This document provides an overview of how Model UN (MUN) works and the structure of MUN conferences. It explains that MUN involves representing countries at the UN and debating real world issues from their perspectives. Key parts of MUN include opening and closing ceremonies, committee sessions, and following rules of procedure (RoP) for formal debate. The RoP determine how debates are structured, with elements like speakers lists, points, motions, and draft resolutions that propose solutions. Draft resolutions have a heading, preambulatory clauses for background, and operative clauses detailing actions. Overall, MUN gives students experience in public speaking, diplomacy, and global issues.

1. SLAMUN Masterclass
HOW MUN(MODEL UNITED NATION) WORKS
By- Karan Panchal
B.A. Psychology (Hons)

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Structure of debate
• Roll Call – Present/Present and Voting
• General Speakers’ List – for general debate
• Caucuses – Unmoderated & Moderated
• Closure of Debate
• Voting Procedure

7. General Speakers list
First, you should thank the presiding official by saying "Thank you Mr./ Madame/ Honorable Chair/
President…“
Then begin by providing a brief history on the issue as it relates to your country, and how the issue is
currently affecting your country.
Provide your country's position on the issue. Include an explanation for your country’s stance, such as
economic or security concerns or political or religious ideology.
You should discuss some of the past actions taken by the UN, member states and NGOs to address the
issue.
Present ideas for a resolution, stressing your country’s objectives for the resolution.

8. 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

9. 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)

11. Format of a Resolution
•Three Parts
• Heading
• Preambulatory Clauses
• Operative Clauses

12. 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.

13. Example of a Draft Resolution

14. 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

15. 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”

17. 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

18. 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

19. Pre-Ambulatory Clauses

20. 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]

21. Any questions

22. Operative Clauses

23. 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.

25. 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]

27. 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 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.