Understanding Model UN: Your Voice, Your Story
Model United Nations (MUN) is an educational simulation that aims to teach students about global affairs, diplomacy, and current events. Participants take on roles as diplomats representing different countries to address international issues, debate, and find solutions collaboratively. Various committees like the United Nations Security Council and the European Union General Committee are involved, each with unique rules and objectives. Key differences between committees include the veto power and majority requirements for passing resolutions.
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Model UN Your Voice, Your Story
What is the UN - The United Nations (UN) is a International Organization founded in 1945 after World War II. It is made up of most independent countries, with the goal of global cooperation and world peace. The UN consists of 193 sovereign states all with a similar goal. - Facilitating cooperation in international law - International security - Economic Development - Social Progress - Human Rights - Achievement of World Peace
What is Model UN Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic simulation of the United Nations. Its mission is to educate students about foreign affairs, civics, current events, and diplomacy. Students are assigned a committee and a country, or character. They take on the roles of diplomats to investigate international issues, debate, and develop solutions to world problems. Students come together to formulate solutions with their other delegates, and work to make their solution beneficial to as many parties as possible.
What is a committee A Model UN committee is a group of delegates who represent different countries and characters to discuss their prescribed topic. The number of delegates in a committee can vary greatly depending on what kind of committee it is (for example, Security Council, General Assembly [GA], EU, NATO, League of Nations) and what the topic of debate is (listed in presidents letters). The goal of the committee is to draft a resolution that will combine the needs of all members of the committee.
What Committees will we have? United Nations Security Concil: -Has Veto -Requires 2/3rdmajority to pass resolutions European Union General Committee: -No Veto -Requires unanimus consent to pass any resolution Leauge of Nations General Committee: -No Veto -Requires unanimus consent to pay any resolution
Two important differences be between the UN Security Council and the EU and LON In this competition there are two important differences: 1. In the Security Council, five country delegations representing the permanent members of that committee have a veto (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States); In the EU and League of Nations there is no veto power (although given the second difference requiring unanimity in these committees, all country delegations effectively have a veto). 2. In the Security Council, resolutions must pass with a 2/3 majority (and can be vetoed by one of the 5 permanent members); In the EU and LON resolutions must pass unanimously (other procedural votes will follow rules in SBU MUNC-Rules of Procedure Short Form in Delegate Handbook)
First Steps Arriving - Upon arrival to the venue, you will need to check your team into the conference. Upon check in you will receive your schedule for the conference and all other materials you are going to be provided. This can include a folder a notepad, and even your name badge. Opening Ceremonies - Opening ceremonies is what officially starts the simulation. In opening ceremonies you will get a brief preview of the day, be given a quick snack, get information and then off to committee. Committee sesions - The committee session is where you will receive your placard, and a brief introduction to your country. You will start to get to know the other delegates in the committee as well as meet your chairs. This session will start with the opening of the speakers list, and the majority of debate will be related to the prescribed topics.
Final Committee steps Resolutions - The resolution is the goal of every session. If a delegate is in the UN security concil there are veto mechanics as well as only requring a 2/3rdmajority. - In the EU sessions & Leauge of Nations full agreement is required by all delegates to pass a resolution. - At this competition, proposed resolutions will be hand-written and can be amended by hand. See the Delegate Handbook for proper format. Closing Ceremonies - Closing ceremonies conclude the MUN and officially close the simulation. At closing ceremonies the directors of the conference will say a few words about the conference, and have the closing marks. Awards such as individual delegate awards and best school delegation awards will be given out at closing ceremonies.
Important Vocab There are a lot of words and phrases used in Model UN that might not be intuitive. Here are some commonly used phrases and what they mean: Chairperson: An experienced student officer who keeps the debate running by calling on speakers, timing speeches, and maintaining the rules of procedure and decorum Motion: A specific action made by a delegate to direct the debate in a certain direction (ex. Motion to extend the speaking list to 12 delegations )
Important Vocab Caucus: Formats of debate within a conference Moderated: Delegates can make short comments on more specific issues; those interested in speaking will raise their placards and be added to the speakers list by the chairperson, and will then have a set amount of time to speak Unmoderated: Delegates may leave their seats to go to freely and informally talk amongst other delegates. This is often when delegates find allies and work to draft resolutions. The length of this period is determined via motion and/or the chairperson Resolution: A document that is written in resolution format, approved by the chairs, and voted on If the document has not yet been voted on, it is considered a draft A resolution needs a certain amount of votes to pass. Although the goal is to pass resolutions, they oftentimes fail if delegations cannot come to an agreement
Important Vocab Delegations: Each of the participating Member States are a delegation. Can be referred to as The Delegation of _____ Delegates: Formal name of the participating students within a delegation Always Consult the delegates handbook for the best reference of language to be used
DECORUM Decorum: When you represent a country, you must adopt their beliefs when speaking and conversing at conferences. You are not conveying your own personal beliefs, but rather what the country itself would present. NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS (ex. I we me us etc.) Respecting the other delegates is very important using language such as the esteemed delegation from x county makes valid arguments yet fails to see x,y,z Remember to play the country not how you feel but how the country feels
Resolutions: Resolution: Creating a resolution that gets passed by the committee is the main result of the work done at a conference. The end goal is to successfully pass a resolution that the majority of delegates believe will sufficiently address the debate topics in the real world. - These documents are made by groups of Member States in collaboration with each other - The two main functions of these papers are to: - Determine what the United Nations will do about said issue - Recommend/request that certain Member States take certain actions to address the issue - Resolutions are written in a very specific format, with the header, the preamble, and the operative section comprising it (see Delegate Handbook for example)
Preparation Research: Once you have been approved to represent a country, it is time to start researching its government s position and attitudes pertaining to the subjects your committee will be discussing, as well as some basic knowledge about the country. Ex. Population, physical geography, GDP, national religion (if applicable), language, leader, relationship with other countries, knowledge about specific applicable topics When you represent a country, you must adopt their beliefs and policy positions when speaking and conversing at conferences. The Presidents Letters lay out the topics for discussion and will help you start your research.
