Delegate TrainingWest Windsor – Plainsboro

Model United Nations Conference

Agenda• Flow of Debate• Parliamentary Procedure• How to be an awesome delegate

Learn everything you need to know to be successful at MUN

Roll Call• Begin each committee session with a roll

call• Delegates can say “Present” or “Present and

Voting”• Present: allows delegate to abstain• Present and Voting: Delegates cannot

abstain on substantive issues–Everyone must vote on procedural issues

Flow of Debate

Voting

Amendments

Draft Resolution

Working Paper

Motion to Set Agenda

Motion to Open Debate

Motion to Open Debate• First motion of the conference• Opens the General Speaker’s list• Default Speaking Time: One Minute• Talk about whatever you desire at

this moment

Speaker’s List• Determines the order in which

delegates speak• Primary mode of debate• Will run throughout the duration of

the conference

Yields• To the Chair• To Questions • To another delegate

Working Paper• Document containing preliminary ideas and

thoughts• The outline to the draft resolution• The chairs will specify minimum

sponsors/signatory numbers based on their discretion

• We don’t actually vote on the working paper–Merge them and craft resolutions to introduce

• Usually allow for 10 min explanation and Q/A

Resolution• After consolidation of working paper, a

resolution is formed when formally submitted for introduction in committee

• Needs to be in resolution format• Allow for 10 min explanation and Q/A

Amendments• Friendly Amendments–Must be agreed by all sponsors.

Automatically incorporated into the resolution

• Unfriendly Amendments –Not agreed by all(i.e. one sponsor objects)–Requires 1/5 signatories–Requires 2/3 majority vote to pass

Motion for Moderated Caucus• Moves the committee into a

structured debate about a specific topic with a specific time limit.• Requires majority vote

Motion for Un-moderated Caucus

• Suspend the rules• Move the committee into an

organized chaos for a specific amount of time to work/discuss• I.e. I motion for a 20 minute un-

moderated caucus to write working papers/resolutions/amendments

Motion to Move to Previous Question

• Ends debate on current topic and moves into voting procedure• Requires 2 for and 2 against• Requires 2/3 votes

Voting Procedure• Vote on resolution in order of

docket(i.e. resolution 1.1,1.2,1.3, etc)• First, the committee will vote on

unfriendly amendments for each respective resolution• Second, vote on the entire resolution/

Only delegates who said “present” can abstain

Motion for Roll Call• Delegate’s privilege–Believe that the vote was too close

to call and want to record everyone’s vote

• Yes, yes with rights, no, no with rights, abstain

Motion to Limit/Extend Debate• Increase or decrease speaker’s time• Requires majority vote

Motion to Adjourn the Session• Final motion of the conference• Requires a majority vote

Point of Personal Privilege• Indicate personal discomfort or

impediment to debate• Desire to use the restroom or to get

water• Cannot be used during a person’s

speaking time unless you can’t hear the speaker

Point of Order• Points out procedural mistake or

infraction by a delegate or Chair• Can interrupt speaker, but please

refrain from interrupting a speaker.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry• Clarifies the rules• Ask the Chair about the structural of

debate• Have no clue what is going on, use

this point

Point of Clarification• Clarifies errors or word choice in a

submission–Working paper, resolution, and

amendment• Can only be used to fix grammar

errors and not be used as clarification on the issue itself

Right of Reply• Replies to a personal attack on a

delegation’s member(s)• Not used to response to substantive

attack–I.e. The Country of Haiti is very

poor

Do’s• Speak up and engage in debate• Use effective motions and points• Write stuff. • Compromise and work with others• Sound smart(according to your country’s

view)• Stay on topic during unmod caucus

Don’ts • Don’t be afraid to take tough positions• Don’t use electronics• Don’t have a prewritten resolution(Get

rid of it ASAP)• Don’t be anti-social or afraid to

interact• Don’t be apathetic

HAVE FUN

Credits

Princeton International Relations Council 2013