Presentation Session - Delegates

RIMUN - Sciences Po Paris, Euro-American Campus of Reims

What is an MUN?

A Model of United Nations is a simulation usually done by high school and college-level students whose goal is two-fold: 1. Educate the youth on the inner-working on the United Nations 2. Implicate them in current events by making them research these topics and confront different ideas on how to tackle these issues Participants play the role of diplomats representing either a Nation or an NGO Most participants are known as delegates and have to research their country/ organization and its position on the issue at stake. Each participant is part of a larger group called a delegation, with participants who represent the same country/organization as them but in different committees. It is possible, even recommended for members of the same delegation to get in touch prior to the conference and coordinate their country's policy on the issue.

What does a delegate do?

Delegates job is to defend his countrys position in the committee on the given issue, and push forth its agenda so it is incorporated in the nal resolution A delegate writes a position paper prior to the conference, as well as draft resolutions and/or clauses that he or she uses during the lobbying process to push said agenda Delegates in a committee lobby, debate, and work together to come up with a nal resolution that is then submitted to the committee and voted on. This resolution is meant to address the issue at hand and provide solutions or attempted solutions to it.

Sample Position Paper Adapted for Opening Speech

Honorable Chairs, distinguished delegates, Italy as one of the countries which is the less concerned by the immigration problem in Europe (even if we had some troubles the past decade due to the Libyan Civil War) proposes to keep the number of immigrants at the same level, and to limit family reunication. We also believe that we shouldnt select immigrants by judging their skills and abilities because it would increase illegal immigration due to a lack of equality. The results of the opera&ons led in 2020--2021 make us believe that FRONTEX is strong enough to handle the situation and as a consequence we shouldnt invest more in it, but we believe that the money we wont invest in FRONTEX would be useful for the help to development in order to limit immigration in the long run. Regarding the European Economic Downturn, we believe that the results obtained by the injection of 300 billion are good but not enough to allow us to believe that the economy is back on its foot. We suggest a second unied stimulus package, which would be allocated to the research on new energies and the development of those already developed, by doing this we may nd a way to exit the energy crisis we have known since the beginning of the Great Arab War. The austerity policies which have been employed to reduce the debt were efcient, but only in certain countries, as a consequence, countries with a reasonable debt should start to think about growth while countries which are s&ll in trouble should maintain austerity policies, we believe that the perseverance in this sense will allow us to have a better economic future. I yield the oor back to the Chair.

What is a Resolution?

2 parts to a resolution - (1) Preambulatory Clauses & (2) Operative Clauses Preambulatory Clauses are a sort of general introduction meant to dene some elements, recall others (ex: previous UN resolutions), and recognizing a certain amount of facts. The preambulatory word is always in italics and is never numbered. Operative Clauses are the core of the resolution as they are the ones that order concrete action to be taken. The operative word is always underlined and each clause is numbered. Note: there can be more Preambulatory Clauses than Operative, but try to stay within reason Delegates are all expected to come prepared with 4 to 5 or more preambulatory and operative clauses. This preparation is essential for the lobbying process and to have more than one resolution presented to and voted on by the committee

RIMUN 2012 - Example of Resolution

The United Nations Development Program Question of: Famine and Water crisis Main submitter: The Great Korean Republic Co-submitters: New Zealand, France, Chile Recalling the 2019 Berlin Resolution of participant countries to reaf6irm their commitment to eradicating such poverty and to 6ighting the ongoing water crisis Reminding the signatories that the UNDPs principal mandate is to eliminate poverty through sustainable development. Recognizing todays worsening situation with regard to land ownership and management and accessibility to water in many poor and developing countries Deeply regretting the lack of global leadership in the 6ight against the aforementioned issues Taking into account the successive world crisis that hampered the progress of humanitarian causes and did not prod rich nations into action. Urges emergency and punctual measures to 6ight against the food and water crisis; Further proposes an allocation of 5,5% of agricultural surpluses to bring immediate relief to dangerously exposed populations in cases of emergency; Recommends all member states to take part in: The expansion of biofuel productions in developed countries in order to diminish the worrying dependency on oil,
A reallocation of the extra state revenues (resulting from the aforementioned measure) to developing countries in need of relief; The creation of a World-Wide Research Center for Renewable Energy, based on an international council of experts, promoting the common share of technology in this realm.

Requests the endorsement of a far-reaching development plan encompassing: An effort to promote worldwide research on renewable energies,
The development of ef6icient infrastructures , such as water desalination centers, and the improvement of existing irrigation and water-depollution systems, A greater reliance on local governance, with a national and international support, through United Nations advisers, as well as the help of the local NGOs;

Advocates an equilibration between consumable arable lands and government-owned crops grown to produce biofuels; Considers food security and supply to local populations as a top priority over the increasing use of agricultural output as feedstock for biofuels; Calls for a better regulation of commodity markets so as to reduce the volatility of basic commodity prices; Suggests a new Millennium Development Goal (MDA) for 2050 that would provide a universal access to fresh water and a 2/3rd reduction of famines worldwide; Resolves to remain actively seized of the matter.

Communication and Speech

Please note that once lobbying is over and the committee is in session, all communication between delegates must cease The only mean of communication the delegates (and the Chair) have at their disposal at that time is note passing. Note passing is very regulated and must pass through admin staff who will deliver the message, either to the delegate in the committee or in another committee (inter-committee communication is authorized) Please keep the content serious as these notes will be somewhat ltered to maintain debates of a high quality. Notes judged as nonMUN related by the admins will be put on the Chairs desk and it will be up to him/her to make the nal decision on this matter. Note passing is suspended during voting procedures as well as at the Chairs discretion if there is prolonged unruly behavior inside the committee, amidst many calls to order. Never refer to yourself directly, always third person & indirectly. Remember, you are representing your country, not yourself Always begin speeches by the formal Thank you Mr(s) President, Honorable Delegates ... (formulas may vary) and conclude by the appropriate formula: (1) Thank you, (country) yields the oor back to the Chair, (2) The delegate is open to points of information, (3) The delegate would like to yield the oor to the delegate of ... Apart from that, express yourself, make the voice of your country heard! (dont forget to respect at all times your fellow delegates and the Chair - no clear direct insults will be tolerated!)

Parliamentary Procedure & Motions

Point of Relevance: A delegate may use a PoR when another delegation is referring to an aspect that has no relation to the topic. Point of Order: A delegate may use a PoO when a delegation is not following the procedure. The chair must respond immediately, by either enforcing the procedure or declaring it out of order if it is inadequate or impertinent. Point of Personal Privilege: A delegate may use the PoPP when he feels that his ability to participate in the debate is compromised (heat, hearing, etc.) Point of information to the Chair: A delegate may use this point to ask the chair about the correct use of procedure or protocol, not about personal situations of the delegate or about the content of the topic. This point is not interruptible.

Motion to suspend session Used to end the debates for the day, used at the end of each day of the conference Motion to suspend debate Suspends the debate for an allocated period of time (used for lunch breaks, etc.) Motion to extend debate time Used to extend debate time in case the delegate feels the need for more time to make a case Motion to move into informal debating Moves back into lobbying for a given amount of time Motion to move into voting procedure Used to pass directly into voting procedures on the outcome of the debate at hand (amendment, clause, resolution) Motion to move in time in favor/against Used to ask to move debating time directly in time for or against the issue being debated Motion to adopt an amendment by acclamation The amendment to the resolution/clause currently being debated is incorporated in the draft resolution if there are no objections - without a vote. Motion to table the resolution Suspends debate on specic resolution for time being, moves onto another one Motion to table the issue Moves the debate onto another issue Motion to divide the house Delegates must stand on either side of the chair to express their vote for or against a resolution, no abstentions. Motion to make friendly amendment Used when needed to correct small detail (grammar, syntax, fact) on an clause/ amendment/resolution being debated.

Point of information to the speaker: If the speaker has decided to open to PoI, other delegates may ask questions. Questions must be directly related to the speech. The chair will choose the delegations that can ask the questions.

RIMUN 2013

Dates: Friday 22nd through Sunday the 24th of March Provisional schedule to be communicated soon Seven committees with an expected 250 participants from every campus of Sciences Po and partner schools like KCL in London and the other 'IEPs de Province' Position Papers expected by March 12th - timothy.poirson@sciences-po.org

RIMUN 2013 - Opening Ceremony

We are expecting you on Friday, March 22nd at 18h00 for the Opening Ceremony, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to the United States, His Excellency Mohamed Salah Tekaya. Dress code will be as last year's, formal. Drink responsibly and with moderation. Our Sponsors as well as the Sciences Po Administration will be present. We count on your exemplary attitude.

For those who host: after the Welcome Drink, you are expected to meet up with your host (we will introduce you, dont worry)

RIMUN 2013 General Procedures, GAs et al.

Role Call - when your country is called, you must raise your placard and say ... is present or ... is present and voting (this second one necessarily means you renounce the right to abstain) Opening speeches - basically your position paper but with the formal Honorable Chairman, Fellow delegates and Thank you, I yield the oor to the chair at the end Lobbying - informal process where you can move around the room and talk to your fellow delegates about the issue at hand and start confronting the different positions and clauses you brought along with you. Work together with various countries in order to write a draft resolution and present it to the assembly You will all be seating according to country, with you placard in front of you - dont lose this placard, it is you main voting tool as well as the only way for you to be recognized by the Chair to speak When the Chair opens up the debate, simply raise your placard and you will be either immediately recognized, or be put on the speakers list. Once recognized, you must stand up and go to the front of the room in order to address the assembly (men: dont forget to put your jacket back on!) 3 different ways of ending: (1) Yield the oor to the Chair, (2) Open up to Points of Information, or (3) Yield the oor to another delegate (provided enough time is left)

RIMUN 2013 The Security Council

15 countries, 5 of which are permanent (The 'P5') with veto rights (UK, USA, France, China, Russia) When any of the P5 wishes to vote 'against' without vetoing, they should raise their placards when asked who abstains. If they however do want to veto, hence block the clause completely, they should raise their placards when asked who votes against. SC operates on a clause-by-clause basis, not resolution-by-resolution, meaning that only one resolution is created on the given issue and that it is progressively built with every country's agreement. It is possible to mobilize peacekeeping forces - it is to be assumed enough manpower and nancial means are available as demands for concrete sums of money are not permitted in MUNs. Delegates will be sat in a circular or rectangular mode, speakers will be required to stand up but not to move to the front of the room War cannot be declared, as per usual in MUNs. The SC does not sit at the GA. Ad Hoc crises are possible.

RIMUN 2013 The Crisis Committee

16-member crisis cabinet on the issue of Lebanon - delegates will represent specic positions within the Lebanese government or society, or members of NGOs and other groups. They do not, like in regular committees, represent a country as a whole. Delegates will be seated in a circular or rectangular formation, delegates will not have to rise to make a point and may speak without prior permission from the chair (respecting of course the speech of others). Delegates will have their own personal brieng sheets with their goals, agenda, potential allies and potential disagreement points. Movement of troops, peacekeepers, and funds is possible (assume you have the amount required), however it is to be noted that war is preferably to be avoided. The Chair will be present to provide procedural assistance if need be, and ensure the proper respect of persons and protocol is enforced. The Chair may have to regular speaking and speech times if delegates nd themselves too often cut off by others, unable to speak, or if one speaker monopolizes the discussion. The end goal is to reach an agreement between all parties involved as to how this crisis will end. It is to be noted that it is in fact a crisis, and the situation on the ground is bound to evolved throughout the conference itself. Delegates will be kept informed in real time of these evolutions when and should they occur. This committee operates on a clause-by-clause basis as well, and for one to pass 50%+1 parties must be in agreement.

RIMUN 2013 EU FORPOL & EDUC

These two committees of the EU section are operating on a 10 delegate basis. They are specic work groups meant to reect and bring forward recommendations to the EU institutions on key complex common policy issues. They will therefore operate on a similar pattern than the Security Council clause by clause to reach one common working paper, formatted like a resolution. Delegates will be sat in a circular or rectangular mode, speakers will be required to stand up but not to move to the front of the room. Lobbying and informal talks will take place more frequently than in the other committees in order to trigger idea confrontation, reexion, etc. They do not sit at the GA.

Concluding Remarks

Remember the dress code - to be observed at all times The Delegate Handbook is available for download on the RIMUN website (www.rimun.info) - have it on you during the conference in case you need to refer to it Housing - we are still looking for volunteers to help us make this weekend a memorable pre-minicrit intercampus event! Remember: position papers by March 12th See you soon!