3. ALLOTMENT
Once you register for the MUN, you will be
allotted a country and a committee. There
will be an agenda (one or more).
Agenda is the issue (mostly a global
issue) you will discuss in the conference.
As a delegate, you will be representing the
country allotted to you.
The committee is a particular UN body
under whose mandate the given agenda is
discussed.
4. RESEARCH
After the allotment, comes the time for research!
You will receive a study guide which will give you
an overall picture of the agenda. However, it is
only the beginning of your research.
Research
1. Country Specific – Related to the country
you represent
2. Committee Specific – Associated with the
committee you are a part of.
3. Agenda Specific - Related to the agendas
that are to be discussed. Basically, topic
specific.
5. LOBBYING
• Lobbying is the informal talks with the other
delegates to find out their opinion and stand
point.
• Lobbying takes place before the
MUN conference begins and during the breaks.
• Know your enemies and allies
(countries) before you start lobbying.
• Try and convince other delegates about your
opinions and get them to join your group.
• The trick is to give little information and
extract as much as possible from them.
6. ATTENDENCE
• Once the conference begins, there is roll
call attendance. It is also done at the start of
every session.
• All the delegates will be called out one by
one and each of them have to respond either
saying 'Present' or 'Present and Voting'.
• If you say 'present', you can abstain
from voting for the draft resolution and if you
say 'present and voting' you can't abstain
from voting.
7. SET UP OF AN
MUN
1. Delegates
2. The Executive Board
(i) Chairperson or Chair – Heads
the committee
(ii) Vice-Chairperrson – Assists the
Chair and takes over during the Chair's
absence.
(iii) Rapporteur – Handles the
procedural and administrative
responsibilities.
9. • Motions are raised to move forward
in a committee through a consensus
or a simple majority.
• Any delegate can raise a motion.
• There are different types of motions.
WHAT ARE
MOTIONS?
10. THE 6 BASIC MOTIONS
1. Motion to
start/commence
proceedings for the day
2. Motion to set the
agenda
3. Motions to
introduce/open the GSL
4. Motion to suspend
formal debate
5. Motion to raise a
moderated/unmoderated
caucus
6. Motion to approach the
chair (at any point during
the conference)
11. HOW TO RAISE A
MOTION?
The chair askes for 'points or motions'.
Any delegate can raise their placard. He/she gets
recognized by the chair and then states the motion.
Chair introduces the motion in the committee based on
his/her discretion.
The chair asks for seconds & oppositions. If there are no
seconds, the motion fails. If there are seconds, the chair
asks for oppositions.
If there are only seconds and no oppositions, the motion
passes. However, if there are oppositions, the motion is put
to vote and passes by a simple majority (procedural vote).
13. Debating can be carried out formally or informally in an MUN.
Formal Debate - GSL & SSL
Informal Debate - Moderated and Unmoderated Caucuses
14. FORMAL
DEBATE -
GENERAL
SPEAKER'S LIST
(GSL)
Any delegate can raise a motion to open the
GSL.
Delegates can speak after being recognized by
the chair.
GSL can never elapse, if it does the MUN is
over.
GSL speeches are generalized, mentions a
country's basic stance and the direction in which
the delegate wants the committee to move
forward.
15. GSL Procedure
Each speaker gets 90 seconds to speak.
If 90 seconds is not fully used, the delegate can yield the remaining time.
There are four types of yield which are as follows:
Yield to another delegate – Remaining time goes to another delegate (speaker has to
mention the delegate) to speak if he/she wishes to.
Yield to points of information – Remaining time is given to 1, 2 or 3 delegates who wish to
ask questions to the speaker. The chair chooses these delegates.
Yield to comments – Remaining time is used by 1, 2 or 3 delegates to comment on the
speech given by the speaker.
Yield to the Chair – Time goes to the chair. Chair decides what happens in that time.
16. INFORMAL DEBATE - MODERATED
CAUCUS
Moderated Caucus is raised to discuss a sub-topic/issue (related to the agenda) in
complete detail.
Moderated Caucus is opened by raising a motion specifying the total time (cannot
exceed 20 mins), per speaker time and the topic.
Details of the problem (CES) are discussed.
Total time of the moderated caucus can be extended by raising a motion for
extension.
17. INFORMAL DEBATE - UNMODERATED
CAUCUS
Like the moderated caucus, the unmoderated caucus is also opened by raising a
motion specifying only the total time.
In this informal session, all formal rules of procedure are suspended and delegates
are allowed to leave their seat and talk to other delegates informally.
All comments in the unmoderated caucus are off the record and cannot be referred
to during the formal procedure.
It is mostly used to formulate Working Papers and Draft Resolutions.
18. POINTS
&
RIGHTS
Point Point of Personal Privilege
Point Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
Point Point of Order
Point Point of Information
Right Right to Reply
19. POINT OF
PERSONAL
PRIVELEG
E
A Point of Personal Privilege is used
when a delegate's privileges in the
committee are not being upheld.
Example: If s/he is uncomfortable or
cannot hear what another speaker is
saying.
This point can interrupt a speaker.
20. POINT OF
PARLIAMENTA
RY INQUIRY
A point of Parliamentary Inquiry
is raised by a delegate at any
point during the committee
proceedings to clarify any
procedural doubts.
This point cannot interrupt a
speaker.
21. POINT OF
ORDER
A Point of Order is raised if the
delegate believes that the chair
or any other delegate is
procedurally or factually
incorrect.
It may or may not be ruled in
order by the chair.
Points of order cannot interrupt
a speaker.
22. POINT OF
INFORMATI
ON
A Point of Information is raised
when a delegate wants to clarify
some factual doubt related to the
agenda or some other information.
It is always addressed in the form
of a question.
This point cannot interrupt a
speaker.
23. RIGHT TO
REPLY
Right to Reply is raised when any
delegate impugns your country's
sovereignty or borders, insults you as a
delegate or your country in any way
during his/her speech.
In such a case a verbal or written
apology can be demanded from the
speaker.
In the absence of such an apology, the
delegate's privileges are suspended.
24. Difference
between
Point of
Order and
Right to
Reply
There is a fine line of difference between a
point of order and a right to reply.
Both of them are very strong procedural
weapons and must be used wisely.
Example: Delegate of South Africa says Bihar
part of japan.
- Any delegate in the committee can raise a
point of order.
- Only the delegate of India can raise a right
to reply.
25. REMEMBER
No Points of
Order on Rights
of Reply.
1
No Rights of
Reply on Points
of Order.
2
No Points of
Order on Points
of Order.
3
No Rights of
Reply on Rights
of Reply.
4
27. Working Paper
A working paper is an overview of the points discussed by all delegates, and a precursor to
draft resolutions.
A working paper is formulated by one or more delegates after substantive discussions
through GSLs, moderated and unmoderated caucuses.
It does not have any fixed format and is presented to show the direction and progress of the
committee.
It is introduced in the committee by raising a motion after getting it ratified by the chair, it is
then discussed through a caucus and voted upon through a procedural vote.
If a working paper is passed, it becomes a part of the committee records.
28. Draft Resolution
The primary objective behind all the debates and deliberations is to come up
with a formal document which highlights everything at the end of the day.
Draft resolution is what determines whether a committee has been successful
or not to the outside world.
It is the final detailed and comprehensive document adopted by the committee
highlighting all the solutions.
29. Draft Resolution -
Format Draft Resolution has a particular format.
It has authors/sponsors and signatories.
It has two clauses –
Preambulatory clause and Operative
Clause
Preambulatory clause highlights
the intentions of the committee.
Operative clause covers the solutions
and major points discussed in the
conference.
The draft resolution is introduced through
a motion after the chair ratifies it.
30. Amendments
Amendments are changes that delegates would like to
make to the Draft resolution after it is presented.
Amendments are of three types – Addition, Deletion &
Modification
Motion to amend is automatically passed i.e. committee
cannot refuse to entertain amendments.
Amendments are proposed in writing with a sponsor
and 2 to 3 signatories.
Once the amendment is introduced it becomes a friendly
or an unfriendly amendment.
Unfriendly amendments are passed through substantive
votes.
32. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF
VOTING IN AN MUN –
PROCEDURAL AND
SUBSTANTIVE
33. Procedural Voting
Procedural voting is followed for various procedural motions like
caucuses, setting of agenda, etc.,
Votes are taken by a simple show of hands or placards.
A procedural vote requires simple majority i.e. 50% + 1
34. Substantive voting
Substantive voting is followed for Draft Resolutions and also
for Unfriendly Amendments to the Draft Resolution.
A substantive vote requires two - thirds majority.
35. FORMAL ROLL
CALL
Voting for the Draft Resolution takes place
in three rounds.
Round 1 – Yes, No, Yes with Rights, No
with Rights, Pass, Abstain
Round 2 – Delegates state their rights
Round 3 – Yes, No, Abstain for all the
Delegates who said 'Pass' in Round 1
36. OTHER POINTS TO REMEMBER
• All rules are subject to the discretion of the Chair.
• There could be a slight variation in procedure from Chair to Chair –
but the underlying principles remain the same.
• A Chair's decision is binding but you can appeal against it, in
exceptional circumstances, by writing to the USG (Undersecretaries –
General).
