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
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