Model UN: The Basics Niel Lebeck. What is the United Nations? The United Nations is an international organization whose aims are to facilitate cooperation.

Model UN: The BasicsModel UN: The Basics

Niel LebeckNiel Lebeck

What is the United Nations?What is the United Nations? The United Nations is an international The United Nations is an international

organization whose aims are to facilitate organization whose aims are to facilitate cooperation between countries in cooperation between countries in international law, international security, international law, international security, economic development, social progress, economic development, social progress, and human rights issuesand human rights issues

It is made up of multiple committees and It is made up of multiple committees and legislative bodies, including the General legislative bodies, including the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Assembly, Economic and Social Council, and Security Counciland Security Council

Founded in 1945, after World War II, the Founded in 1945, after World War II, the United Nations has a total of 192 member United Nations has a total of 192 member countries.countries.

What is Model United Nations?What is Model United Nations?

Model UN is a simulation of the United Model UN is a simulation of the United NationsNations

Students play the roles of delegates Students play the roles of delegates representing a specific country in a UN representing a specific country in a UN committeecommittee

The goal of a Model UN committee is to The goal of a Model UN committee is to pass resolutions that will resolve the pass resolutions that will resolve the issues being debatedissues being debated

The goal of each delegate is to have The goal of each delegate is to have his/her country’s interests and objectives his/her country’s interests and objectives reflected in the resolutionsreflected in the resolutions

Flow of debateFlow of debate

Speaker’s List

Moderated Caucus Unmoderated Caucus

Return to Speaker’s List

Voting Procedures

Set the agenda

Speaker’s ListSpeaker’s List

One delegation speaks for a One delegation speaks for a predetermined amount of timepredetermined amount of time

Yield time to the chair (no questions) Yield time to the chair (no questions) or to the floor (questions)or to the floor (questions)

Useful for laying out your country’s Useful for laying out your country’s position on an issue or describing a position on an issue or describing a course of actioncourse of action

Moderated CaucusModerated Caucus

Delegates speak in turn for short Delegates speak in turn for short periods of timeperiods of time

You must be recognized by the chair You must be recognized by the chair to speakto speak

Quicker than the speaker’s list, but Quicker than the speaker’s list, but more structured than an more structured than an unmoderated caucusunmoderated caucus

Unmoderated CaucusUnmoderated Caucus

Delegates talk amongst one another Delegates talk amongst one another freely for a specified amount of timefreely for a specified amount of time

Usually 5-10 minutesUsually 5-10 minutes The chair is not involved in the The chair is not involved in the

discussion at alldiscussion at all Useful for writing draft resolutions or Useful for writing draft resolutions or

negotiating intensely with other negotiating intensely with other delegatesdelegates

Voting proceduresVoting procedures

Voting procedures are entered when a Voting procedures are entered when a committee is ready to vote on draft committee is ready to vote on draft resolutionsresolutions

A draft resolution must be “introduced” A draft resolution must be “introduced” through a motion before it can be voted through a motion before it can be voted upon in voting proceduresupon in voting procedures

After voting procedures, the committee After voting procedures, the committee moves on to the next topicmoves on to the next topic

Points and MotionsPoints and Motions

Motions are used to direct debateMotions are used to direct debate Motion to open the speaker’s listMotion to open the speaker’s list Motion for a moderated caucusMotion for a moderated caucus Motion for an unmoderated caucusMotion for an unmoderated caucus Motion to introduce a draft resolution Motion to introduce a draft resolution Motion to enter voting proceduresMotion to enter voting procedures

Motions must be voted on by the Motions must be voted on by the committee and typically require a committee and typically require a majority votemajority vote

http://www.unausa.org/munpreparation/rulesofprocedure/chart

Points and MotionsPoints and Motions

Points are used to ask questionsPoints are used to ask questions Point of inquiry—ask a question about Point of inquiry—ask a question about

parliamentary procedureparliamentary procedure Point of personal privilege—ask to go to Point of personal privilege—ask to go to

the bathroomthe bathroom Point of information—ask the speaker a Point of information—ask the speaker a

questionquestion Points aren’t voted on, but a speaker Points aren’t voted on, but a speaker

can choose not to respond to a point can choose not to respond to a point of informationof information

ResolutionsResolutions

Resolutions are made up of Resolutions are made up of preambulatory and operative clausespreambulatory and operative clauses

Preambulatory clauses describe the Preambulatory clauses describe the situationsituation

Operative clauses describe the Operative clauses describe the course of action taken by the course of action taken by the committeecommittee

Preambulatory PhrasesPreambulatory Phrases

Sample ResolutionSample ResolutionInternational Atomic Energy AgencyInternational Atomic Energy AgencySponsors: Sweden, UKSponsors: Sweden, UKSignatories: Iran, Spain, Canada, Pakistan, Syria, Japan, Italy, Brazil, IsraelSignatories: Iran, Spain, Canada, Pakistan, Syria, Japan, Italy, Brazil, IsraelTopic: Iran's Nuclear Energy Program Topic: Iran's Nuclear Energy Program 

The International Atomic Energy Agency, The International Atomic Energy Agency, 

AffirmingAffirming the right of all nations to peaceful nuclear energy technology, as stated in the right of all nations to peaceful nuclear energy technology, as stated in Article IV, Clause I of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Article IV, Clause I of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 

RecognizingRecognizing the suspicion surrounding Iran's nuclear program and its intended uses,  the suspicion surrounding Iran's nuclear program and its intended uses, 

1. 1. DemandsDemands a ban on heavy water use in Iranian nuclear facilities;  a ban on heavy water use in Iranian nuclear facilities; 

2. 2. DemandsDemands full Iranian compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement;  full Iranian compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement; 

3. 3. Calls forCalls for the creation of a commission of willing nations with nuclear expertise to assist the creation of a commission of willing nations with nuclear expertise to assist Iran in implementing civilian nuclear technology; Iran in implementing civilian nuclear technology; 

4. 4. EstablishesEstablishes a deadline of 12 months for implementation of clauses 1 and 2;  a deadline of 12 months for implementation of clauses 1 and 2; 

5. 5. UrgesUrges further IAEA action if clauses 1, 2 and 3 are not implemented in full over the further IAEA action if clauses 1, 2 and 3 are not implemented in full over the next 12 months.next 12 months.

Things to keep in mind while Things to keep in mind while debatingdebating

Always refer to your country in the Always refer to your country in the third personthird person Don’t say “I believe that ___.” Instead, Don’t say “I believe that ___.” Instead,

say “The nation of China believes that say “The nation of China believes that ___,”___,”

Express the views of your country, Express the views of your country, not your own viewsnot your own views

Be formal and politeBe formal and polite