Please use the tabs under "Joint Crisis Debate" to view the background guide and resources for each nation.
Introduction to Model UN
“Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an extracurricular activity in which students typically roleplay delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees. This activity takes place at MUN conferences, which is usually organized by a high school or college MUN club. At the end of most conferences, outstanding delegates in each committee are recognized and given an award certificate.” (1)
Parliamentary Procedure
Roll Call
You may respond “Present” or “Present and Voting” when called upon during the roll call. If you responded with “Present”, then you have the option of abstaining from a directive that is presented by another country. If you responded “Present and Voting”, then you have forfeited the right to abstain and MUST vote in favor or opposition for every directive.
SAY: “Present” or “Present and Voting”
Opening the Speaker’s List
Requires someone to motion for a Speaker’s list and a majority vote in favor of the motion. Once the Speaker’s List is opened, and the speaking time is set (between 60-90 seconds usually) countries are called upon to raise their placards if they would like to speak. One by one, each country is recorded and they are added to the list, and will be called upon if debate runs dry and there is no motion for formal debate. Speaker’s Lists are great at the beginning of debate for countries to go around and voice their primary opinions so other countries know who to debate with or ally with during the conference.
SAY: “Motion to open the Speaker’s List” and “Motion to set the speaking time at _ minute(s).”
Moderated Caucuses
The moderated caucus allows countries to exit the Speaker’s List or another caucus to have the opportunity to speak on a specific topic and allowing the chair to call on countries at their discretion to continue debate on the topic. The delegate who proposed the caucus should specify the topic of discussion, specify the duration, and speaking time per delegate (For example: a motion to speak about Putin’s involvement in the US election for 5 minutes with a 30 second speaking time per speaker). To signal your desire to start a moderated caucus, simply raise your placard and motion for one. Delegates should remain in their seats during the moderated caucus.
SAY: “Motion for a 5 minute moderated caucus with 30-second speaking times for thepurpose of discussing
__________________.”
Unmoderated Caucus
A motion for an unmoderated caucus, which requires a majority to pass, allows the suspension of the rules and of formal debate. Delegates may leave their seats and discuss topics freely. The delegate making the motion must specify a total time for the proposed caucus, not to exceed 10 minutes. The Chair reserves the right to rule such a motion out of order. This is an ideal time to draft directives and develop relationships with fellow countries.
SAY: “Motion for a ten-minute unmoderated caucus.”
Directives, Notes, and Amendments
Each delegation can write or sign as many directives as they wish. For this debate, for the sake of time, we will ask that you have at least two sponsors (countries who agree with the content of the directive and intend to support it) and two signatories (countries who would like to see the draft debated but do not necessarily support all the elements of the directive) sign at the top of the sheet of paper you write the directive on. A signatory of a resolution does not have to vote in favor of the resolution. Directives will only be passed and their content enacted if they pass during voting procedure.
HOWEVER, there are such things as “private directives”. These are missions you wish to accomplish PRIVATELY, without the knowledge of the other delegations. For example, if you wish to assassinate a representative or deploy a covert strike in another country, you can pass a private directive. You do not need any signatories or sponsors for this. DO NOT GET TOO EXCITED; just because you write a private directive does not mean it will be passed. The Crisis Director will choose to act upon the private directive’s content.
If you are wondering whether it is within the power of you country to do something, or wonder what the likelihood of one of your secret operations succeeding is, you can communicate with the Crisis Director through notes. Just write a note on a scrap sheet of paper and fold it up. Remember to label it CRISIS, so no one else opens it. You are allowed to pass notes to other countries during moderated caucuses as well. Just label the name of the country on the folded note so it can be passed on to the right country. REMEMBER to write your country’s name on the inside of the note as well so the Crisis Director or another country knows who the note is from and can respond back.
Be sure to pass your PUBLIC DIRECTIVES (the ones that require sponsors and signatories) to the CHAIR, and the PRIVATE DIRECTIVES or NOTES to CRISIS.
Works Cited
Introduction to Model UN
“Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an extracurricular activity in which students typically roleplay delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees. This activity takes place at MUN conferences, which is usually organized by a high school or college MUN club. At the end of most conferences, outstanding delegates in each committee are recognized and given an award certificate.” (1)
Parliamentary Procedure
Roll Call
You may respond “Present” or “Present and Voting” when called upon during the roll call. If you responded with “Present”, then you have the option of abstaining from a directive that is presented by another country. If you responded “Present and Voting”, then you have forfeited the right to abstain and MUST vote in favor or opposition for every directive.
SAY: “Present” or “Present and Voting”
Opening the Speaker’s List
Requires someone to motion for a Speaker’s list and a majority vote in favor of the motion. Once the Speaker’s List is opened, and the speaking time is set (between 60-90 seconds usually) countries are called upon to raise their placards if they would like to speak. One by one, each country is recorded and they are added to the list, and will be called upon if debate runs dry and there is no motion for formal debate. Speaker’s Lists are great at the beginning of debate for countries to go around and voice their primary opinions so other countries know who to debate with or ally with during the conference.
SAY: “Motion to open the Speaker’s List” and “Motion to set the speaking time at _ minute(s).”
Moderated Caucuses
The moderated caucus allows countries to exit the Speaker’s List or another caucus to have the opportunity to speak on a specific topic and allowing the chair to call on countries at their discretion to continue debate on the topic. The delegate who proposed the caucus should specify the topic of discussion, specify the duration, and speaking time per delegate (For example: a motion to speak about Putin’s involvement in the US election for 5 minutes with a 30 second speaking time per speaker). To signal your desire to start a moderated caucus, simply raise your placard and motion for one. Delegates should remain in their seats during the moderated caucus.
SAY: “Motion for a 5 minute moderated caucus with 30-second speaking times for thepurpose of discussing
__________________.”
Unmoderated Caucus
A motion for an unmoderated caucus, which requires a majority to pass, allows the suspension of the rules and of formal debate. Delegates may leave their seats and discuss topics freely. The delegate making the motion must specify a total time for the proposed caucus, not to exceed 10 minutes. The Chair reserves the right to rule such a motion out of order. This is an ideal time to draft directives and develop relationships with fellow countries.
SAY: “Motion for a ten-minute unmoderated caucus.”
Directives, Notes, and Amendments
Each delegation can write or sign as many directives as they wish. For this debate, for the sake of time, we will ask that you have at least two sponsors (countries who agree with the content of the directive and intend to support it) and two signatories (countries who would like to see the draft debated but do not necessarily support all the elements of the directive) sign at the top of the sheet of paper you write the directive on. A signatory of a resolution does not have to vote in favor of the resolution. Directives will only be passed and their content enacted if they pass during voting procedure.
HOWEVER, there are such things as “private directives”. These are missions you wish to accomplish PRIVATELY, without the knowledge of the other delegations. For example, if you wish to assassinate a representative or deploy a covert strike in another country, you can pass a private directive. You do not need any signatories or sponsors for this. DO NOT GET TOO EXCITED; just because you write a private directive does not mean it will be passed. The Crisis Director will choose to act upon the private directive’s content.
If you are wondering whether it is within the power of you country to do something, or wonder what the likelihood of one of your secret operations succeeding is, you can communicate with the Crisis Director through notes. Just write a note on a scrap sheet of paper and fold it up. Remember to label it CRISIS, so no one else opens it. You are allowed to pass notes to other countries during moderated caucuses as well. Just label the name of the country on the folded note so it can be passed on to the right country. REMEMBER to write your country’s name on the inside of the note as well so the Crisis Director or another country knows who the note is from and can respond back.
Be sure to pass your PUBLIC DIRECTIVES (the ones that require sponsors and signatories) to the CHAIR, and the PRIVATE DIRECTIVES or NOTES to CRISIS.
Works Cited
- http://bestdelegate.com/what-is-model-united-nations/
- http://naimun.modelun.org/preparing-for-committee/parli-pro/