Model UN (MUN) – Attending students only

1. What is Model UN (MUN)?

Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation

in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United

Nations. MUN involves and teaches researching, public speaking, debating, and

writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities.

Participants in Model UN conferences, known as delegates, are placed in

committees and assigned countries, or occasionally other organizations or political

figures, where they represent members of that body. They are presented with their

assignments in advance, along with a topic or topics that their committee will discuss.

Delegates conduct research before conferences and formulate positions that

they will then debate with their fellow delegates in the committee, staying true to

the actual position of the member they represent. At the end of a conference, the

best-performing delegates in each committee, as well as delegations, are sometimes

recognized with awards.

1.1 Policy planning

When working for a MUN session, abstract concepts are not enough. Without a

doubt, the most important concept of MUN and the most important skill that you

need to use is planning for action. Can you move from preaching the abstract moral

stance of your nation to encouraging the implementation of more tangible plans for

action? It is often very obvious what a nation believes and why. The goal of this course

is to take that knowledge and implement it in to a plan for action by making your

initiatives targeted, specific, concise and most importantly, tangible and realistic.

Address the issue piece by piece because no one has the capacity to solve the problem

in its entirety; the most effective plan of action is the one that is specific and narrowed

in scope.

2. How we will proceed

The Chair (i.e. the lecturer) will divide the into small groups and will assign a country

to each group. Bear in mind: starting from that moment onwards you will be a

delegate of the country you represent.

Once you are assigned to a group, first of all decide how to distribute the roles

among the participants; in particular decide who is going to be the Head Delegate

(also called spokesperson) for your country group. Everyone in your group must have

a role and be responsible for something.

Roles within the group:

1) Head Delegate/spokesperson = during caucuses the spokesperson will manage

turn-taking and assign tasks; the other members will perform the tasks

assigned; moreover, the spokesperson is responsbile for supervising each task,

assisting the other members of the team, keeping in touch with the lecturer,

and sending the required documents via email.

NB: the Head Delegate must not be the same person who delivers the opening

speech during the final session. If there are only three delegates in your group, one

of them will be both Head Delegate and will be taking care of one of the following:

2) Delegate coordinating research on the position paper (NB: everybody in the

group will help this delegate write the position paper);

3) Delegate coordinating and delivering opening speech (NB: everybody in the

group will help this delegate write the opening speech);

4) Delegate coordinating work on the amendment (NB: everybody in the group

will help this delegate write the amendment).

Please remember that any issue with partners should be brought directly to the

lecturer’s attention.

We will then go through the following steps:

step 1: in class we will get acquainted with Model UN Rules of Procedure and

Glossary in this section;

step 2: each group will collect information on the assigned country conducting

online research and filling in the (1) Country Information sheet;

step 3: each group will discuss the policy of their Country on the topic of the

resolution, will fill in a (2) Policy Planning sheet and will draft a (3) Position

Paper.

step 4: in class, the groups will hold unmoderated caucuses to discuss the

resolution and possible amendments;

step 5: during our last class, we will hold the MUN session where the groups

debate the proposed amendments and decide on them by voting.

To be eligible for participation in the final MUN session each group must produce

(1), (2) and (3).

3. Researching: Country information and Policy Planning

The resources and the fa cts are out there, no matter how hard they are to find. This

section is designed to give your research a push in the right direction and, hopefully,

to save you some time.

Regardless of how you ultimately choose to conduct your research, there is no

substitute for an early start: at the MUN, the most productive alliances form among

and around those who know their material. Remember that your credibility as a

delegate rests upon your expertise and that cramming for the MUN is not only

unpleasant but also unfeasible.

You will first need to learn about your country so you can address the issues raised

at the conference as a real UN delegate from that country would. The web sites are

arguably the most important sources of information that you will consult in your

research process, so use these to keep updated on your Country and to stay abreast

of international events and current affairs.

Keep in mind not all Internet resources are credible: cross reference suspicious

material with other more reputable resources if you are unsure. A false reported

document could destroy your credibility at the Conference. Start by checking out the

following resources:

- you should always begin with (1) the CIA World Fact Book

(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/), then check

(2) the foreign ministry site and the (3) national legislature site of your

Country. The documents reflect the official position of the nation you are

representing, and they are therefore authoritative policy statements.

- Then check out:

BBC Website for updated news on your Country

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC News Country Profiles National Model UN

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/default.stm www.nmun.org

Center for Defense Information www.cdi.org United Nations System www.unsystem.org The Economist www.economist.com

To represent your country accurately, record the results of your research in two

separate documents. Start with the Country information sheet.

Country information sheet

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 are considered allies or enemies of your

country?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

8) What are the characteristics of your country's economy?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

9) Does your country belong to any intergovernmental

organizations outside the UN system? [North Atlantic Treaty

Organization (NATO), Organization of the Petroleum Exporting

Countries (OPEC), European Union (EU), Organisation of Islamic

Cooperation (OIC), African Union (AU), Organization of American

States (OAS)]?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

When you have a firm grasp of your Country’s historical and political background, you

can then move on to researching the stance of your Country on the specific topic of

the resolution. Conduct your research by answering the questions included in the

Policy planning sheet:

Policy Planning

1) Why is this an issue; what is the problem?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

2) How and why does this problem affect my nation?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

3) What solutions have already been tried by the UN and what

happened when they were tried?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

4) What was our position on these attempted solutions?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

5) Are there any newly proposed solutions to this problem, and if

so, what are they?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

6) What solutions do we favor trying now and/or in the future? Why

are they the best ideas?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

7) Who are some likely allies? Adversaries?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

8) How would you convince other nations that this is a good idea for

them?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

9) What do you think your country’s position on the topic of the

debate will be? Why?

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Remember: the best and most useful information on a nation’s explicit policy on any

issue can be found in the pieces of international law it has signed. When it signs a

treaty, every line in it is the express policy of the signing nation. If you are well-versed

in the treaties pertaining to the topic, then you will be well-versed in your nation’s

policy. The content of the treaties can be used as sources of foreign policy.

4. How to draft a position paper

Position papers for official MUN sessions are usually two pages in length, but for the

purposes of the present course you are required to write only one page (single-

spaced, 2 cm margins, Times New Roman, 12 points).

Your position paper should include a brief introduction followed by a

breakdown of your country's position on the topic that is being discussed by the

committee. Important! A good position paper will not only provide facts but also

make proposals for resolutions: although it will be much easier to write a position

paper based solely on your country’s history or all of the statistical tidbits you’ve

found, you must include recommendations. The Dais is more interested in your

ability to create new solutions or adapt old ones than it is in your ability to expose

general facts.

Summing up, a good opening speech will typically include:

1) a brief introduction to your country and its history concerning the topic;

2) your country's policies with respect to the issue and your country's

justification for these policies;

3) what your country believes should be done next to address the issue.

Position papers must be submitted via email two weeks prior to the final session.

When e-mailing your Professor, please attach the file as a Microsoft Word document

(.doc) in your e-mail and name the file as follows: Country_position.doc

Example: France_position.doc

The Dais will grant separate Position Paper Awards in recognition of outstanding pre-

conference preparation. The following criteria are used by the conference staff to

evaluate Position Papers:

• overall quality of writing, proper style, grammar, etc.;

• citation of relevant resolutions/documents;

• general consistency with bloc/geopolitical constraints;

• inclusion of recommendations/policies, rather than mere description of the

country’s stance.

4.1 Position paper tips

a) Give each separate idea or proposal its own paragraph. Make sure each

paragraph starts with a topic sentence (= central idea in the paragraph).

b) Revise punctuation rules and apply them!

c) Keep it simple. To communicate strongly and effectively, stick to uncomplicated

language and sentence structure. Avoid personal pronouns and slang.

d) Make it official. Try to use the seal of your country or create an "official"

letterhead for your position paper.

e) Cite your sources. Use footnotes or endnotes to show where you found your

facts and statistics. Do NOT use ‘I’, ‘we’, or ‘us’. Use “‘Name of your Country’

thinks..." or “this delegation think/s”. For example: “Germany thinks…”

f) All names with acronyms should be spelled out followed directly with the

acronym in parentheses. From that point forward, you will only use the

acronym. Example: “The Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) represented a large

step in the process of global disarmament. The NPT still remains a very

important international treaty in this regard.”

Remember!

Leave time to edit your position paper.

Double-check your spelling and grammar.

A good position paper can be turned into a great opening speech.

During debate, a good position paper will also help you to stick to your

country's policies.

4.2 Sample position paper

The following paper was handed in as part of the MUN coursework carried out by a

group of students who attended this course last year. As you can see, the delegation

carried out extensive research and managed to write an effective position paper even

if the topic is not one of the most relevant for their country.

New Zealand

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Topic: Ways to combat international terrorism.

Although not a 21st century phenomenon, in the past two decades terrorism has had a

growing global impact. Taking advantage of the instability of some governments, the

increasing access to arms trading, and the possibility to use social networks to propagate

terrorism, several criminal groups have gained power by creating further conflicts.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service stated that the risk of a terrorist attack on

New Zealand is low. The history of New Zealand has been marked by four notable terrorist

attacks, and they have been bombings as a form of protest. However, The Security

Intelligence Service does not rule out the risk of terrorist attacks and warns against

complacency.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, which was established in 1956, collects

information about terrorist activity and, through its links with other security and intelligence

organizations abroad, controls as much as possible the known terrorist movements around

the world. New Zealand contributes to the international fight against terrorism reporting

terrorist entities. Furthermore, in 2015 New Zealand provided 140 soldiers to the Iraq army

to support the fight against the Islamic State.

In order to prevent terroristic attacks, in 2002 the New Zealand Government institutes The

Terrorism Suppression Act (TSA); a counter-terrorism legislation that provides for the

creation and maintenance of a list of terrorist entities within the Country. To participate in

or support the activities of the designated terrorist entity is a criminal offence, punished with

imprisonment. In order to Address the issue of terrorism New Zealand:

will make further provision for the suppression of terrorism as far as new laws are

concerned;

will implement New Zealand’s obligations under the Bombings Convention, the

Financing Convention, the Anti-terrorism Resolution, the Nuclear Material

Convention, the Plastic Explosives Convention, the Nuclear Terrorism Convention;

and will implement the Al-Qaida and the Taliban Sanctions Resolutions.

5. Structure of UN resolutions

A resolution is actually really simple to write. It has three main parts: the heading, the

pre-ambulatory clauses, and the operative clauses. We’ll break down the example

above into these three parts below.

5.1 Heading

The heading contains four pieces of information: the committee name, the sponsors,

the signatories, and the topic (not necessarily in that order depending on each

individual conference’s rules).

(Example of heading)

The committee name and topic should be self-explanatory. The sponsors are the

authors of the resolution. The signatories are other delegates in the committee who

do not necessarily agree with the resolution but would like to see it debated. Most

conferences require a minimum number or percentage of sponsors and signatories

(or a combination of both) before a resolution can be presented — this encourages

consensus-building. You will also notice some numbering (on the top right corner in

the example). This is usually provided by the committee chair and is just a way to

number the different resolutions — usually by the order they are received or

approved — so that delegates can easily differentiate or reference them.

5.2 Pre-ambulatory clauses

The pre-ambulatory clauses state all the issues that the committee wants to resolve

on the topic being debated. It may state reasons why the committee is working on

this issue and highlight previous international actions on the issue. Pre-ambulatory

clauses can include:

past UN resolutions, treaties, or conventions related to the topic;

past regional, non-governmental, or national efforts in resolving this topic;

references to the UN Charter or other international frameworks and laws;

statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN body or agency;

general background information or facts about the topic, its significance, and

its impact.

Here is an example:

It’s very simple to write a pre-ambulatory clause. First, take a statement that you want

to write about (perhaps an issue you want to solve or a specific fact from one of the

five bullet points above). You then take that statement, combine it with an underlined

pre-ambulatory phrase, and end it with a comma.

How to write a pre-ambulatory phrase

If my country wants to address the issue of how HIV/AIDS has spread rapidly in sub-

Saharan Africa. I pick a pre-ambulatory phrase from above — I’ll use “Alarmed by”

— and then I combine it to say:

“Alarmed by the 17% increase in HIV/AIDS contraction among sub-Saharan

African countries in the past five years,...”

5.3 Operative clauses

Operative clauses state the solutions that the sponsors of the resolution proposes to

resolve the issues. The operative clauses should address the issues specifically

mentioned in the pre-ambulatory clauses above it. For example,

To write an operative clause, take a solution that you want to include in the draft

resolution, combine it with an underlined operative phrase, and end it with a

semicolon (the last operative clause ends with a period). Operative clauses are also

numbered.

This differentiates them from pre-ambulatory clauses, helps show logical

progression in the resolution, and makes the operative clauses easy to refer to in

speeches and comments.

How to write an operative phrase:

If my first solution is to distribute low-cost medicines for HIV/AIDS to sub-Saharan

African countries, I will pick an operative phrase from above — I’ll use “Calls upon”

— and then I combine it and number it to say:

1. Calls upon the developed countries and major pharmaceutical countries to

provide low-cost, generic medicines for HIV/AIDS to sub-Saharan African

countries;

Usually more details in an operative clause will make it stronger or at least make the

idea more clear to other delegates. A simple way to strengthen each operative clause

is to answer the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of each resolution. These

details can actually be broken down into sub-operative clauses underneath the main

operative clause.

6. Public Speaking

Public speaking is one of the most important skills you will use as a Model UN

delegate. You will need to convey your member state's positions, help build

consensus and formulate resolutions. Usually, the length of time a delegate is allowed

to speak is set by the conference organizers. Delegates can make a motion to increase

or decrease the time allotted to each speaker. If another delegate seconds the

motion, then the committee will vote on changing the speaker's time.

You will have numerous opportunities to speak:

during caucusing you will have an opportunity to speak

informally to delegates in your committee (but it is still

important to keep the principles of effective public speaking in

mind);

the Chair will maintain a speakers’ list of delegates during the

final MUN session

6.1 Caucusing

“Caucusing” is a parliamentary term for diplomatic negotiation. The fundamental

basis of the MUN simulation is collaboration and cooperation among nations, which

includes working together through multilateral diplomacy.

The MUN type of informal caucusing performed by delegates, occurs when the

committee is not in formal session and can take place through personal discussions.

This is when you can apply all the negotiation techniques you know, but please always

remember that caucus doesn’t mean recess, so continue talking in English and do not

leave the room you work in.

6.2 Speaking at the final MUN session

Although speaking is an important part of any Model UN simulation, many delegates

fear speaking in front of a large group. The best way to cope with these fears is to be

well-prepared. You should research as much as possible about your country and the

issue the committee will be debating. You should be comfortable explaining your

country's position and have ideas on what you would like to include in the

committee's resolution. If you come to the conference prepared, you will be eager to

speak in committee and project confidence.

Here are a few tips that might help you deliver your speech with confidence:

Prepare: Decide how you feel most comfortable delivering your speech. You

may choose to use your position paper text as your opening speech or you may

write out some key points. In time, you may feel comfortable speaking without

any written notes at all. If you plan to use a word or phrase that is unfamiliar to

you, make sure you learn its meaning and how to pronounce it properly.

Practice: Rehearsing your speech is the best way to perfect your public

speaking skills. Try practicing in front of a teacher, a parent, or fellow student

from your class. When you listen to a speech, provide constructive feedback

rather than criticism. When someone critiques your speech, accept the

feedback graciously and use it as a tool to strengthen your public speaking.

Keep to the established time limit: Delegates can make a motion to increase

or decrease the time allotted to each speaker. If another delegate seconds the

motion, then the committee will vote on changing the speaker’s time.

Eliminate unnecessary "filler" words: Fillers are words and phrases such as

"umm," "well," "sort of," and "like". These words take away from the message

you are trying to convey. Some additional fillers to avoid are "so," "you know,"

"I think," "just," and "uh."

Use meaningful pauses: Leaving a moment of silence between sentences can

be a powerful public speaking tool. Pausing after an important point or before

answering a question will help to hold the audience's attention. A pause can

also give you time to formulate your next statement.

Pace yourself: Don't talk too fast or too slow. Remember that most speakers

have a tendency to talk too quickly.

Choose a powerful posture: Be aware of your posture when you speak.

Slouching, tilting your head and crossing your arms or legs will take away from

your message. Stand up straight, relax your shoulders, plant your feet firmly

and keep your knees unlocked to help you communicate confidence.

Connect with your audience: Glance at your notes rather than reading them so

that you can make eye contact with the other delegates. It is often helpful to

speak directly to individual members of the audience.

Get to the point: Speak concisely so that your audience does not lose your main

arguments among less-important details. Try not to speak in circles. Instead, go

straight to your most important point.

Be positive: Rather than criticizing another point of view, critique it in a

constructive way. Always provide alternatives and be sure to back up your

arguments.

6.3 Sample opening speech

The following opening speech is taken from a collection of authentic materials

produced for MUN sessions. Use it as a reference as far as structure, general tone and

use of punctuation are concerned.

Honorable Chairs and fellow delegates:

The delegation of Norway believes that reducing child mortality is

crucial to our United Nations assembly. Norway feels that the problem

of children dying before the age of five is one that requires immediate

attention because the death of the future generations would be

detrimental to the development of a society.

Under Article 6 in The Convention on the Rights of the Child by UNICEF,

children have the right to live, and governments should ensure that

children survive and develop healthily. Therefore, this delegation

believes that this United Nations assembly should work together in

order to abide to this article.

Lack of basic health equipment, hygiene and resources have been the

main contributors to higher child mortality rates, higher maternal

mortality rates and serious illnesses. Being a more economically

developed country, Norway has contributed funds towards rectifying

this problem and would invite other MEDC’s to do the same.

Additionally, this delegation strongly encourages the implementation

of measures to halt the spread of HIV, measures to reduce maternal

mortality rates, and measures to reduce the incidence of mosquito

borne diseases.

Finally, this delegation hopes for a fruitful and constructive debate in

order to solve the issues at hand today.

Thank you.

7. Dress code

Dressing professionally and appropriately is an important aspect of Model United

Nations as it is an important way to show respect for delegates and guests. It is

advisable to adopt a western business attire, but regional variations are allowed

provided that your appearance is tidy and put-together, and that you are well-

covered.

8. Model UN Glossary1

Abstain: During a vote on a substantive matter, delegates may abstain rather than vote yes or no.

This generally signals that a country does not support the resolution being voted on, but does not

oppose it enough to vote no.

Adjourn: All UN or Model UN sessions end with a vote to adjourn. This means that the debate is

suspended until the next meeting. This can be a short time (e.g., overnight) or a long time (until

next year's conference).

Agenda: The order in which the issues before a committee will be discussed. The first duty of a

committee following the roll call is usually to set the agenda.

Amendment: A change to a draft resolution on the floor. It can be of two types: a "friendly

amendment" is supported by the original draft resolution's sponsors, and is passed automatically,

while an "unfriendly amendment" is not supported by the original sponsors and must be voted on

by the committee as a whole.

Binding: Having legal force in UN member states. Security Council resolutions are binding, as are

decisions of the International Court of Justice; resolutions of the General Assembly and Economic

and Social Council are not.

Bloc: A group of countries in a similar geographical region or with a similar opinion on a particular

topic. Blocs typically vote together.

Caucus: A break in formal debate in which countries can more easily and informally discuss a topic.

There are two types: moderated caucus and unmoderated caucus.

Chair (or Moderator): A member of the dais that moderates debate, keeps time, rules on points

and motions, and enforces the rules of procedure. Also known as a Moderator.

1 http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/getting-started/model-un-glossary#sthash.6EO0cP6W.dpuf

Dais: The group of people in charge of a Model UN committee. It generally consists of a Chair, a

Director, and a Rapporteur. The dais is also the raised platform on which the chair traditionally sits.

Decorum: The order and respect for others that all delegates at a Model UN conference must

exhibit. The Chair will call for decorum when he or she feels that the committee is not being

respectful of a speaker, of the dais, or of their roles as ambassadors.

Delegate: A student acting as a representative of a member state or observer in a Model UN

committee.

Draft resolution: A document that seeks to fix the problems addressed by a Model UN committee.

If passed by the committee, the draft resolution will become a resolution.

Gavel: The tool, shaped like a small wooden hammer, which the Chair uses to keep order within a

Model UN committee.

Member State: A country that has ratified the Charter of the United Nations and whose application

to join has been accepted by the General Assembly and Security Council. Currently, there are 193

member states.

Motion: A request made by a delegate that the committee as a whole do something. Some motions

might be to go into a caucus, to adjourn, to introduce a draft resolution, or to move into voting

procedure.

Non-member / Observer: A state, national organization, regional organization, or non-

governmental organization that is not a member of the UN but participates in its debates.

Observers can vote on procedural matters but not substantive matters. An example is the Holy See.

On the floor: At a Model UN conference, when a working paper or draft resolution is first written,

it may not be discussed in debate. After it is approved by the Director and introduced by the

committee, it is put "on the floor" and may be discussed.

Operative clause: The part of a resolution which describes how the UN will address a problem. It

begins with an action verb (decides, establishes, recommends, etc.).

Placard: A piece of cardstock with a country's name on it that a delegate raises in the air to signal

to the Chair that he or she wishes to speak.

Position paper: A summary of a country's position on a topic, written by a delegate before a Model

UN conference.

Preambulatory Clause: The part of a resolution that describes previous actions taken on the topic

and reasons why the resolution is necessary. It begins with a participle or adjective (noting,

concerned, regretting, aware of, recalling, etc.).

Quorum: The minimum number of delegates needed to be present for a committee to meet. In the

General Assembly, a quorum consists of one third of the members to begin debate, and a majority

of members to pass a resolution. In the Security Council, no quorum exists for the body to debate,

but nine members must be present to pass a resolution.

Rapporteur: A member of the dais whose duties include keeping the speakers' list and taking the

roll call, as well as assisting in and keeping track of administrative duties in the committee room.

Resolution: A document that has been passed by an organ of the UN that aims to address a

particular problem or issue.

Roll Call: The first order of business in a Model UN committee, during which the Rapporteur reads

aloud the names of each member state in the committee. When a delegate's country's name is

called, he or she may respond "present" or "present and voting." A delegate responding "present

and voting" may not abstain on a substantive vote.

Rules of Procedure: The rules by which a Model UN committee is run.

Secretariat: The staff of a Model UN conference.

Secretary-General: The leader of a Model UN conference.

Signatory: A country that wishes a draft resolution to be put on the floor and signs the draft

resolution to accomplish this. A signatory need not support a resolution; it only wants it to be

discussed. Usually, Model UN conferences require some minimum number of sponsors and

signatories for a draft resolution to be approved.

Simple majority: 50% plus one vote of the number of delegates in a committee. The amount

needed to pass most votes.

Speakers' List: A list that determines the order in which delegates will speak. Whenever a new topic

is opened for discussion, the Chair will create a speakers' list by asking all delegates wishing to

speak to raise their placards and calling on them one at a time. During debate, a delegate may

indicate that he or she wishes to be added to the speakers' list by sending a note to the dais.

Sponsor: One of the writers of a draft resolution. A friendly amendment can only be created if all

sponsors agree.

Substantive: Having to do with the topic being discussed. A substantive vote is a vote on a draft

resolution or amendment already on the floor during voting bloc. Only member states (not

observer states or non-governmental organizations) may vote on substantive issues.

Unmoderated Caucus: A type of caucus in which delegates leave their seats to mingle and speak

freely. Enables the free sharing of ideas to an extent not possible in formal debate or even a

moderated caucus. Frequently used to sort countries into blocs and to write working papers and

draft resolutions.

Veto: The ability, held by China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the

United States to prevent any draft resolution in the Security Council from passing by voting no.

Yield: In formal debate the delegate must yield his/her time at the end of their speech in one of

three ways:

1. to the chair: once the speech is over the chair takes the floor and moves on with the

speaker's list;

2. to questions: delegates can ask questions to the speaker for his/her remaining time;

3. to another delegate: another speaker uses up the remaining time to give a speech, but

cannot yield themselves.