Basic Knowledge for MUN

Delegates!
EIS:
Voted TWICE best delegation CEIBA!

Sources: Basic Knowledge for MUN Delegates by Irene Wood

MUNUC Delegate Handbook
Wikipedia encyclopedia
 History of the United Nations
• Founded October 24, 1945 (same year WWII ended)
• Objective: work on preserving peace.
What will you as delegates do?
Simulate United Nation meetings, being Honorary
Delegates who will try to find answers to problems
through peaceful ways and negotiation.
 Structure of the U.N.
• SIX principal organs:
• General assembly
– Each member state has ONE vote
– Require 2/3 majority vote on issues regarding:
• Peace and security
• Admissions of new members
• Budgetary matters
– Other issues require simple majority vote
• Divided into committees:
– Disarmament and International Security
– Economic and Financial
– Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural
– Special Political and Decolonization
– Administrative and Budgetary
• Economic and Social Council
– Focus specifically on economic and social development issues
• Require simple majority votes
– Work directly with non-governmental organizations (NGO’s)

• Security Council
– 15 members
– Responsible for maintaining international peace and security
– Decisions on substantive matters:
• Minimum NINE members, including all P-5
– 5 Permanent Members known as the “P- 5”
• France
• The people’s Republic of China
• Russian Federation Victors of
• United Kingdom WWII
• United States of America
– VETO Power!
– 10 rotating members
• Elected 2- year terms
• P-2
• Security Council
• P5 members of the Security Council: China, France, Russian
Federation, United Kingdom, United States.
• Represented in MUN SC. The other 10 non-permanent members will
also be present.
• Veto Power:
– A resolution automatically fails if any of the 5 permanent
members (P5) vote against (called a ‘veto’). However, before a
P5 delegate can veto a resolution, they should attempt to take the
following measures:
• Talk about their concerns in open debate
• Attempt to make amendments to the resolution
• Request, by sending the President a note, that a ‘P5 conference’ be called.
The caucus body can then take a number of measures, which the
President will explain when necessary.
• The Security Council can call in delegates (usually the ambassador)
from nations who are not members, if they are directly involved in an
issue being debated.
(Wikipedia)
• International Court of Justice
(ICJ)
– Principal legal organ of the U.N.
– 15 judges of different nationalities
• Operate as independent magistrates not as diplomats
representing a country.
• 9-year terms

• Secretariat
– Made up of civil servants
• Civil servants : They are answerable to the UN rather than their
home government.
– Go from administering peacekeeping operations to
translating official documents.
– Headed by Secretary-General
•Trusteeship Council
• Supervise administration of Trust Territories
• Guide territories towards self-government
and independence.
 Rules of Procedure
• Language: English at all times!
*Duties and Powers of Committee Staff
Committee staff includes:
– Chair : Shall open and close each session and may limit speaking
time, limit the speakers’ list, and decide the propriety of any
procedural motion. Final word on all substantive matters of the
Committee.
*substantive issues are those that address the topic being discussed.
– Moderator: shall direct debate, grant the right to speak. Put
questions, announce decisions on points of order, and ensure and
enforce observance of the rules of procedure.
– Chair and Assistant Chairs may advise delegates on the course of
debate.
 • Voting
• ONLY delegates who have been recorded as present in the latest roll call
may vote.
• Placard vote and Roll call vote
– Simple Majority
– In favor = against  motion doesn’t pass
– “2/3 majority” – in favor equals or exceeds two time the # of against
• Examlpe. 10 in favor 3 against.
– Absentations shall not be considered in determining the results of the votes.

•What type of debating is done in MUN?

•Debating
•Moderated Informal Session
•Unmoderated Informal Session
 Ready.. Set.. DEBATE!
General STEPS to follow
• Roll Call
• Agenda
1. Motion to set the agenda
2. Vote on which topic should be discussed FIRST
• Debate and Speakers’ List
1. Motion to open speakers’ list
2. In order to be added to the speakers’ list use a written request addressed
to the dais.
• Speeches
-Must be germane to the topic
-Speaking time allowed for speeches will be set by the Chair; in some cases it
may be subjected to voting.
• Yields
• A delegate may yield or “give their speaking time” or the remainder of it to:
-to another delegate
-to questions ( Raise placards, moderator picks)
-to the chair (speaker time will simply end)
 Points!
• Point of personal privilege
- if at any time a delegate experiences a discomfort which impairs his ability to
participate in the proceedings, he may request the discomfort be corrected
• Ex. Microphone is not working and you can’t hear anything.

• Point of order
- Parliamentary procedure is not being followed properly

• Point Parliamentary Inquiry

- question regarding parliamentary procedure
• Comments
-Are ONLY in order after a speech in which the speaker did NOT yield his/her
time and the comment MUST be about whatever the speech was about in order
to be considered germane.
- The delegation bust be recognized by the Moderator before speaking
• Right of Reply
*A delegate whose personal or national integrity has been
seriously impugned by the speech of another delegate
may request a Right of Reply. All requests for a Right of
Reply must be submitted in writing to the dais. The
Chair’s decision to grant this right is at his sole discretion
and is not appealable. The length of the reply granted is
also at the Chair’s discretion. A request for a Right of
Reply cannot interrupt a substantive speech.
 Order of Precedence
1. Points which may interrupt a speaker
- Points of personal Privilege
- Points of Order
2. Comments (only immediately after a substantive speech in which there was NO yield)
3. Points which are in order only when the floor is open
-Points of Parliamentary Inquiry
-Requests for Right of Reply (must be written)
4. Procedural Motions which are NOT debatable
-Recess to Unmoderated Informal Session
-Recess to Moderated Informal Session
- Suspension of the Meeting
-Adjournment of the meeting
• MOTIONS
• “Motion to:
– Suspend the Rules”
– Postpone Debate”
– Close Debate”
– Introduce Amendments”
– Introduce Resolutions”
– Resume Debate”
– Set Agenda”
– for a Roll Call Vote”