (e.g.: Arctic situation in 2017 )

• Committee related knowledge

Look at the Study Guide — analyse your committee’s mandate and
past action on the issue + commitment
Read the news on your committee’s activities
Analyze related resolutions and report from your council
Basic Understanding on Committee’s Topic

• Read the study guide, highlight things that you don’t understand, do
some research.
• Read the news - analyse what is the core problem of the issue.
• Take notes only on important points that are related to your topic.
 QUESTION AND
ANSWERS
Please feel free to contact
for any Query!!!