LIMUN Masterclass

HOW MUN WORKS

GEORGE MULLENS & ALFIE JENKINS
MUN Basics
• Academic simulation of the United Nations where you represent a member state of the
United Nations.
• Solve real world issues.
• Use policies and perspectives of your assigned country.
• Not only does Model UN gives students invaluable experience for your CV but it
demonstrates a capability to speak publicly whilst interacting as a diplomat.
• Looks great on a university application, demonstrates a desire to be knowledgeable
about world affairs.
Rules of procedure
• The Rules of Procedure (otherwise known as RoP) are the laws of debate, they determine how
debating works during the conference.
• Read them in full before the debates
• The RoP for LIMUN HS are available on our website.
• This year’s RoP includes a comprehensive glossary so that your students fully understand the
various terms used during the conference.
• Remember! Rules differ between the conferences
• This is especially the case in the UK as different schools use different rules. For example,
GCLMUN uses RoP from UNA-USA which is very different to the RoP which we will be using at
LIMUN HS.
• The RoP that we will be using at LIMUN HS is near identical to the RoP used at university
conferences across the world, resulting in a higher standard of debate.
Questions?
What to expect during the conference
• Opening Ceremony:
• The opening ceremony is a brief introduction to the conference itself, usually with a guest
speaker.
• Beginning of committee and debating sessions:
• Students are divided into their different committees. For example, all of the students who are
given a country in the Security Council will be debating the same issue together.
• Closing ceremony:
• Closure of the ceremony, chairs of each committee will present awards to their delegates.
Structure of debate
• Roll Call – Present/Present and Voting
• General Speakers’ List – for general debate
• Caucuses – Unmoderated & Moderated
• Closure of Debate
• Voting Procedure
General Speakers list
• Yielding?
• To points of information
• To another Delegate
• Back to the Chair
• Use to discuss topic generally…this can include country position, issues delegates see as
relevant or briefly outlining potential solutions
Points
• How to properly raise points? And when?
• Point of Order (If a chair makes a mistake regarding the RoP)
• Point of Personal privilege (If delegates need the toilet, a window open, want to step outside
for some air etc)
• Point of Parliamentary Inquiry (if delegates are unsure about the ROP at any point)
• Point of order: Can interrupt the chair
• Point of personal privilege: Can interrupt anyone
Motions
• Motions
• Moderated Caucus – need the following:
• Topic, individual time and total time
• Used to discuss a specific aspect of the topic (If delegates were debating the legality of drone strikes for example, a
potential MC would be “The buying and selling of drones”)
• Unmoderated Caucus – need the following:
• State a purpose and total time.
• Informal debate, delegates get up out of their seats and interact
• How to propose a motion: “The delegate of...would like to raise a motion for a moderated/unmoderated caucus,
time of…., speakers time of... (ONLY for moderated caucuses) to discuss…(insert discussion proposal here)
Questions
Format of a Resolution
• Three Parts
• Heading
• Preambulatory Clauses
• Operative Clauses
Draft Resolutions
• Draft Resolutions are the documents that the UN works on when trying to find solutions to the world’s
more pressing issues.
• The resolutions in MUN are identical to those passed by the United Nations.
• Draft Resolutions similarly allow for students to enhance their writing skills and to gain an understanding
to solutions to many of the world’s problems.
Example of a Draft Resolution
Heading
• Located at the top of the resolution
• Committee: followed by the place where the topic is introduced
• Subject: Topic of resolution
• Sponsors followed by the list of all the sponsors (= a delegate who helped to write the resolution)
• Signatories followed by the list of country that would like to see the resolution debated
Example of Heading
General Assembly Third Committee
Sponsors: United States, Austria and Italy
Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Japan, Canada and Mali
Topic: “Strengthening UN Coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies”
Questions
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:
• Past UN Resolutions, treaties, conventions
• Reference to UN Charter
• Statements made by the Secretary General
• General background information
How to write a Preambulatory Clause
• Begins with a present participle (choose from list of sample preambulatory phrases)
• has to be underlined or in italics
• Write your statement
• End with a comma
Pre-Ambulatory Clauses
Example
• Reaffirming [underlined word] its Resolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages Governments to
work with UN bodies aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance,
[end with comma]
Questions
Operative Clauses
Operative Clauses
• This is the meat of the resolution! They are the one to develop the solution to the problem recognized in
the Preamble clauses
• Describe the actions that will need to be taken 1 clause = 1 specific action
• Words including CONDEMN and DEMAND may be used ONLY in the S.C.
• The operative words used need to be appropriate for the committee that your delegates will be in.
How to write an Operative Clause
• Being with a number.
• Begin with list of beginning operative words.
• Has to be underlined.
• Write your statement.
• End with a semi-colon EXCEPT last line of the resolution ends with a period.
Example
1.Urges [underlined] all member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of Humanitarian
Affairs to streamline efforts of humanitarian aid;
2. Calls for the development of a United Nations Trust Fund that encourages voluntary donations from the
private sector to aid in funding the implementation of forces. [end the draft resolution with a full stop]
Questions
Conclusion
• In short, MUN allows for students to express themselves in a diplomatic manner in a formal setting.
• While the RoP can seem complicated, through practice in weekly meetings can allow your students to get
used to the formal structure of debate. Ultimately the RoP is there to make debating more structured and
easier to understand on the whole.