Model UN: The
Basics
What is the United Nations?
The United Nations is an international
organization whose aims are to facilitate
cooperation between countries in international
law, international security, economic
development, social progress, and human rights
issues
It is made up of multiple committees and
legislative bodies, including the General
Assembly, Economic and Social Council, and
Security Council
Founded in 1945, after World War II, the United
Nations has a total of 192 member countries.
What is Model United Nations?
• Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations
• Students play the roles of delegates representing
a specific country in a UN committee
• The goal of a Model UN committee is to pass
resolutions that will resolve the issues being
debated
• The goal of each delegate is to have his/her
country’s interests and objectives reflected in
the resolutions
Writing a Model United
Nations Resolution
Format of a Resolution
• Three Parts
• Heading
• Preambulatory Clauses
• Operative Clauses
Heading
•
•
•
•
Committee: place where topic is introduced
Subject: topic of resolution
Sponsored by: list of sponsoring nations
Example
• Committee: Environment
Subject: Disposal of Nuclear Wastes
Sponsored by: Argentina
Preambulatory Clauses
• Purpose
• Outline history of problem
• Show topic falls in jurisdiction of committee
• Show need for UN to find solution
• Begin with passive verb
• Followed by a comma
Sample Preambulatory Clauses
• Fully aware of the effects of the waste of nuclear reactors,
• Realizing that the half-life of such waste is 10,000 years,
• Having examined reprocessing techniques and found them to
be ineffective,
Some Preambulatory Phrases
Affirming
Alarmed by
Approving
Aware of
Bearing in mind
Believing
Confident
Contemplating
Convinced
Declaring
Deeply concerned
Deeply conscious
Deeply convinced
Deeply disturbed
Deeply regretting
Desiring
Emphasizing
Expecting
Expressing its appreciation
Expressing its satisfaction
Fulfilling
Fully alarmed
Fully aware
Fully believing
Further deploring
Further recalling
Guided by
Having adopted
Having considered
Having considered further
Having devoted attention
Having examined
Having heard
Having received
Having studied
Keeping in mind
Noting with regret
Noting with deep concern
Noting with satisfaction
Noting further
Noting with approval
Observing
Reaffirming
Realizing
Recalling
Recognizing
Referring
Seeking
Taking into account
Taking into consideration
Taking note
Viewing with appreciation
Welcoming
Operative Clauses
• Active parts of the resolution
• Section that makes recommendations, condemns
situations, and encourages action
• Each clause calls for a specific action
• Begin with active, present tense verb
• Each followed by semicolon, except for last clause
which ends in a period
Sample Operative Clauses
• 1. Recommends an underground repository to be formed in
an able and willing nation, and this nation allow other nations
to store nuclear waste;
• 2. Expresses its hope that nations will work together
peacefully and cooperate fully with one another.
Some Operative Phrases
Accepts
Affirms
Approves
Authorizes
Calls
Calls upon
Condemns
Confirms
Congratulates
Considers
Declares accordingly
Deplores
Designates
Draws the attention
Emphasizes
Encourages
Endorses
Expresses its appreciation
Expresses its hope
Further invites
Further proclaims
Further reminds
Further recommends
Further requests
Further resolves
Has resolved
Notes
Proclaims
Reaffirms
Recommends
Regrets
Reminds
Requests
Solemnly affirms
Strongly condemns
Supports
Takes note of
Transmits
Trusts
Amendments to a Resolution
• Definition: clarification in a resolution that incorporates
additional interest after a resolution has been formally
introduced
• Before a resolution is formally introduced, changes can be
made at will and document is called a working paper
Sample Resolution
International Atomic Energy Agency
Sponsors: Sweden, UK
Signatories: Iran, Spain, Canada, Pakistan, Syria, Japan, Italy, Brazil, Israel
Topic: Iran's Nuclear Energy Program
The International Atomic Energy Agency,
Affirming the right of all nations to peaceful nuclear energy technology, as stated in Article IV, Clause
I of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,
Recognizing the suspicion surrounding Iran's nuclear program and its intended uses,
1. Demands a ban on heavy water use in Iranian nuclear facilities;
2. Demands full Iranian compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement;
3. Calls for the creation of a commission of willing nations with nuclear expertise to assist Iran in
implementing civilian nuclear technology;
4. Establishes a deadline of 12 months for implementation of clauses 1 and 2;
5. Urges further IAEA action if clauses 1, 2 and 3 are not implemented in full over the next 12
months.
Things to keep in mind while debating
• Always refer to your country in the third person
• Don’t say “I believe that ___.” Instead, say “The nation of China
believes that ___,”
• Express the views of your country, not your own views
• Be formal and polite