Rules of Procedure :

Navigating the UN Sessions

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 CONCEPT

01 04 05
Conduct MUN Debate Chart of Points
Code Structure and Motions

03 06
02 MUN MUN
Dress Code Dictionnary documents
 Respect inside the Integrity is key when it Keeping your country’s
committee room and comes to the way point of view intact
outside goes hand in hand delegates behave, while defending it
with the value of debate as communicate with each objectively is a must to
well as those of diplomacy, other, with their dias, as be considered a good
helping foster and well as with the staff delegate
cultivate relationships and and organizing
create alliances committee
 DELEGATE DRESS CODE

YOU, DELEGATES ! Should be dressed in

a way that represents your eloquance
and puts you in the shoes of a real
delegate/diplomat.

May you please be dressed in classy

clothes, smart business and business
casual are accepted if worn properly.
 MUN Dictionnary
Abstain During a vote on a substantive matter, delegates may abstain rather than vote in favour or against.

All UN or Model UN sessions end with a vote to adjourn.

Adjourn
This means that the debate is suspended until the next meeting.

The order in which the issues before a committee will be discussed.

Agenda
The first duty of a committee following the roll call is usually to set the agenda.

A change to a draft resolution on the floor. It can be of two kinds: "friendly amendment" is supported by all of the
original draft resolution's sponsors, and is passed automatically, while an "unfriendly amendment" is not supported
Amendment
by all the original sponsors and must be voted on by the committee as a whole.

A break in formal debate in which Member States can more easily and informally discuss a topic. There are two
Caucus
types: moderated caucus and unmoderated caucus.

Dais Chairs of a committee.

Decorum/Order The order and respect for others that all delegates at a Model UN conference must exhibit.
 MUN Dictionnary
Delegate A representative of a member state or as an observer in a Model UN committee.

At a Model UN conference, when a working paper or draft resolution is being written, it may not be discussed in
On the floor
formal debate. It first needs to be accepted by the Chair and can then be introduced to the committee

Operative A part of a resolution which describes how the UN will address a problem. It begins with an action verb (decides,
clause establishes, recommends, etc.).

A delegate in a Model UN committee that has volunteered to pass notes from one delegate to another or from a
Page
delegate to the dais, for a short period of time.

A piece of cardstock with a Member State's name on it that a delegate raises in the air to signal to the Chair that he
Placard
or she wishes to speak.

Point A request raised by a delegate for information or for an action relating to that delegate.

Summary of a Member State's position on a topic, written by a delegate before a Model UN conference and
Position Paper
addressed to the committee in the Opening Speech.
 MUN Dictionnary
Preambulatory An agreement with a motion being proposed. Many motions must be seconded before they can be
Clause brought to a vote

Having to do with the way a committee is run, as opposed to the topic being discussed. All delegates
Procedural
present must vote on procedural matters and may not abstain.

Quorum A minimum number of delegates needed to be present for a committee to proceed

A document that has been passed by a body of the UN that aims to address a particular problem.When
Resolution it's approved, it becomes an official suggestion from a UN group to all countries in the UN. Only
resolutions passed in the Security Council are binding for all member states.

"Right of Reply" is when a delegate asks to respond if they feel someone has insulted their country
Right of Reply
during a discussion. They raise a sign to get a chance to defend their nation's reputation.

The first order of business in a Model UN committee during which the Chair reads aloud the names of
Roll Call each member state. When a delegate's Member State's name is called, they shall respond "present" or
"present and voting".
 MUN Dictionnary
An agreement with a motion being proposed. Many motions must be seconded before they can be
Second
brought to a vote

Secretariat The most senior staff at a Model UN conference.

Secretary-General The highest instance of a Model UN conference.

A Member State that wishes a draft resolution to be put on the floor and signs the draft resolution to
Signatory
accomplish this. A signatory doesn't need to support a resolution; it only wants it to be discussed.

Simple majority More than half of present delegates in a committee. The amount needed to pass most votes.

A delegate that wishes to see the resolution debated before the committee, but does not necessarily
Signatory
contribute content or agree with the content of the resolution.

A speakers' list determines the order of delegates speaking on a topic. Delegates raise placards to be
Speakers' List
added, and the Chair calls on them one by one. Notes can be sent to the dais to join during the debate.
 MUN Dictionnary
One of the authors of a draft resolution. Sponsors are usually the delegates most involved in the process
Sponsor
of writing and lobbying for a draft resolution.

Unmoderated A type of caucus in which delegates leave their seats to mingle and speak freely Frequently used to sort
Caucus Member States into blocs and to write working papers and draft resolutions

A document in which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve an issue are proposed. Frequently it
Working Paper
is the precursor to a draft resolution.

The ability, held by China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States to
Veto
prevent any draft resolution in the Security Council from passing by voting no.
 MUN
Debate
Structure
 Moderated and Closure of Debate
Setting the
Unmoderated and Voting on
agenda Amendments
Caucus.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Roll call Opening Working Resolution

Speech Paper
CHART OF POINTS
AND MOTIONS
 Point of Order: Draws attention to a
violation of the rules.
Motion to Appeal the Decision of the
Chair : Contests a decision made by the
chair. Can be deemed dilatory (out of
order) by the chair

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: Way for

delegates to inquire about rules &
procedures from the chair.
Motion to Adopt the Agenda :The
agenda cannot be altered once it has
been set. If the speakers on the agenda’s
speakers list are exhausted, the delegates
are required to make this motion.
Point of Information: Is raised after a
delegate’s speech to ask for
clarification in regards to what the
delegate has said.
Motion to Suspend the Meeting :
Suspends sessions for both unmoderated
or moderated caucuses

Point of Personal Privilege : Is raised

when a delegate is experiencing physical
discomfort and would like to let the chair
know
 Motion to Adjourn Debate : Ends a
topic's debate without voting on
resolution drafts so that the committee
can move on to the next subject.
Motion to Open the Speakers List: Used
to reopen the speakers list

Motion to Close Debate : Ends

discussion on a subject so that the
committee can vote on resolutions
relating to it.
Motion to Adjourn the Meeting:
Suspends debate till the next year after
theconclusion of the last committee
meeting

Motion to Reconsider : Allows the

committee to come back to a topic.

Motion to Close the Speakers List:

Prevents new speakers from being added
to the current topic's speakers list.
POSITION PAPER
EXAMPLE
Heading Country Policy

Committee: [Your Committee Title] What impacts have this issue had on the nation you were assigned?
Topic: [Your Topic] What initiatives has the nation you were assigned made in this regard?
Country: [Your Country] What policies would your allocated nation like the UN to follow—or not—in
this regard?
Topic Background
Possible Solutions
What is the topic's definition?
Where does the topic occur? Who is concerned? What specific plans would your assigned country like the UN to undertake
How many people does it impact on? What areas and how? to address this issue?
Why is this topic significant? What specific plans would your assigned country like other delegations to
undertake in their own
Past International Action countries?
Why would your ideas work? Give specific plans.
Have UN representatives made any noteworthy comments on this subject?
Look for a quotation.
Which UN resolutions and treaties are the most significant in this regard?
Does this problem receive any substantial attention from non-
governmental organizations (NGOs)?

Country Policy

What impacts have this issue had on the nation you were assigned?
What initiatives has the nation you were assigned made in this regard?
What policies would your allocated nation like the UN to follow—or not—in
this regard?
RESOLUTION WRITING
GUIDELINES
The Header: The Operatives:

Topic: The name of the topic you’re debating Operative paragraphs specify the course of action the UN will take. This can
Sponsors: The main authors that wrote the clauses of the resolution be in the form of financing solutions, advising UN Secretariat staff on what
Signatories: The delegates that would like to see this resolution introduced to do, or urging UN Member States to take action. Being cautious with each
in the committee. of the operative paragraphs in a resolution is crucial since they all take
They don’t necessarily support the resolution but want it to have the action. Operative phrases should be italicized as they begin operative
requisite number of paragraphs. Except for the final operative, which ends in a period, each
signatories so it can be accepted by the Chair (usually about 20% of the operational paragraph should similarly be numbered and end with a
committee is required). semicolon. You would use a colon to introduce sub-operatives that begin
Operative clause: A part of a resolution which describes how the UN will with lowercase letters if an operative were ever divided into them.
address a problem. It
begins with an action verb (decides, establishes, recommends, etc.).

The Preamble:

Laying the groundwork for the resolution is the aim of a resolution's

preamble. Here, you can discuss
the motivation behind the resolution's drafting, for instance, by describing
how important the problem is
and who it affects. Additionally, you can look up prior UN Resolutions,
Treaties, and related international
actions. Preambular phrases, which should be italicized in your resolution,
are the first words of each
preambular paragraph. The final comma in each preambular paragraph is
required.
Q&A