What is a Model UN?

"In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization's vast agenda. Student "delegates" in Model UN prepare draft resolutions, plot strategy, negotiate with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the UN's rules of procedure—all in the interest of mobilizing "international cooperation" to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world.
Before they become Model UN ambassadors, students research the important world issues they will address at the conference. Model UN participants learn how the international community acts on its concerns about peace and security, human rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development, and globalization.
Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, goals, and foreign policies of the countries they will represent at the conference. The insights they gain from their exploration of history, geography, culture, economics and science contribute to the authenticity of the simulation, create a lively and memorable experience, and provide students a rich and well-rounded education."

MUN Around the World

Every year, hundreds of model United Nations simulations are held around the world. Almost every country in the world has its own simulation with its own unique councils and set up. Most conferences are for high school students, but there are many junior conferences and University-level conferences as well. Each conference will offer something different to distinguish itself from another conference. Some conferences are held at Universities, some at conference centers, and the largest conferences use the actual United Nations buildings in places like New York, The Hague, and Geneva for their councils! The larger international conferences can cost upwards of $500 per person and can run for up to a week in length. At such conferences, there may be thousands of delegates at each conference, and hundreds in each council meaning that your country's speaking time is limited.

The Flow of Debate

"It is sometimes helpful to think of a Model UN conference as if it were a play in which delegates are the actors and Secretariat members are the directors. The storyline of a stage show is similar to what Model UNers call the “flow of debate” – the order in which events proceed during a Model UN conference. Just like scenes in a theatrical performance, debate unfolds in several different parts. The chart below shows the various stages of debate that take place during a Model UN simulation. Being familiar with how the action will proceed, from the first “scene” to the last, is an important way to prepare yourself for a Model UN conference

Roll Call - The Chairperson will announce each country’s name. After delegates hear their country, they should answer “present.”

Setting the Agenda - When Model UN committees have more than one topic they can discuss, the body must set the agenda to begin working on one of these issues first. At this time, a delegate typically makes a motion, stating “The country of [country name] moves to place [topic area A] first on the agenda.” Some conferences will simply take a vote on this measure, but others will request delegates to speak in favor of and against the motion. The list of these speakers is called a “provisional speakers list.” Once all delegates on this list have addressed the committee, a vote is taken. Setting the agenda usually requires a simple majority vote."

Debate

Debate is organized into Formal and Informal modes. The chart below outlines the general procedure or 'flow' of debate. This process will not be enforced at the conference but delegates should try their best to understand why debate flows this way and should encourage debate to flow in this way. Please follow the chart by reading from steps 1-11, moving between Formal and Informal modes.

Formal Debate	Informal Debate
Formal debate revolves around the speakers list. The Chair begins by asking all delegates who would like to speak to raise their placards. The Chair then chooses delegates to be placed on the speakers list. A country can only be on the speakers list once, but delegates may add their country again after they have addressed the committee.	Informal debate is divided into moderated and unmoderated caucuses. During moderated caucuses, the Chair calls on delegates one-by-one so that each can address the committee in short speeches. During unmoderated caucuses, the committee breaks for a temporary recess so that delegates can meet with each other and discuss ideas.
1. When the session begins, speeches focus on stating country positions and offering recommendations for action.	2. After several countries state their positions, the committee breaks for caucuses (often in blocs for now) to develop regional or group positions.
3. After blocs have met, speeches focus on describing bloc positions to the entire body	4. Writing begins as countries work together to compose draft resolutions.
5. Delegates now make statements describing their ideas to the committee.	6 Countries and groups meet to gather support for specific ideas.
7. Delegates try to garner more support through formal speeches and invite others to offer their ideas.	8. Delegates finalize draft resolutions.
9. Delegates make statements supporting or disagreeing with specific draft resolutions.	10. Draft-resolution sponsors build greater support for their resolution and look to incorporate others’ ideas through friendly amendments.
11. Delegates declare any amendments they have created.

Closure of Debate - Once the speakers list is exhausted, the committee automatically moves to voting. Also, once a delegate feels that his or her country’s position is clear to others and that there are enough draft resolutions on the floor, he or she may make a motion to proceed into voting procedure by moving for the closure of debate.

Voting Procedures - Once a motion to close debate has been approved, the committee moves into voting procedure. Amendments are voted on first, then resolutions. Once all of the resolutions are voted on, the committee moves to the next topic on the agenda.

All text has been adapted from the UNA-USA Website