APEEJAY MODEL UNITED NATIONS

2023

Common Conference
Handbook
 Table of Contents

• What is MUN?
1. Roll call
2. The phases of the committee
3. Yield
4. Points
5. Motion
6. Position Paper
7. Resolutions
8. Writing a resolution
9. Amendment
10. Voting on resolutions
11. Important Model Procedure Vocabulary
12. Mode of conduct
13. Dress code
 2

Introduction to MUN
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. It introduces students to the world of diplomacy,
negotiation, and decision making. Model UN not only involves young
people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages the
development of skills useful throughout their lives – skills including
research techniques, writing, public speaking, problem-solving, conflict
resolution, compromise, and cooperation. The same is followed for
Apeejay Model United Nations (AMUN) as well.

Procedures of MUN
1. Roll call

At the first formal session of the committee, the moderator will conduct a
roll call of all registered countries in the committee to determine which
delegations are present. The number of delegations present at the time of
the roll call determines whether there are a sufficient number of member
countries to conduct business. This is called a quorum. When the country's
name is called, delegates must say:

“The Delegate of [represented country] is present and voting.”

In this way, delegates establish voting privileges for their nation. If they
come in late to the sessions, they must notify the president in writing. At
least half of all delegations plus one must be present for business
discussions to occur. This is called a simple majority and is used as a
reference for voting to take place.
 3
2. Phases of the committee

A committee is usually split up into four main phases, they are:

a) Speakers List: The speaker's list is where delegates usually begin and are
usually used to discuss opinions rather than foster debate. During these, it is
necessary to define your country's opinion on the topics discussed in the
background guide.

There are two types of Speakers List:

(i) General Speaker's List: The General Speaker's List is open throughout the
discussion of the topic area.
• Motions to open any other medium of debate will not close the General
Speaker's List, but will only overlap it.
• To get a country on the list, a note must be passed to a logistics member.
General Speaker's List is ordered on a first come first serve basis provided that a
name is not already on the list.
• In the General Speaker's List, each member nation gets control of the mike for
a full minute and thirty seconds (the speaking time can be changed by motioning
for the same). Therefore, those whose names are on the Speaker's List control the
debate.
• To counter this, delegates may motion for Moderated Caucuses on specific parts
of the topic area.

(ii) Special Speaker’s list: The Special Speaker’s List is almost like the General
Speaker’s List, except that it must be motioned for.
• This is open to discuss a particular topic within the topic area and is open for a
specific time period. While motioning to open it, the purpose and time limit must
be specified.
• Speakers may only discuss the issue that the Special Speaker’s List was opened
to discuss.
b) Moderated Caucus:- 4

• A debate format that allows delegates to make short comments on a specific sub-
issue.
• Typically, delegates who are interested in speaking will raise their placards and
the Chairs will call on delegates to speak one at a time.
• To move into a moderated caucus, the motion must include the overall speaking
time, the time per speaker, and the sub-issue to be discussed.
• The purpose of a moderated caucus is to facilitate substantive debate at critical
junctures in the discussion.
• During a moderated caucus, the Director will suspend the Speaker’s List, and
call on delegates to speak at his/her discretion.
• A moderated caucus is also opened for a specified purpose and a specified time.
In a moderated caucus, try to be precise and to the point.

c) Unmoderated Caucus:-

• A debate format in which delegates can leave their seats to go and talk to others
freely and informally.
• This is usually when delegates find allies and work on draft resolutions.
• In order to move into an unmoderated caucus, the motion must include the
overall caucus time and preferably the purpose of the unmoderated caucus.
• This is essentially an informal discussion amongst delegates and has no
procedural rules.
• Delegates generally use it to formulate working papers or resolutions. It must be
motioned for, and it also requires a purpose and a specific time.
• This is the main time for lobbying, making allies, and gathering support.

d) Voting:-

• The voting procedure is typically the last portion of the committee and is invoked
by a motion.
• Working papers become draft resolutions when introduced, and then, if passed,
become resolutions.
 5
• Once all draft resolutions have been presented, all amendments have been
made, and the delegates or the Chair feels that the committee is ready to move
into the voting bloc, a delegate will make a motion to move into the voting bloc.
• This motion requires two speakers for the motion and two speakers against the
motion, and a two-thirds majority is needed for it to pass.
• If it passes, the committee is now in the voting bloc. The committee can also
automatically move into a voting bloc if the Speaker’s List is exhausted.
• Once the committee is in the voting bloc, there will be no speaking, passing of
notes, or entering and exiting the room so that delegates are not influenced by
others to vote a certain way.

3. Yield:-

• In a GSL or SSL, if a delegate finishes their speech before time has elapsed,
they have to make use of yields. This is also a time when a speaker decides to
give up the remaining time in his or her speech.

•Typically, the three types of yields are:

Yield to the Chair: meaning you give up the rest of your time.
Yield to another delegate: meaning you give up the rest of your time to another
delegate.
Yield to questions: from other delegates or Yield to comments on your speech by
other delegates.

4. Points:-

There are four kinds of points that can be used by delegates during the
committee:
• Point of Personal Privilege: Used when a delegate experiences personal
discomfort that hinders their ability to participate in the committee. Examples:
temperature of the room, distractions during committee, can’t hear another
delegate, etc.
 6
• Point of Order: Used when a delegate believes that there was a factual
discrepancy in another Delegate’s speech.
• Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: used when a delegate has a question regarding
the rules of procedure. Use this to ask a question if you don’t understand a term or
get what’s going on in committee!
• Right to Reply: A reciprocal right is a public response allowed by the CHAIR if
a comment affects the integrity of a delegate. An example of this would be if a
delegation were offended by another delegation’s comments.
• Point of information: It is the right to ask a question to another delegate. It is
used only when the rules permit it, namely only during the formal debate when a
delegate yields their remaining time to questions.

5. Motion:-

• Motion to Open Debate: This is the first motion of the conference and is made to
move into the formal debate. If there are multiple topics on the agenda, the body
will first debate on the order they are to be discussed until there is a motion to set
the agenda. A majority vote is needed to pass.

• Motion to set the agenda: This motion is made with a specific topic mentioned to
be debated first and the other second. Two speakers for, two against, and requires
a simple majority to pass.

• Motion to Open the Speakers List: This motion is used to open the primary
speaker's list. All delegates wishing to be added to the speaker's list should raise
their placards at the request of the chair or send a note to the dais.

• Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus: This motion temporarily suspends the

meeting for a specified amount of time. Use it to create resolutions, talk to other
delegates or do anything else you may need to do. It requires a second, is not
debatable, and needs a simple majority to pass.
 7
• Motion for a Moderated Caucus: This motion brings the body into a
moderated debate on the issue on the floor for a specified amount of time. The
moderating officer will then recognise speakers for a specified amount of time,
who cannot yield to anyone but the Chair at the end of their speech. This
motion requires a second, is not debatable, and needs a simple majority to
pass. This motion may not be made once the debate has been closed.

• Motion to Introduce a Working Paper: This motion brings a working paper

that has already been approved by the Chair with the appropriate number of
signatories to the floor for general debate. It requires a second, is not
debatable, and needs a simple majority to pass.

6. Position Paper:-

The Position Paper is a one or two-page document that is essentially a

summary of your knowledge of the topic and the position your country plans
to take when it enters the committee. It typically contains four sections:

• Background of topic: Background guide of the topic provided by the

conference, Google, the news, Wikipedia (to frame the topic)

• Past international actions: UN website, your committee’s website, key

treaties or resolutions mentioned in your background guide, UN or NGO
reports

• Country policy: your country’s foreign ministry website, domestic programs

within your country, and your country’s voting record on key treaties or
resolutions

• Possible Solutions: NGO or think tank policy recommendations, past UN

resolutions that you’d like to change or expand on, and your own creativity!
8
9
 10

7. Resolution:-

• Before it is formally introduced to the committee, a resolution is referred

to as a Draft Resolution.
• The Director of your committee would like all drafts to deal with ideas
and opinions presented in working papers and existing resolutions, as well
as new ideas and innovations.
• The goal of the committee is to pass a resolution. It’s important to know
the basic terms so you can keep up as they are presented.
• Working paper: Working papers are just a list of ideas formed by the
blocs. They may or may not be written in resolution format. The working
paper needs to be approved by the chairs.
• Draft Resolutions: A document written in resolution format, approved by
the chairs, and introduced to the committee but not yet voted upon is
called a draft resolution. Delegates will be spending most of their time
writing and amending the draft resolutions. Once a draft resolution is
passed by a committee, then it becomes a Resolution.
• Sponsors: delegates who authored the draft resolution or actively
contributed ideas. They support the draft resolution and want to see it get
passed, so they should vote for it. All resolutions will require a minimum
number of sponsors.
• Signatories: delegates who wish the see the draft resolution debated but
may or may not agree with all of the ideas. However, they think there is
some merit to it and want to see it presented. Some resolutions will require
a minimum number of signatories.
• A final resolution has to present a well thought out, feasible solution that
will solve the crisis at hand.
• It also needs to have two authors and two co-authors, along with 1/5th of
the strength as signatories.
 11
8. Writing a resolution:-
Resolution heading: The heading contains four pieces of information: the
committee name, the sponsors, the signatories, and the topic: the committee
name and topic should be self-explanatory.

• Pre-ambulatory clauses: Statements in the first section of the draft

resolution that describes the problems that the committee wants to solve as
well as previous measures are taken to combat the problem. Pre-ambulatory
clauses are usually italicised or underlined but not numbered and are
separated by commas.

Pre-Ambulatory Clauses
 12
• Operative clauses: Statements in the second section of the draft resolution
that outlines the specific solutions the sponsors wish to implement. Operative
clauses are usually numbered and underlined and are ended by a semicolon.

Operative Clauses

9. Amendments: An amendment is a change made to an operative clause of a

draft resolution. Amendments can add, delete, or change an operative clause in a
draft resolution.
• A Friendly Amendment is an amendment written and approved by all the
sponsors to a draft resolution and is automatically included in the text.
• An Unfriendly Amendment is an amendment not approved by all the sponsors to
their draft resolution and must be voted upon before it can be included in the text.

10. Voting on resolutions:-

• Each country will have one vote. Each vote can be a “Yes”, “No”, “Yes with
Rights”, “No with Rights”, “Abstain” or “Pass”.
• All votes on substantive issues will be conducted by roll call. Voting may be
interrupted only by a point of personal Privilege.
• A delegate can either abstain from the vote, or pass in the 2nd and 3rd round of
voting, but in the 3rd round, he/she has to vote either yes or no.
 13

A Draft Resolution
 14

11. Important Model UN Procedural Vocabulary:-

▪ Delegate: Representative of a nation.

▪ The Floor: The floor is the podium, where delegates make speeches and
answer questions.
▪ Placard: A piece of plastic or cardboard that has the name of the country
written on it in bold and large letters. Every delegate has a placard. These are
used extensively during the debate, to request to make speeches, and during
voting.
 15

• Decorum: The chair is telling the delegates to sit down and stop talking!
• To Second: To agree with something (Important for the initiation of the moderated
caucus.)
• Speaker’s List: List of nations that signaled to the chair that they want to make a
speech. This will be written on the board for all delegates to see.
• Voting by roll call: In typical voting, delegates raise their placards when asked
whether they are “in favor” or “against” the specific thing that is being voted. The
chair counts placards to determine the outcome of the vote. (Abstaining may or may
not be in order.)
• In roll call voting, the chair calls on each nation separately, one by one, and each
nation will state whether they are “in favor”, or “against” (Abstaining may or may
not be in order.)
• Agenda: The topic of discussion.

12. Mode of conduct:-

• Respect the Chair and fellow delegates:
“Honourable Chair ”, “Distinguished Chairs” or similar. (while referring to the
Chair.)
“Honourable Delegate” or “Honourable Delegate of Switzerland” (while referring
to other delegates)
• Remember that only the Chair can authorize speeches, and points of information
(ie. questions)
• No use of 1st person at any time:
Eg. “I think this resolution is...” WRONG.
"Spain thinks that…” CORRECT.
Exception: To leave the podium, the delegate must say “I yield my time back to the
chair” if he/she has any time left. If not, “I yield the floor back to the chair”
13.Dress Code:-
• Men are expected to wear a white button-down shirt and black trousers. A necktie
is preferable as are formal shoes. Sandals, jeans, and other informal articles of
clothing cannot be worn. Women must wear a white shirt, black trousers with
scarves or neckties.
 16
Flow of Debate