MODEL UN

(FROM SCRATCH)
Hello!
I AM HARSH MALHOTRA
You can find me at @harshhmalhotraa

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WHAT IS UN?
This building right here

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 “With firm faith in our hearts, to
sustain us along the hard road to
victory, we will find our way to a
“ secure peace, for the ultimate
benefit of all humanity.”
-Harry S. Truman
33rd U.S. President

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UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION

The United Nations is an

intergovernmental organization whose
purposes are to maintain international
peace and security, develop friendly
relations among nations, achieve
international cooperation, and be a centre
for harmonizing the actions of nations.

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1 What is Model UN?
Let’s start with the basics

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MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Model United Nations is an academic

simulation of the United Nations where
students play the role of delegates from
different countries and attempt to solve
real world issues with the policies and
perspectives of their assigned country.

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 What are the benefits of
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attending a MUN?

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MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Preparing and participating in a MUN helps students

develop:
◦ Leadership skills
◦ Research
◦ Writing
◦ Public speaking
◦ Problem-solving skills
◦ Negotiation
◦ Conflict Resolution
◦ Co-operation
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The Big Day
What will a typical day in committee
look like?

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3 Points and Motions

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Point of Personal Privilege

◦ This point can be raised when a delegate experiences

some personal discomfort during the committee.
eg: If a delegate is unable to hear the speaker then he
can convey the same to the Presiding Officer by raising
the ‘Point of Personal Privilege’.
Note: This and only this point can interrupt a speaker!

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Point of Information

◦ This point can be raised to ask questions pertaining to

a fellow delegates speech.
Note: This cannot interrupt a speaker.

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Point of Order

◦ This point can be raised to state any factual

inaccuracy in a fellow delegate’s speech.
eg: If a delegate mentions in his speech that the capital
of India is Mumbai, then after the completion of his
speech a fellow delegate can raise a ‘Point of
Information’ on the delegate and correct the fact i.e, the
capital of India is New Delhi.
Note: This cannot interrupt a speaker. If you find factual
inaccuracy in a delegate’s speech then pls raise the
above point to gain extra marks for yourself. As you will
considered as an active delegate.

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Point of Parliamentary Inquiry

◦ This point can be raise by a delegate if he has any

doubt regarding the ‘Rules of Procedure’ or any other
doubts regarding the functioning of a committee.
Note: This cannot interrupt a speaker.

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Right of Reply

◦ This point is used where you believe there has been

some insult or threat to your national integrity or
sovereignty. If the Chair rules it in order, you will get
the opportunity to reply outside of the speaker's list.

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Most Common Motions

◦ Motion to Set Speaking Time: Self-explanatory.

◦ Motion for Moderated Caucus: The motion must state
the total length, the individual speaking time, and the
topic for discussion.
◦ Motion for Unmoderated Caucus: The motion must
state the time, and may state a purpose where the
time asked for may seem excessive.

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4 UNA/USA Procedures
One of the most common rules of procedures used in MUN

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UNA/USA Procedures

◦ Each committee is led by a Chairperson who

facilitates the discussion for the committee. The
committee will start with the Chairperson taking roll
call. Afterward, the committee will vote on which of
the assigned topics to discuss first. After the topic is
selected, the committee is ready to begin debate on
the selected topic.

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UNA/USA Procedures

I. There are three debate formats. The default debate format is

called the Speakers List. This where delegates take turns making
speeches in front of the room by the order that they are listed
on the Speakers List as selected by the Chair. Speeches are
typically around 1 minute or 1 minute and 30 seconds, but the
speaking time can be changed by a majority vote from the
delegates.
II. After a certain number of speeches, the delegates may vote to
change up the debate format to either Moderated Caucus or
Unmoderated Caucus. Moderated Caucus is when the
committee decides to focus on a sub-issue and get a back-and-
forth debate going. Delegates will raise their placards to be
called on to speak, and the Chairperson will call on speakers
one-by-one until the Moderated Caucus time has expired.

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UNA/USA Procedures

III. Unmoderated Caucus is when delegates are free to get up out

of their seats and roam around the room to work with other
countries with similar policies. The first one or two unmoderated
caucuses will be spent finding allies, but afterward most of the
unmoderated caucuses are spent writing draft resolutions with
your caucus bloc (your group of allies). All delegates are
encouraged to be a sponsor — an author — of a draft resolution.

Committee will switch between Speakers List, Moderated Caucus,

and Unmoderated Caucus until draft resolutions are complete,
merged, and ready to be presented.

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UNA/USA Procedures

◦ Finally, all the countries in the committee will vote on

whether or not they want a resolution to be passed.
Afterward, committee will repeat the same process
again for the second topic, or if you do not have a
second topic then you are done!

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 How do I prepare for my first
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conference?
Preparation Tips

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Position Paper

The Position Paper is a one or two page document that is essentially a

summary of your knowledge of the topic and the position your country
plans to take when it enters committee. It typically contains four sections.
The key starting points for researching each section are listed below.:
◦ Background of topic: Background guide of the topic provided by the
conference, Google, the news, Wikipedia (to frame the topic)
◦ Past international actions: UN website, your committee’s website, key
treaties or resolutions mentioned in your background guide, UN or
NGO reports
◦ Country policy: CIA World Factbook, your country’s foreign ministry
website, domestic programs within your country, and your country’s
voting record on key treaties or resolutions
◦ Possible Solutions: NGO or think tank policy recommendations, past
UN resolutions that you’d like to change or expand on, and your own
creativity!
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Research Binder (Research Document)

An organized Research Binder will be your go-to resource during the

conference as new terms and acronyms, previous resolutions and
treaties, and possible solutions are mentioned.
Your research binder includes all your research facts, proofs, articles and
statements.

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How to Write a Resolution?

Delegates will be writing a document called a Resolution

in committee along with other countries that they will be
working with. It’s important to know the resolution
format and phrases, but most conferences do not allow
pre-written resolutions since they want countries to
collaborate together during the committee.

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Country Profile

The Country Profile is a document to help you

understand your country and may not necessarily be
required by your conference.

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6 Research and Sources
Where to research and what to research

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Credible Sources

The following is a list of a few credible sources:

◦ Official website of United Nations and it’s agencies
◦ Past UN documents and resolutions found in the
online archives of the UN
◦ Official website of country including it’s ministries and
government agencies.
Please Note: A few executive board members may also
allow news articles from Reuters as credible sources

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Research Resources

The following is a list of a few resources to research from:

◦ UN Archives: https://archives.un.org
◦ UN Digital Library: https://digitallibrary.un.org/
◦ CIAs World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-
factbook/
◦ Reuters: https://www.reuters.com
◦ Anywhere else on the Internet*
* Please Note: Not everything on the internet is 100% accurate
please make sure you present information from credible sources
only as proof

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Note:

There are no standards in Model UN and different conferences

may run their debate and rules of procedure differently. The
most commonly used rules of procedure are:
q UNA/USA
q Harvard MUN
q UN4MUN
Apart from these some crisis committees may operate with a
customized set of rules and debate formats but you probably
will not encounter this during your first conference.

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Thanks!
ANY QUESTIONS?
You can find me at
@harshhmalhotraa
harsh@harshmalhotra.com
+919650058469
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