Model UN: The Basics

organization which aims are to facilitate cooperation between countries in

international law, international security, economic development, social progress, and human rights issues.

Founded in 1945, after World War II, the United Nations has a total of 193 member countries.

The Organization is made up of main 6 bodies and a lot of agencies and commissions.

the United Nations

Students play the roles of delegates representing a

specific country in a UN committee

The goal of a Model UN committee is to pass resolutions that will resolve the issues being debated

The goal of each delegate is to have his/her country’s interests and objectives reflected in the resolutions

country assigned
Do research
Write a position paper





- During the conference:

In which Committees you participate
Opening of the Section
Roll Call

one who directs the conference - debate/discussion.
– “Honourable Chair”

– “Your Excellency Mr. President…”
– Mr. Chair, Mr. Chairperson.

speeches and answer questions

the agenda

Yield time to the chair (no questions) or to the

floor (questions)

- Useful for laying out your country’s position on an issue or describing a course of action

Speakers’ List

of the country written on it in bold and large

letters. Every delegate will have a placard. These are used extensively during debate, to request to make speeches and during voting.

country in the third person
Don’t say “I believe that ___.”

Instead, say “The nation of China believes that ___,”

Express the views of your country, not your own views

Be formal and polite

must be recognized by the chair to speak

Quicker than the

speaker’s list, but more structured than an unmoderated caucus

amount of time

Usually 5-10 minutes

The chair is not involved in

the discussion at all

Useful for writing draft resolutions or negotiating intensely with other delegates

called “points” and “motions”

Points and Motions

the speaker’s list
Motion for a moderated caucus
Motion for an unmoderated

caucus
Motion to introduce a draft resolution
Motion to enter voting procedures

Motions must be voted on by the committee and typically require a majority vote

— ask a question about parliamentary procedure
Point of personal privilege

— ask to go to the bathroom
Point of information — ask the speaker a question

Points aren’t voted on, but a speaker can choose not to respond to a point of information

describe the situation

Operative clauses describe the course of action taken

by the committee

to vote on draft resolutions

A draft resolution must be “introduced”

through a motion before it can be voted upon in voting procedures

After voting procedures, the committee moves on to the next topic

Pakistan, Syria, Japan, Italy, Brazil, Israel
Topic: Iran's Nuclear Energy Program 
The

International Atomic Energy Agency, 
Affirming the right of all nations to peaceful nuclear energy technology, as stated in Article IV, Clause I of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 
Recognizing the suspicion surrounding Iran's nuclear program and its intended uses, 
1. Demands a ban on heavy water use in Iranian nuclear facilities; 
2. Demands full Iranian compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement; 
3. Calls for the creation of a commission of willing nations with nuclear expertise to assist Iran in implementing civilian nuclear technology; 
4. Establishes a deadline of 12 months for implementation of clauses 1 and 2; 
5. Urges further IAEA action if clauses 1, 2 and 3 are not implemented in full over the next 12 months.