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What is a MUN?
Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role
of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real-world issues with the policies and
perspectives of their assigned country. It gives students the unique opportunity to debate and
discuss issues that affect our world today with the aim of negotiating peaceful solutions.
How to prepare for a MUN?
1. Make a research binder where you will file all the material you have researched. Alternatively, a
folder may also be created on your desktop to store the research material in a digital format.
2. Understand the research components:
- County profile
- Topic Background
- Past international Action
- Current policies
- Solutions
3. Country Profile
- What is your country’s population size?
- What is your country’s ethnic composition?
- What is your country’s official language?
- What other languages are spoken?
- How would you describe the quality of life in your country?
- What are the cultural views of the people?
- What is the economic condition of your country?
- What are the major revenue sources? Resources, major sectors of the economy, country’s
assets?
- Who are your country’s biggest trading partners?
- Does the government have business incentives in relation to the policies it makes and other
countries? What system of government does your country have? How has the internal and
external defence/ safety of the country been over the past few years? Strength of the military?
4. Research topic background. Comb through the latest possible information available to you about
the topic.
5. Past international action - what the international community and what your country has already
done about the topic. What was the impact?
6. Research solutions to the problem yourself- academic research papers would be a good place
to start
7. Remember when researching, the country-wise research process should expand out from:
- Your representative country
- Countries that are in the spotlight for their action in response to the topic, (this should also
include ongoing action),
- countries that performed poorly in response to the issue in question,
- Countries that did not act much or have a significant opinion or stance on the issue
- The Global Community’s response so far in general
Position Papers
Position papers are documents written by the delegate to demonstrate their knowledge and
understanding of the issue to the Chairpersons. Position Papers are normally 1-2 pages long, and
have 3-4 paragraphs. They should be written from the perspective of the government of your
country, include a header, and answer the following questions. Position papers are not a
compulsion and need not be submitted to your committee’s executive board.
Your position paper should primarily include-
- The stance of your country stated in a clear, categorical manner
- A summary of your research. (after every point, circle back to your stance)
- Why does this piece of information that you have researched favour or justify your stance?)
Structure of your Position Paper:
Heading
- Committee
- Topic
- Country
Topic Background
- Breakdown of the topic
- Who all are involved? Who is affected?
- What is the importance of discussing this topic?
Country Policy
- How has your country been impacted by this issue?
- What has your country done in the past?
- What kind of policies has your country thought of/ is considering using?
- What are your country’s expectations from the United Nations?
Possible Solutions
- What specific plans would your country like the UN to undertake to address this issue?
- What specific plans would your country like the Members States to undertake in their own
countries?
- Why would your ideas work? Provide an evaluation of your policies
Your Speech/GSL
In a MUN, you will be required to make a number of speeches. As the representative of your
assigned country, you will be expected to speak about your country’s policy on the committee
topics and your proposed solutions. In a MUN, speakers most usually are required to make
speeches in 2 cases- opening statements (prepared prior to the event) and the moderated caucus
(to be explained shortly-however, this is more unprepared and informal) While you can research
more innovative ways to make speeches, the most common, the easiest method to understand
and follow is the Hook, Point and Call to action.
Hook
- Grabbing the attention of your audience.
- Ask the audience a question (hypophora or rhetorical)
- A quote by an influential person (especially a known director or important official of the UN)
- Statistics (emphasis on statistics. Statistics are crucial in developing and backing your
argument. Remember to give a clear explanation and analysis of the statistic and cite your
sources. You are liable to fact-checking at all times)
- It is not uncommon to give short anecdotes about specific people who have lived through the
crisis being discussed. However, since time is limited, do not prioritise this point. It only helps
develop pathos in your rhetoric (i.e persuade your audience emotionally)
Point
- What is your country’s response to the issue?
- What policies has your country adopted in the past?
- What is your country currently considering?
Call to action
- What is your proposed solution?
- How will it affect stakeholders?
- What research/ discourse has been done?
- Why do you think your solution will work?
- What part do other countries play in this?
Resolution Writing
The resolution is the main result of the work of your committee and is meant to do exactly
what the name implies: ‘resolve ’the problem that your committee is focused on. Resolutions
are the documents the UN uses to make decisions and are written by groups of Member
States collaborating on their ideas. Resolutions have two main functions: to determine what
the United Nations will do about the issue and to recommend or request that individual
Member States undertake actions to help solve the issue. There is a very specific format for
resolutions, and three main sections: the header, the preamble, and the operative section.
Header
- Committee
- Topic
- Sponsors (main authors who wrote the clauses of the Resolution)
- Signatories
- The delegates that would like to see this resolution introduced in the committee. They don’t
necessarily have to support the resolution but want it to have the requisite number of signatories so
that it can be accepted by the Chair (usually about 1/5th of the committee is required)
Preamble
The goal of the preamble of a resolution is to set the scene for the resolution. Here, you can talk
about why the resolution is being written, for example by talking about how serious the issue is and
who it is impacting. You can also refer to past UN Resolutions, Treaties, and International Actions
related to the topic.
Pre-ambulatory paragraphs are best kept short, crip, and to the point. Preambular paragraphs
must be in italics and usually start with set preambular phrases. Some are listed below
- Expressing concern
- Deploring
- Having considered
- Mindful of
- Regretting
- Recognising
The Operative Section
Operative paragraphs determine what action the UN will take on the issue.
This can mean:
- Funding Solutions
- Directing members of the UN Secretariat on what to do
- Requesting actions by the UN Member States
- Some or all of the above
Operative paragraphs start with operative phrases, which should be italicized. Each operative
paragraph should also be numbered, and end in a semicolon, except for the final operative which
ends in a period.
Some operative phrases:
- Adopts
- Believes that
- Calls upon member states to
- Condemns
- Expresses its concern
- Insists that
- Invites
- Recognises
MUN Terminology
1. Decorum- order in the committee. The chair may call decorum if delegates are loud or
disrespectful, in order to ask for their attention during committee.
2. Motion- a specific action made by delegates to direct debate in a certain direction.
3. General Speaker’s List- a list that contains the order of speakers in the committee. The specific
way that the order is determined varies by conference. The Speaker’s List is the default format of
debate and the committee will proceed with speeches until a delegate makes a motion to change
up the debate format.
4. Yield- this is when a speaker decides to give up the remaining time in his or her speech.
Typically, the three types of yields are:
- Yield to the Chair meaning you give up the rest of your time. The Chair reserves the right to
utilise the time in whichever way
- Yield to another delegate meaning you give up the rest of your time to another delegate, and
the delegate must speak for that additional amount of time
- Yield to the Floor (floor open to points and motions by other delegates)
5. Point of Information - used when a delegate has a question about a statement made in the
speech of a delegate or a statement made by a delegate in committee
6. Point of Personal Privilege - used when a delegate experiences personal discomfort that hinders
their ability to participate in the committee.
Examples: temperature of the room, distractions during committee, can’t hear another delegate,
etc.
7. Point of Order - used when a delegate believes that there was a mistake made regarding
statements made in committee
8. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry - used when a delegate wishes to ask the Chairpersons a
question regarding the procedure in committee
8. Moderated Caucus - A debate format that allows delegates to make short comments on a
specific sub-issue. Simply put, a discussion over a more specific sub-issue within the larger
agenda is initiated. Remember mod caucuses can be tricky and take you by surprise, so ensure
your research is thorough. Typically, delegates who are interested in speaking will raise up their
placards and the Chairs will call on delegates to speak one at a time. In order to move into a
moderated caucus, the motion must include the overall speaking time, the time per speaker, and
the sub-issue to be discussed.
Example: The Delegate of Italy moves for a 5-minute moderated caucus with 30-second speaking
time per delegate for the purpose of discussing food security, the larger agenda being climate
change.
9. Unmoderated Caucus - a debate format in which delegates can leave their seats to go and talk
to other delegates freely and informally. This is usually when delegates find allies and work on draft
resolutions. In order to move into an unmoderated caucus, the motion must include the overall
caucus time and preferably the purpose of the unmoderated caucus. Example: Senegal moves for
an unmoderated caucus for 10 minutes to complete draft resolutions.
10. Blocs - different groups that have similar ideas and opinions about the topics. Towards the end
of the discussion, countries with similar ideas/viewpoints for solutions, and those who have formed
alliances can form blocs. These blocs will typically work together to create a draft resolution.
11. Working paper - Working papers are just a list of ideas formed by the blocs. They may or may
not be written in resolution format. The working paper needs to be approved by the chairs.
12. Draft Resolution - A document written in resolution format, approved by the chairs, and
introduced to the committee but not yet voted upon is called a draft resolution. Delegates will be
spending most of their time writing and amending the draft resolutions. Once a draft resolution is
passed by a committee, then it becomes a Resolution.
13. Sponsor - An author of all or parts of a resolution, that agree with the content of the resolution.
14. Signatory - A delegate that wishes to see the resolution debated before the committee, but
does not necessarily contribute content or agree with the content of the resolution.
19. Merging - combining two or more draft resolutions to make a bigger or new draft resolution
20. Voting bloc - when delegates vote on the draft resolutions and amendments
