Key MUN procedure

Roles:

The six Secretaries-General (SGs) have organised and will be leading the conference. They will also be overseeing one or two committees each that will be debating a topic that they have researched and have written a background guide on.

The Committee Chairs and Committee Director are charged with moderated proceedings, ruling on points and motions, enforcing rules, keeping time, overseeing the resolution process and approval, ensuring diplomatic behaviour and role-playing is observed, and answering any questions.

The most important role is that of the Delegate. Delegates represent their assigned country’s stance on the issues at hand and debate them with other delegates during the conference, attempting to resolve the issue with a solution.

Purpose and Process:

Delegates will be representing various nations and will be expected to represent the stance of those nations accurately on the issues and topics at hand. Each delegate is expected to wholly work towards the collaborative creation of a resolution – a set of clauses outlining solutions and directives regarding the topics being debated. A committee’s directive is to approach, analyse, debate and collaboratively pass clauses or sets of clauses on the committee’s topic(s) that will then be compiled into a single resolution. This resolution will finally be, ceremonially, voted on (almost always unanimously passed, as all the clauses within would have already been voted upon) and sent to the Secretariat for ratification as a resolution.

Chairs and Directors are charged with facilitating the smooth execution of the conference per the procedure outlined in this document and in accordance with their duties outlined in the ‘Roles’ section.

Committee Opening Session:

Approximately 15 minutes

Approximately 15-30 minutes (depending on the number of delegates)

Approximately 45-60 minutes

Committee Sessions:

Approximately 5 minutes

Approximately 70 minutes

Committee End:

Approximately 5 minutes


Approximately 10 minutes

Committee Procedures:

Resolutions: The Heart of the Debate:

The overarching goal of the debate is to pass a number of mini-resolutions towards the goal of a final resolution. All passed mini-resolutions will be added to the main resolution, which is ceremonially voted upon at the end of the conference. A mini-resolution consists of at least 1 clause, there is no theoretical limit to the number of clauses, but 2 or 3 at most is preferable. Every Mini-Resolution needs one Main-Submitter and five sponsors. For smaller committees (e.g. Historical Security Council) 3 sponsors is appropriate. At least two of the sponsors should be actively involved in the creation of the mini-resolution in addition to the main-submitter. All other sponsors should either be helping write the mini-resolution or should simply wish to see the mini-resolution debated.

Refer to this Sample Resolution for an example of a FULL Resolution.  A Mini-Resolution will contain, on average, 1-3 clauses of the style used in the Sample Resolution. Do note that each clause can be as short as a normal sentence or as long as half a page.  In the single-day style of WLMUN, typically there is not time to write very long clauses so it is best to keep it short, with at most a few sub-points to add specificities. 

Step 1

One main submitter and at least two delegates write a working paper, which is essentially a short bullet-point version of their proposed mini-resolution, during ‘unmoderated caucus: resolution time’. They will discuss this over and share it with a chair or director to confirm that they are headed in the right direction. 

Once approved (and this will be rather informal) they will write a draft mini-resolution which will have to adhere to proper formatting and have a decent amount of specificity. To have an eligible mini-resolution there must be a main submitter and a total of five sponsors (including writers), three in smaller committees.

Step 2

The main submitter takes the draft mini-resolution to the Director or Chairs, who approve the draft mini-resolution only if:

If those conditions are not met, the Director or Chairs return the draft mini-resolution to the main submitter for revision and to explain his or her reasons for its current state. 

Step 3

If the conditions outlined under step two are met, and the draft mini-resolution is approved.

Step 4

After the main-submitter motions for the draft mini-resolution to be debated and the chairs approve the motion, the main-submitter introduces the mini-resolution by reading it and giving a speech. The Chair will entertain points of information. Sponsors may also make speeches and/or have time yielded to them in order to answer questions about the mini-resolution. Delegates may make speeches for/against the mini-resolution. Amendments are also in order. 

Voting

The mini-resolution is then voted upon and added to the main resolution if it receives a simple majority.

Important Definitions:

Come to Order: The Chairperson will bang their gavel, saying “House please come to order, the committee is now in session”, essentially ensuring everyone is ready, giving the committee their attention and are quiet.

Roll Call: The Chairperson will announce each country’s name. After delegates hear their country, they should answer “present” or “present and voting” if they have voting rights

Introductions: The chairs will ensure all delegates are fully-functional on Zoom (audio, video, etc), then introduce themselves, engage in some ice-breakers, briefly talk about the topics and then finally recap the procedure, rules and expectations of the committee.

Open Debate: The chair calls for a motion to open debate, motion is made, motion is seconded, ceremonial vote to open debate, chair declares debate open. 

Opening Speeches: Delegates make 45-50 second opening speeches on their stances. Chairs will call delegates by the alphabetical order of their countries. 

Formal Debate: Speaker’s List: At the first instance of this, the chairs will ask for motions to be added to the speaker’s list. Approximately 5-8 delegates should be selected. These delegates will make their 1 minutes speeches over the course of the debate. If the speaker’s list appears to be getting close to depleted, the chairs should replenish it by asking for more motions to be added to the speaker’s list. 

Moderated Caucus: At the chair’s discretion, they can call for motions for a moderated caucus. Delegates will state a topic for the caucus, the caucus’s duration and the speaking time for each speech made during the caucus. Typically multiple moderated caucuses will be proposed. Proposed moderated caucuses will be voted upon in order of disruption: longest caucus first, then longest speaking time, then controversiality of the topic. 

Unmoderated Caucus: Regular: Delegates can motion for an unmoderated caucus. Typically this will take place in breakout rooms and be for the purpose of discussing policy informally. Approval for an unmoderated caucus is at the chair’s discretion. Often delegates will provide a rationale or reason for the caucus. No longer than 5 or 10 minutes usually. Chairs will ask the committee for opinions on what and how many Zoom breakout rooms to create and on what topics.

Unmoderated Caucus: Resolution Time: Delegates will use large amounts of this mandatory time to develop mini-resolutions with at least 1 clause on the topic at hand. Chairs will announce this. Chairs will ask the committee for opinions on what and how many Zoom breakout rooms to create and on what topics.

Resolution Debate: A delegate, or multiple delegates, will motion to debate their mini-resolutions. Chairs will decide which mini-resolutions will be heard and in what order. Each mini-resolution will be debated for 5-20 minutes and then voted on. A successful vote is looked favourably upon and will mean the mini-resolution is added to the main resolution. 1st degree amendments are allowed.

First-Degree Amendments:  When debating mini-resolutions, delegates may want to vote for it but take issue with some small part or see a way of making it better. In these cases they can motion to have their amendment on the mini-resolution heard and voted upon. If voted on, then the changes are made to the mini-resolution and then debate on the mini-resolution continues. 

Resolution Voting: At the end of each mini-resolution’s debate,  a vote will be held to determine if it is to be added to the main resolution. A simple majority is needed. 

End Debate: The chairs will ask the committee if there are any motions to end debate - this is expected. A vote with a simple majority will be held. 

Present the final resolution to the committee:  The Chairs will present the final version of the main resolution to the committee. 

Ceremonial Vote: As all the clauses in the main resolution have already been voted on and passed, this is just a ceremonial vote to approve the resolution and send it to the Secretariat. 


Points and Motions at any MUN Conference

While not a comprehensive list of every point or motion that can be made during the conference, this list provides you with the phrasing for the most important and essential points or motions you can make during the conference. 

To have a personal issue addressed (can’t hear/too cold, etc) say: “Point of Personal Privilege”

To ask a question to the chair say: “Point of Inquiry”

Once your point is acknowledged by the chair, please state the point of personal privilege or inquiry.

To make a formal speech about your country’s position, say “Motion to be placed on the Speakers List” when the chair calls for speakers or motions.

To start a classroom style discussion (Moderated Caucus) say “Motion for a moderated caucus of ____(usually 5 or 10) minutes with a speaker's time of ___ (usually 30-45) seconds for the purpose of discussing _________________.” 

To break into groups to talk about your ideas for a resolution, say “Motion for an unmoderated caucus with the purpose of…. (discussing working papers/ sharing ideas with other countries/ working on a resolution).

For Delegates in the Security Council

Any Questions?

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to send an email to wlmun@asl.org

Some Videos and Other Guides to Help You On the Conference Day

If you want to get a step up, we have additional videos and resources to help learn more about what will happen at the conference itself.  But don’t stress out about this -- you will pick most of this up as you go along on the day. 

          You don’t need to study this in advance...you will learn it on the day.

         The conference will start with the opening of the speakers list and an opportunity for you to make an opening speech.
          (see the video in Step 8 above)

         Also see instructions here

         And the sample resolution

         And this list of commonly used terms for introducing pre-ambulatory and operative clauses

 

Good luck preparing for the conference!