BaliMUN XII

Handbook
Table of Content:
Introduction to MUN.................................................................. 3
Rules of Conduct.........................................................................4
Dress Code.................................................................................. 5
Issues..........................................................................................6
Preparing a Position Paper......................................................... 8
Writing Resolutions.................................................................. 10
Preparing an Opening Speech....................................................13
Lobbying................................................................................... 16
Debate....................................................................................... 18
Vocabulary and Terms...............................................................19
2......................................................................................................................................... 2

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Introduction to MUN
Model United Nations (MUN) is a simulation of the United Nations. Students debate and
discuss issues that affect our world. The ideal goal is to negotiate and agree on peaceful
solutions. This, however, is rarely the case. Even in the real United Nations. Participants will
have to place themselves as the representatives of their given nations and share the viewpoints
of that nation to interact with others.

To summarise, people take turns discussing a topic and anyone and everyone is open to publicly
agreeing or disagreeing with a resolution - being FOR or AGAINST. Delegates must make a
speech on the spot to support their opinions and are free to question other delegates once a
speech is finished.

Classes 6-8 will be in the Junior Committee - Special Political and Decolonisation Committee.
You will be discussing the effectiveness of UN actions in the ongoing crisis and what should be
improved upon.

Classes 9-12 will be in the Senior Committee - the Security Council. This committee will be
discussing the mitigation of Cyber Warfare, a favoured method of attack for the war.

Before the conference, you can email your chairs for information and help or visit
the website.

MUN Mission:
MUN is mostly about experiencing discussions about global issues and having fun but there’s a
chance that you want to describe this experience in a more professional and technical manner
for your CV. This list may help guide you to understand the formal goals of MUN:
1. To advance the interests of international education across national boundaries through
the promotion of interaction and dialogue between young people from a variety of
backgrounds.
2. To instil a global perspective in young people through the educational aims of MUN,
focusing on the formulation of peaceful resolutions to world problems.
3. To develop students' communication skills which will help to foster the international
education and global perspective mentioned above.
4. To promote interest in and support for the work of the United Nations and to increase
public awareness of issues of international concern.

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Rules of Conduct
General Behaviour
1. Respectful spoken and written language at all times (no flaming or personal attacks on
individual or country positions).
2. Stay on topic, do not derail the conversation and if there is a tangent, always remember
to link back to the main issue.
3. Courteous behaviour towards chairs, advisers and others assisting in the program
4. No use of multimedia without approval from the chairs (images, audio etc.)
5. Timely communication with fellow members
6. It is the responsibility of all participants to know and abide by the laws of the state which
govern their internet use and general conduct
Failure to abide by these guidelines may result in a warning, further misconduct will result in
being removed from BaliMUN altogether.

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Dress Code
The guidelines are as follows, and students will be expected to follow them. Delegates will be
asked to change, or not allowed to participate, if they are not appropriately dressed:
Male Attire:
● Suit or Jacket
● Dress Shirt
● Tie
● Dress Pants

Female Attire:
● Suit
● Dress and Jacket
● Dress Slacks or Skirt
Attires that expose stomachs, shoulders or undergarments are unacceptable. This applies to
both men and women. Appropriate attire can be seen in the photos below.

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Issues
How to Research a Country and Issue
You will need to learn about your country so you can address the issues raised at
the conference as a delegate from your country. To represent your country
accurately, look at the following questions to get an idea of what you need to know:

1. What sort of government does your country have?

2. What types of ideologies (political, religious or other) influence your country’s
government?
3. Which domestic issues might influence your country’s foreign policy?
4. What are some major events in your country’s history? Why are they important?
5. Which ethnicities, religions and languages can be found in your country?
6. Where is your country located and how does its geography affect its political
relationships?
7. Which countries share a border with your country?
8. Which countries are considered allies of your country?
9. Which countries are considered enemies of your country?
10. What are the characteristics of your country’s economy?
11. What is your country’s gross domestic product (GDP)? How does this compare to other
countries in the world?
12. When did your country become a member of the UN?
13. Does your country belong to any intergovernmental organisations outside the UN system
such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?
14. Does your country belong to any regional organisations such as the European Union
(EU), the African Union (AU) or the Organization of American States (OAS)?
15. Does your country belong to any trade organisations or agreements such as the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD)?

There are two fields of research that you have to focus on when preparing for an MUN
conference. First, you need to learn about the country you represent, and then there are the
issues on the agenda.

How To Research A Country?

CIA World Factbook
Choose the country you represent to find general information about the country
World Affairs Council
For research on a country’s specific perspectives on issues.

Check your country’s national website for official statistics self-reported by a country. This could
indicate biases and differing viewpoints from third-party sources.

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How To Research An Issue?
Your committees will have assigned background papers sent with links provided for articles and
op-eds about the issues. Remember that you need: your country’s official perspective on the
issue; responses to the issue; future plans; and a more general opinion on the issue. Sometimes
a nation’s government and its people will disagree on how to solve an issue. As a representative,
you must understand the difference between both and what perspective you wish to go forward
with will be up to you.

Useful Websites:

Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/
BBC World: http://www.bbc.com/news/
bestdelegate: http://bestdelegate.com/
CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
CNN: http://www.cnn.com
Embassies Worldwide: http://www.embassyworld.com
The Economist: http://www.economist.com
Foreign Affairs: http://www.foreignaffairs.com/
THIMUN: http://www.thimun.org/
UN Cyber School Bus: http://cyberschoolbus.un.org
United Nations: http://www.un.org
United Nations Member Sites: http://www.un.org/en/members/index.shtml
World Affairs Council: http://www.worldaffairs.org/

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Preparing a Position Paper
The Position Paper is a one-page document that is essentially a summary of your knowledge of
the topic and the position your country plans to take when it enters committee. It typically
contains three sections: Background of the Topic, Past International Actions, and Country Policy
and possible Solutions. You should write a position paper on every issue before your committee
or assembly.

If you follow the format below your resolutions will be extremely easy to write. Paragraphs one
and two become your perambulatory clauses and paragraphs three and four become your
operative clauses.

Paragraph One: Defines the problem/topic

Helpful hints:
● Origins of the problem.
● Why is it a problem?
● Define any unfamiliar vocabulary of concepts.
● Where is it a problem?
● Who does it affect or involve? Victims and perpetrators…
● How does it affect people?
● Parts of the problem – break it down.
● Recent events that changed the problem since the last time it was discussed or since past
resolutions.

Paragraph Two: What is being done to deal with the problem? (A list of past actions.)
Helpful hints:
● Past UN resolutions (on same or related topic)
● Summits (ex. World Summit on Sustainable Development)
● International conferences (ex. UN Conference on Human Environment)
● Protocols (ex. Kyoto Protocol)
● NGOs / Private organizations involved with solving the problem (ex. The climate project,
Greenpeace)
● Special agencies of the UN involved with solving the problem (ex. UNESCO, WHO)
● Past government actions (ex. Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act)

Paragraph Three: Evaluation/Analysis of past actions

Helpful hints:
● Did past actions work / why not?
● Is the problem getting better or worse? Why?

Paragraph Four: Outline of your country’s policy – solution (resolution)

Helpful hints:
● Using what you know about the topic…
● Using what you know about the country…
● What is your country’s view on this topic/problem?

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To sum up, the position paper sets out to answer three basic questions:
1. What is the background of your country’s point of view on the issue?
2. What is your country’s current position on the issue?
3. What does it hope to achieve about the issue?
Additionally, you might add strength to your position by answering the following question:
What have other member states that share my country’s view done in this area?

Sample Position Paper:

Delegation: United States of America

Issue: Addressing the Issue of Maritime Piracy

Maritime piracy and crime is a serious issue as it threatens the well-being of populations and the
trading industry. With 90% of global trade being transferred by sea, the shipping routes must
stay safe. The United States (US) is dedicated to creating a safer environment for all aspects of
the shipping industry, This includes ridding the industry of the smuggling of illegal goods,
human trafficking, ship robberies and citizens being affected by the dangers of piracy.

The US has been very involved in bettering this issue by placing naval resources in the areas
most affected. Many naval ships and personnel are located off the Horn of Africa, where
maritime piracy is prevalent. The US military is on constant watchout for any illegal behaviour
and is ready to take action. Organisations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Association (NATO)
Operation Ocean Shield and Combined Maritime Forces work together to strategically design
methods on how to decrease maritime crimes. The US also works with shipping companies to
increase their security by having trained security personnel aboard vessels and locating the
safest shipping routes.

Past successes have been unique singular attempts by certain developed countries such as
Russia and France, whose efforts have been helpful but limited. Some countries that are affected
by maritime crimes have been through conflict with a lack of government, such as Somalia. The
US would like to offer knowledge and support to these countries to solve maritime crime. Since
maritime piracy is an ongoing issue, it is necessary to keep these efforts alive. The shipping
industry will not slow down, so overcoming the obstacles in front of it is of great importance.
The actions taken by the US continue to create a positive impact on this issue and formulating
new solutions is also of value to the country. Thanks to NATO and other organisations
mentioned before, sea trade will become safer.

There does not appear to be any concerted effort to reduce piracy. The US is supportive of new
solutions that could improve the situation while benefiting the trade industry. The US believes
that increasing global protection more aggressively on piracy hot zones is necessary. Piracy,
smuggling and human trafficking a major threats to millions and the United States is working
towards a future that helps all of these concerns.

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Writing Resolutions
The final results of all your work are resolutions—written suggestions for addressing a specific
problem or issue. Resolutions, which are drafted by delegates and voted on by the assembly or
committee, normally require a simple majority to pass (except in the Security Council). Only
Security Council resolutions can compel nations to take action. All other UN bodies use
resolutions to make recommendations or suggestions for future action.
A sample resolution, with step-by-step instructions, is attached at the end of this manual. This is
the resolution format (and sample) used at THIMUN Conferences, BaliMUN would use the
same.

Draft Resolutions
Draft resolutions are all resolutions that have not yet been voted on. Delegates write draft
resolutions with other countries. There are three main parts to a draft resolution: the heading,
the preambulatory section and the operative section. The heading shows the committee and
topic. It also lists the draft resolutions signatories. Each draft resolution is one long sentence
with sections separated by commas and semicolons.
Tips for Resolution Writing
● Preambulatory clauses are historic justifications for action. Use them to cite past
resolutions, precedents and statements about the purpose of action.
● Operative clauses are policies that the resolution is designed to create. Use them to
explain what the committee will do to address the issue.
● Try to cite facts whenever possible.
● Create a detailed resolution. For example, if your resolution calls for a new program,
think about how it will be funded and what body will manage it.
● Be realistic. Do not create objectives for your resolution that cannot be met. Make sure
your body can take the action suggested. For example, the General Assembly can’t
sanction another country – only the Security Council can do so.
● Solicit the views of many states. The GA or your committee will be more likely to approve
the resolutions if many delegates contribute ideas.
● Be sure to follow the format for resolutions provided by the conference organizers. (We
will be using the THIMUN format. See below.)
● Preambulatory Clauses: The preamble of a resolution states the reasons for which the
committee is addressing the topic and highlights past international action on the issue.
Each clause begins with a present participle (called a preambulatory phrase) and ends
with a comma.
Preambulatory clauses can include:
▪ References to the UN Charter;
▪ Citations of past UN resolutions or treaties on the topic under discussion;
▪ Mentions of statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN
body or agency;
▪ Recognition of the efforts of regional or nongovernmental organizations
in dealing with the issue; and
▪ General statements on the topic, its significance and its impact.

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Sample Preambulatory Phrases

Affirming Expressing its appreciation Keeping in mind

Alarmed by Expressing its satisfaction Noting with deep concern

Approving Fulfilling Noting with regret

Aware of Fully alarmed Noting with satisfaction

Bearing in mind Fully believing Noting further

Believing Further deploring Noting with approval

Confident Further recalling Observing

Contemplating Guided by Reaffirming

Convinced Having adopted Realizing

Declaring Having considered Recalling

Deeply concerned Having devoted attention Recognizing

Deeply conscious Having examined Referring

Deeply convinced Having heard Seeking

Deeply disturbed Having received Taking into account

Deeply regretting Having studied Taking into consideration

Desiring Taking note

Emphasising Viewing with appreciation

Expecting Welcoming

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Operative Clauses
Operative clauses identify the actions or recommendations made in a resolution. Each operative
clause begins with a verb (called an operative phrase) and ends with a semicolon. Operative
clauses should be organised in a logical progression, with each containing a single idea or
proposal, and are always numbered. If a clause requires further explanation, bulleted lists set off
by letters or Roman numerals can also be used. After the last operative clause, the resolution
ends in a period.

Sample Operative Phrases

Accepts Draws the attention Proclaims

Affirms Emphasises Reaffirms

Approves Further invites Recommends

Authorises Encourages Regrets

Calls Expresses its appreciation Reminds

Calls upon Expresses its hope Requests

Condemns Further invites Solemnly affirms

Confirms Further proclaims Strongly condemns

Congratulates Further reminds Supports

Considers Further recommends Takes note of

Declares accordingly Further requests Transmits

Deplores Further resolves Trusts

Designates Note

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Preparing an Opening Speech
An opening speech should last 1 minute. In this minute, you should address very clearly to the
audience the position of the country you represent on the primary concerns about the state of
the world.

What Are The Different Parts of An Opening Speech?

There are a few things to keep in mind when preparing for an opening speech:
First of all, there is the beginning of the speech. It is customary to address the Secretary-General
or leadership of the GA and the delegates present by starting your speech, saying something like:
“Madam/Mister Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates,” and then go on to the main body
of your speech.

The main body of your speech should address the issue on the agenda your country feels most
strongly about. Some delegates think that this part of the speech should be funny and
entertaining. This is not what the speech is about at all. Keep it diplomatic and concentrate on
getting one single message across. It is standard practice to end the speech with a flourish such
as: “Thank you, Madam/Mister Secretary-General,” and “(your country) would like to yield the
floor back to the chair.”

How To Deliver An Opening Speech?

When speaking to the GA at BaliMUN you can be easily in awe of the number of people you are
facing. You will be nervous. The best way to overcome this is by practising the delivery of your
speech in your school and having your MUN Director present and also maybe your fellow
delegates. Ask them what they think about your speech and adjust it if you think it needs that.

You should open your speech with a strong sentence to gain the audience’s attention. Also, when
delivering your speech, you must remember to speak slowly and clearly. As a rule of thumb, you
are speaking slowly enough when you think to yourself: “I am speaking too slowly now.”

Have the speech timed and see that it does not exceed the time allotted to you. If necessary, the
conference leadership will remind you that your time is almost up by saying: “Will the Delegate
please come to His closing remarks.” If you hear this said to you, please act accordingly.

With regards to vocabulary and use of English, if you are a native speaker, bear in mind that
there will be non-native speakers in your audience. If you are a non-native speaker, do not worry
about making mistakes. You will not be the only one to make them.

Summing up, an opening speech consists of an opening flourish, a main body that drives home
one point only and a closing flourish.

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Sample Opening Speeches

DELEGATION: France
Honourable Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates (or Madam/Mister Secretary-General,
Distinguished Delegates),

France recognizes the need for multilateral efforts to achieve a greater balance in terms of
development between the nations in the world. However, France also believes that any hope of
achieving an acceptable economic balance in terms of global standards of living must take into
consideration the environmental impact of such efforts.

France applauds the recent changes in tone apparent in the North-South dialogue and calls for
greater attention to be paid to the interrelatedness of development planning and environmental
security. Environmental threats from industrialization must be eliminated from development
planning. This is why France stands firmly behind the idea that aid and investment should occur
at the local level, where traditional knowledge about the environment can play an important role
in development.

Thank you, Madam/Mister Secretary-General. This delegate would like to yield the floor back to
the chair.

DELEGATION: Ethiopia
Honourable Secretary-General, Distinguished Delegates (or Madam/Mister Secretary-General,
Distinguished Delegates),

Ethiopia is deeply conscious about the worsening water crisis across many parts of the world,
including within Ethiopia itself, that threatens the livelihoods and even survival of millions.
Ethiopia maintains its position that it is the responsibility of all nations to conserve this precious
resource for the many, as opposed to bottling it up and selling it for profit to the few.

Ethiopia welcomes the willingness of other countries in Africa to help promote the sustainable
use of water and notes with particular satisfaction the cooperation it has achieved with Sudan in
protecting the water of the Nile for use by both nations. Ethiopia also calls on the developed
world to support and invest in such projects dedicated to preserving water, and to look into
using their own supply instead of taking it away from less developed countries.

Thank you, Madam/Mister Secretary-General. This delegate would like to yield the floor back to
the chair.

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DELEGATION: Iran

Honourable Secretary-General, and Certain Distinguished Delegates,

The Islamic Republic of Iran has witnessed a worrying and appalling trend, by which one of the
rights of all men, water, is robbed from its close allies by hostile groups abroad, which the
Islamic Republic has taken as a threat to the safety and wellbeing of its people. Iran is no
stranger to threats of such deprivals, with sanctions by certain nations having stolen away Iran’s
food and power-producing capability, and notes with confusion as to how those nations can
justify the threat of war when they are the ones committing the grievances.

By the wisdom of the Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, who issued to the people of Iran that
economic growth and full access to the basic necessities are prerequisites of a developed society,
the Islamic Republic of Iran declares its intention to protect its water resources and other
resources, and will not be disinclined to do so by force, if it proves necessary to do so.

This delegate emphasizes the need for fair and equal debate among all nations represented, so as
not to unfairly favour the Western powers who have proved themselves colluding with thieves of
Iran and its allies’ material wealth.

Thank you, Madam/Mister Secretary-General. This delegate would like to yield the floor back to
the chair.

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Lobbying
What Is Lobbying?
In essence, Lobbying is when you ask other delegates to support your resolution or amendment.
Lobbying is an essential part of many parliamentary processes. Before the meetings take place,
delegates’ support is arranged, bartered for, and occasionally bought. This has traditionally
taken place “in the lobby” – hence its name – but in MUN, Lobbying takes on the formal role as
small group discussions that take place prior to a debate.
During Lobbying, students will have the opportunity to take their draft resolutions to other
delegates and try and gain support for their ideas. Delegates have the option to modify their
resolution at the suggestion of others, or merge resolutions if they find another delegate with a
very similar proposal. Lobbying takes place in the individual committee rooms, which means
that a student will be placed amongst a group of other delegates working on the same issues on
the same issue.
This also provides a chance for students to “break the ice” and meet the other delegates from
other schools. They should aim to locate and get to know their potential allies, and identify those
who share their goals.

Lobbying Rules
The formal "rules" of Lobbying differ from conference to conference, and from country to
country, but there are a few standard guidelines that most hosts may choose to follow.
At a conference, a delegate’s resolution must be supported by other delegates in order for it to
move on to the next stage. In order to demonstrate and guarantee their support, the delegate
will sign the resolution. Conferences usually have subsidiary rules to this, along the lines of,
“delegates can only sign three resolutions,” and “a resolution can be signed by at most two
delegates from the same school”.
At BaliMUN, delegates are not permitted to vote against resolutions that they have signed,
unless the resolution has undergone any changes (e.g. being merged with another resolution or
been amended during debate), although it is expected that delegates will support the resolution
wholeheartedly if they choose to be one of its signatories.
The Chairs should coordinate the work of the delegates in the lobbying process to prevent
unrealistic or illogical resolutions being produced. This is the time when you will try to obtain
sufficient co-submitters to register your resolution. Generally, time spent on lobbying usually
results in a stronger resolution.

How To Lobby
Lobbying can be intimidating for many delegates. However, though it may be difficult, lobbying
is an essential part of every MUN conference. What many people don’t realize is that lobbying is
a skill as vital as resolution writing and speech-making – and yet, it’s one is difficult to master.
Just as no two delegates have the exact same approach to writing a resolution, debating, or
making speeches, they will also differ in their lobbying style.

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However, there are a few steadfast rules that all delegates should follow during Lobbying:

● Be nice. No matter how intelligent you are or how well crafted your draft resolution is,
people will always be turned off by a rude attitude! Besides, being mean leads to bad
karma, which will definitely not work in your favour.
● Don’t be too nice. Lobbying is a great time to make friends with other delegates and form
alliances, but it is primarily a time to make sure your opinions are respected. While being
mean is terrible, being a pushover certainly won’t do you any favours either, so make
sure you have a healthy balance between politeness and assertiveness.
● Make compromises. You will never be able to successfully merge with other delegates if
you insist on having all your ideas remain unchanged. Yes, stand by your resolution and
keep your integrity at all times, but if something just isn’t working, it can be good to
change it.
● Choose your group wisely. People often ask if it’s better to join a large group of delegates
who are all speaking animatedly, or to join a smaller, quieter group huddled around a
laptop. However, there is no “right” decision to be made in this case. Large groups have
the added benefit of having a variety of opinions being thrown around, which may lead to
a more holistic approach to the issue; however, in small groups, it is easier to make one’s
voice heard. Think about the atmosphere you’d work best in, and go with the flow.
● Stay on-policy. Working with friends is awesome, but if your countries aren’t on as good
terms as you guys are, then it probably wouldn’t be the best idea to merge with them. Try
to stick to your allies, but don’t feel too constrained.
● Get as many co-submitters as possible. A lot of delegates will just get the minimum
amount of co-submitters needed for their resolution to be debated, but this isn’t the
wisest course of action. If possible, get many more delegates to sign onto your resolution.
More co-submitters usually lead to more votes, which is always a good thing.
● Make sure your co-submitters are really on board with your resolution. If they suddenly
change their mind during debate and ask for their names to be stricken from the list of
co-submitters, this can be pretty embarrassing. So talk through your resolution with your
co-submitters and make sure they understand it before letting them sign-on.
● Trust your own judgment. If you have a bad feeling that a certain clause isn’t going to fly
too well with the rest of the committee, don’t be afraid to ask for it to be stricken. More
often than not, your instincts will end up being right.
● Have fun! Even though Lobbying can be tiring, it’s also one of the best opportunities to
make friends with people you wouldn’t have met outside of MUN. So relax, delegates,
because you’ve done all the preparation. It’s time to let the real games begin!

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Debate
General Rules To Consider
● Delegates may not refer to themselves in the first person. Instead, they must refer to
themselves as “the delegate of (your country)” or “this delegate”. Delegates must also
refer to other delegates as “the delegate of…”
● Delegates may only speak when called upon, and in the order in which they are called.
● Delegates must know, and in turn use, the terms provided for Points of Order, Motions
and Yielding.
● Delegates must raise their placards if they want to speak

Points
When a delegate needs to address the chair, points are used and the points are:
● Point of Inquiry: used when a delegate has a question about something that is not
clearly understood in committee. Use this to ask a question if you don’t understand a
term or get what’s going on in committee!
● Point of Personal Privilege: used when a delegate experiences personal discomfort
that hinders their ability to participate in the committee. Examples: temperature of
room, distractions during committee, can’t hear another delegate, etc.
● Point of Order (also called Point of Parliamentary Procedure): used when a
delegate believes that there was a mistake made regarding the rules of procedure.
● Point of Clarification – any question posed to the reader of the resolution regarding
the meaning of words or phrases contained in a resolution

Caucus
Moderated Caucus: A debate format that allows delegates to make short comments on a
specific sub-issue. 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: Italy moves for a 5-minute moderated caucus with 30
seconds of speaking time per delegate for the purpose of discussing solutions to women’s rights.

Unmoderated Caucus (also called Informal Caucus or Lobbying Sessions): a debate

format in which delegates can leave their seats to go and talk to others 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.

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Vocabulary and Terms
Abstain – not to vote for or against a resolution

Agenda – a formal list of things to be done in a particular order during meetings

Amendment – a change to a resolution either by adding or taking something; can be done by

a delegate during open debate

Chair - somebody presiding over something such as a committee or meeting; during regional
meeting there is a single chair, while the General Assembly is in session the President,
Parliamentarian and Secretary are collectively known as the “chairs”

Clause - a distinct section of a legal document that is usually separately numbered

Committee – a group of people appointed or chosen to perform a function on behalf of a larger

group

Co-submitter – any delegate that has written at least one full operative clause for a resolution

Delegate - a person chosen to represent another group of people; in the case of MUN delegates
represent the government of their country

Follow up question – used during points of clarification, it is a continuation of the first

question asked

Formal amendment – any amendment that changes the formal nature of the resolution;
formal amendments must first be proposed, voted on to enter debate, debated and then voted on
again before being adopted

Friendly Amendment – any amendment that does not change the formal nature of the
resolution, for example correction to spelling or grammatical errors

General Assembly - the collective body of all the delegates participating in the Model United
Nations

National Sovereignty - the exclusive right of a state to maintain complete control over their
national affairs

Open Debate - a time when any delegate may make statements, voice opinions or ask
questions pertinent to the resolution at hand

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Operative Clause – a clause of a resolution that describes what action should be taken to solve
the problem described in the preamble, initiating phrase should be a verb

Out of Order – actions that are not allowed according to parliamentary procedure

Parliamentarian – the individual that is responsible for enforcing all the rules of
parliamentary procedure during the General Assembly

Parliamentary procedures – standard rules to be used by all delegates while the general
assembly is in session

Parliamentary Procedure Committee - a select number of delegates who function as the

governing body of the MBIS MUN during the three day General Assembly session, their basic
role is to clarify parliamentary procedure

Preambulatory Clause – a clause in the initial part of a resolution that state past action on
and reasons why actions in the operative clauses should be carried out; the initiating phrase
should set the tone for the statement that follows

Point of Clarification – any question posed to the reader of the resolution regarding the
meaning of words or phrases contained in a resolution

Point of Order – used by a delegate to complain of inappropriate use of parliamentary

procedure

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry – used by a delegate to ask about the proper use of
parliamentary procedures

Point of Personal Privilege – used by a delegate when they are experiencing any type of
physical discomfort that hinders their full participation in the General Assembly debate

President – the individual who presides over the entire General Assembly and is responsible
for directing resolution debate process and other administrative duties

Reader of the Resolution – the delegate responsible for reading a specific resolution aloud to
the entire General Assembly; points of clarification are directed toward the reader of the
resolution

Resolution – a written document that addresses a specific problem and outlines steps to a
solution

Roll Call – reading off the names of the nations in alphabetical order either for the purpose of
taking attendance or voting

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Secretary – the individual in charge of secretarial duties while the General Assembly or a
regional meeting is in session

Security Council – the five permanent countries plus ten rotating countries in charge of
maintaining international peace and security; security council nations are charged with crafting
emergency resolutions during the model united nations

Yield – passing a question or the time to another delegate

Here are the top 20 most important terms to know at a conference, sorted by category. And if
you’re still unsure when you get to committee, don’t hesitate to raise a Point of Inquiry!

General

Chairs: The chairpersons are seated in the front with their gavel and facilitate the debate. They
call on speakers, time speeches, and maintain the rules of procedure. If the conference gives
awards, they will also evaluate your performance.

Decorum: order in committee. The chair may call decorum if delegates are loud or
disrespectful, in order to ask for their attention during committee.

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: 1. Yield to the Chair meaning you give up the rest of your
time, 2. Yield to another delegate meaning you give up the rest of your time to another delegate,
or 3. Yield to questions from other delegates or Yield to comments to your speech by other
delegates. Questions are also sometimes called Points of Information.

Blocs: different groups that have similar ideas and opinions about the topics. In the real United
Nations, there are regional blocs, but delegates can choose to build their own blocs in Model UN.
These blocs will typically work together to create a draft resolution.

Resolutions
The goal of the committee is to pass a resolution. Although you may not know how to write a
resolution yet, it’s important to know the basic terms so you can keep up as they are presented.

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.

Draft Resolution: A document written in resolution format, approved by the chairs, and
introduced to 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 committee
passes a draft resolution, then it becomes a Resolution.

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Signatories: delegates who wish to see the draft resolution debated but may or may not agree
with all of the ideas. However, they think there is some merit to it and want to see it presented.
Some resolutions will require a minimum number of signatories.

Preambulatory clauses: statements in the first section of the draft resolution that describes
the problems that the committee wants to solve as well as previous measures taken to combat
the problem. Pre-ambulatory clauses are usually italicized or underlined by not numbered.

Operative clauses: statements in the second section of the draft resolution that outlines the
specific solutions the sponsors wish to implement. Operative clauses are usually numbered and
underlined.

Amendment: a change made to an operative clause of a draft resolution. Amendments can

add, delete, or change an operative clause in a draft resolution. A Friendly Amendment is an
amendment written and approved by all the sponsors to a draft resolution and is automatically
included in the text. An Unfriendly Amendment is an amendment not approved by all the
sponsors to their draft resolution and must be voted upon before it can be included into the text.

Merging: combining two or more draft resolutions to make a bigger or new draft resolution.

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