Presentation on MUN history,
goals and Rules of Procedure
Contents:
What is United Nations and
Model United Nations?
10 “DO”s and “DO NOT”s of
Model UN
How to write a Position Paper
Main concepts of the Rules of
Procedure
What do YOU know about UN?
 Founded in 1945 after the Second World War
 By 51 countries (signatories)
 Missions:
Maintaining international peace and security
Developing friendly relations among nations
Promoting social progress, better living standards and
human rights
 At present 193 members
 6 primary bodies:
General Assembly
Security Council (The ONLY binding body)
Economic and Social Council
Trusteeship Council
International Court of Justice
Secretariat
What do YOU know about MUN?
 It is a SIMULATION of the work of UN bodies
and organizations
 MUN is a tool of non-formal education
 It gives you an opportunity to step into shoes of a
diplomat and learn the rules of procedure and
terms of conduct of international organizations
 MUN is a chance to develop and improve your
diplomacy, speaking, writing, communication
and persuasive skills
 It prepares you as a future Diplomat
Famous MUNers
Susan Rice
Samuel L. Jackson
Actor
Ban Ki-moon
The eighth and current
Secretary-General of
the United Nations
MUN Epidemy Azerbaijan 2015
Formerly the United
States Ambassador to
the United Nations
Michelle Bachelet
The former President of
Chile
of Model United Nations
“DO NOT”s
DO NOT TAKE MUN LIGHTLY
• Model United Nations is real time
simulation of International
organizations.
• Do not take it as just another event
you attended because you had to /
to get a certificate to add to your
resume
DO NOT BE AFRAID/HESITANT
• Understanding Rules
of Procedure
• Implementing Rules
of Procedure
• Terminology
• Language
DO NOT INTERRUPT
NEVER..EVER.. INTERRUPT
OTHER DELEGATES, CHAIR OR
SOMEONE ELSE..EVEER!!
DO NOT ISOLATE YOURSELF
• Talk with other delegates and with
Chair
• The only way to get better in MUN is to
be in the center of the processes, so if
you isolate yourself because of “lack” of
knowledge/language/skills, you are not
going to succeed
DO NOT BREAK THE RULES OF
PROCEDURE
AGAIN, NEVER EVER EVEEER
BREAK THE RULES OF
PROCEDURE!!
 They are the essence
of MUN
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE OTHER
DELEGATES
 Never underestimate your opponents
and/or allies
DO NOT USE “I” OR “YOU”
 There is no “I” in MUNs, there is only “The
Delegate of _____” / “The Delegation of
______”
 The people around you are not
“you/he/she” they are “Honorable
delegate of ____” / “The Delegation of
____” / “Honorable Chair” / “Fellow
Delegates”
DO NOT USE CHITS FOR PERSONAL
REASONS
 Chits shall be used to contact other
delegations regarding
the discussions, topic,
their position, to
form alliances, ask
questions, etc.
DO NOT FORGET THAT YOU ARE A
TEAM
 Work as a team
 Divide responsibilities
if needed
 Establish strong
communication
between each other
DO NOT VOTE BASED ON PERSONAL
FEELINGS OR THOUGHTS
 Always remember that you represent a country
 Vote based on
Government’s
position on the
Topic, even if
you do not agree
with it
“DO”s
COME PREPARED / RESEARCH
ABOUT FOLLOWING
 Organization / Committee that you are in
 Country that you are representing
 Topic that is being discussed
 Country’s position regarding topic
 Country’s role/work in this
organization/committee
 Allies / opponents of the country
 Overall international situation
WRITE A POSITION PAPER
 By preparing Position Paper you also
prepare yourself and learn both about
country and topic
 Position Paper helps you set the
structure: country’s relation to topic /
current situation / undertaken actions
/ proposal etc.
BE ON TIME
 Time is very important in MUNs: sometimes
when you’re late just
5 minutes, you can miss
very important part
of the discussions
 Respect your time
and time of
other delegates
FOLLOW THE DRESS CODE
 The attire of participants must be
the same as in real
International
Organizations -
FORMAL!
LISTEN
 Always listen to what other delegates / chair
say. It helps you to form
alliances with countries
that have similar views
 Listen for the strong
and weak sides and use it
for your own benefit
BE ACTIVE / SPEAK
 Talk with other delegates
 Form alliances
 Speak about
position of your country
 Get involved into
writing resolutions
USE CHITS
 Delegates have to be seated.
 Chits (notes, letter) are main mode of
communicating
with other
delegates
 Use chits to ask,
form alliances, express your views, invite to
cooperation, etc.
WORK ON RESOLUTIONS
 Resolution is main outcome document of
the work of committee
 Form groups with
countries which have
similar views
 If your resolution passes,
you have great chance to
become Best Delegate or Best Delegation
LEARN
 Model United Nations is mode of non-formal
education, so benefit from it
 You learn about:
a) New countries
b) Work of international organizations
c) Diplomacy
d) Interpersonal skills
e) Important topics to current international
relations
ENJOY
 Model United Nations is a unique, very
interesting and beneficial experience, so the
main “DO” is …
What is Position Paper?
 Position
Paper is an essay that presents
information and gives details about the position and
policy of the country that you are representing
regarding the topic that is being discussed in your
committee.
 Usually delegates use their Position Paper when
delivering their Opening Speech in the Conference.
Thus, Position Paper serves as a FIRST
IMPRESSION on your country’s position about
topic being discussed and influences your future
actions
How to write Position Paper?
 How? RESEARCH!!
 You need to research following:
 The history/geography/economy & etc. of the country you





are representing
The history/role/rules/impact & etc of the committee
Positive and negative sides of your country’s position
regarding the topic being discussed
Actions taken by your country and by the global
community in order to respond to given topic
Your country’s international allies and adversaries
What could be proposed in order to solve the given matter
What should/could your Position Paper include?
 The name of your country and of the committee where






you are being representing
The name of the topic that will be discussed during
the conference
The position of your country regarding the topic
Quotes from your country leaders or other important
people
Statistic information and its source/footnotes
Challenges faced and achievements made by your
country regarding the given topic
Proposals
Some useful tips
 Follow the requirements and standards of each Model





UN Conference: lengths of PP, font, size, margins, how
to submit, deadline, etc.
Include names, dates and short summary of the
policies implemented by your country regarding the
topic being discussed in the committee
Always read the Study Guide of the Committee in
order to understand the topic better
Don’t be hesitant to use footnotes to give the source
Keep your PP simple, easy to read but official
Make your PP well organized and structured so
everyone can follow your thoughts
Some useful tips
 Never ever use “I” in your Position Paper !!
Remember that you represent a country’s
position, not your personal thoughts
 Reread and edit if necessary
 If your Opening Speech will be based on your
Position Paper then make sure to practice it
 Try to give proposals for the solution of the
matter
 Explore failure and successes in given matter
Definition of some terms
 Delegation – Representation of member states consisting




of permanent representatives to the Unites Nations, heads
of state, ministers of foreign affairs or others of
comparable rank
Chair - moderates debate, keeps time, rules on points
and motions, and enforces the rules of procedure.
Director - oversees the creation of working papers and
draft resolutions, acts as an expert on the topic, makes
sure delegates accurately reflect the policy of their
countries
Notes/chits – private message used by delegates, chair
and director
Placard - A piece of cardstock with a country's name on it
Types of caucus
 Formal Debate – General Speakers’ List, topic of
agenda, time limit for each speech, RoP applied
 Moderated Caucus – subtopic approved by
committee, limited time, time limit for each speech,
RoP applied
 Unmoderated Caucus – limited time, purpose could
be declared, temporary withdrawal of conference
functions
 Suspension of the Meeting – suspension of meeting
for coffee break, lunch, etc.
 Adjournment of the Meeting – end of whole
conference session
Points
 Point: A request raised by a delegate for information or for
an action relating to that delegate.
 Point of order: Any delegate may raise a point of order to
signal the committee about improper action or other issues
that are important to the committee by raising placard
 Point of information: Any delegate may raise a point of
information to pose questions regarding the proceedings of
the committee or rules of procedure by raising placard
 Right to reply: A delegate whose national integrity has
been impugned by another delegate may request the right
to reply to the speaker after his/her time elapsed.
Maximum time available to reply is one minute. There is no
right to reply in response to a right to reply
Motions
 Motion - A request made by a delegate that the
committee as a whole do something.
 Types of motion – motion for moderated caucus,
unmoderated caucus, motion to adjourn the
meeting, motion to introduce draft resolution,
motion to close formal debate, motion to proceed to
voting procedure
 Proper way to state a motion:
“The delegation of (Azerbaijan)/This delegate/We
would like to raise a motion …”
“The delegation of (USA) moves to raise a motion …”
Motions
 Motion for moderated caucus – The
Delegation of […] would like to raise a
motion for moderated caucus on topic of
[….], total time [….] with individual
speaking time of […].
 Motion for unmoderated caucus – The
Delegation of […] would like to raise a
motion for unmoderated caucus (on topic
of [….]), total time [….].
Motions
• Motions can only be raised when
the floor is open after the end of
each speech.
• If there are more than one motion in
the floor, voting will start firstly
from most intervening one until
one of the motions passes or all of
them fail.
Voting
 How to vote: In favor (Yes), Against (No), Abstain
(Neutral; only for substantive matters)
 Types of Voting: Roll Call, Vote as a whole
 Simple majority: 50% plus one vote of the number
of delegates in a committee. This type of voting is
used for procedural matters.
 Required Majority: 2/3 of committee should be in
favor of suggested matter. The substantive matters
require 2/3 majority: voting on draft resolutions,
amendments, motion for closure of debate, motion
to proceed to the voting procedure, motion to
adjourn the meeting
Flow of the Conference
Roll Call
GSL/Formal
Debate
Floor open
for motions
and points
GSL/Formal
Debate
Moderated /
Unmoderated
Caucus
Motions
raised; voted
Mod/Unmod
Floor open
for motions
and points
Motions
raised and
voted
Suspension
of meeting
Flow of the Conference
Presentation
of working
paper
Closure of
Debate
Draft
Resolutions’
presentation
Adjournment
of the
meeting
Voting on
Resolution
Amendments