the uc irvine model united nations training packet · delegate as an individual. there is no time...

(Revised March 2012)

THE UC Irvine Model United Nations

Training Packet

University of California, Irvine ▪ Model United Nations

20th Annual High School Conference May 26-27, 2012 clubs.uci.edu/mun

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Conference Procedures

Motions and Points

Point of Parliamentary Procedure

o A delegate that wishes to question the Chair’s conduct on a particular procedure during

committee may rise under this point.

Point of Inquiry

o A delegate may rise under these points if (s)he has a general question regarding

procedures during the committee. They may also be used as a point of clarification.

Point of Personal Privilege

o A delegate may rise under this point if there is any source of personal discomfort that

needs to be corrected or dealt with during committee. (No formal motion is needed if

used for bathroom breaks or quenching hunger or thirst.)

Right of Reply

o A delegate who has felt personally insulted by another delegate may reply to voice any

grievances. This does not apply to insults towards a country or its policy, but rather to the

delegate as an individual. There is no time limit on a right of reply. Such a motion is

entirely at the Chair’s discretion.

In Committee

Welcome

o Chair Introduction / Opening Comments / Delegate Questions

Roll Call of Committee Members

o Present

Delegate can abstain in Voting Bloc

o Present and Voting

Delegate must vote “for” or “against” a proposal during Voting Bloc

Opening Debate

A delegate in the Committee must Motion to Open Debate.

o The motion is passed with a Simple Majority (50%+1)

o The debate may not start until this motion has been passed.

Setting the Order of the Agenda

o Motion to open Provisional Speakers’ List

o Establishes a Speakers’ List for delegates to discuss the order of the Agenda

o The delegate that moves for this motion will be given the option to be first on the list.

o Here delegates will simply state which topic they would like to discuss first and why.

o This list discarded once the topics have been set.

Motion to Set the Agenda (How the set the topics after discussion)



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o The Chair will take this motion anytime after the debate has been opened

o The order in which the motions will be voted on is based on the order that they were

received by the Chair

Example: If Delegate A motions to Set the Agenda with Topic 2 then Topic 1, and

Delegate B then motions to Set the Agenda with Topic 1 then Topic 2 second.

Delegate A’s motion to will voted on first, if passed it becomes the order, if not

then Delegate B’s motion is voted on.

Motion to Table the Topics

o At any time during the debate, delegates may motion to table the topic

o Takes 2/3 majority to pass

o 2 speakers for and against

General Debate

Once Agenda is ordered, the committee enters into General Debate

o Establishing a Speakers’ List with a Motion to Open the Speakers’ List

o Takes Simple Majority (50%+1) for the motion to pass

o Topic of discussion during general debate will be policy.

Motion to Change the Speaking Time

o Speaking time set by default.

o Delegates may opt to change speaking time to ensure that the time is being well used.

o Before motion is voted on, requires 2 speakers for and against.

o Requires Simple Majority (50%+1) to pass

o Whether or not this motion is entertained is at the discretion of the Chair

Speeches

o There will be no comments in general debate

Motion to Close the Speakers’ List

o A Delegate makes this motion to prevent more speakers being added to the speakers list

o Requires Simple Majority (50%+1)

Substantive Debate

Motion to Open the Speakers’ List

o Same as General Debate

Motion to Change the Speaking Time

o Same as General Debate

Motion to Change the Number of Comments

o By default, number of comments set at 2

o Could be changed when motion is made



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o Passed with Simple Majority (50%+1)

o Purpose varies from decreasing so more time is given for speeches, or increasing so more

could be said about solutions proposed by the speaker

Motion to Change the Time of Comments

o By default, number of comments set at 2

o Could change with the motion is made

o Passed with Simple Majority (50%+1)

Speeches

o Can be about anything delegate feels is relevant to the topic including history, root

causes, solutions, country policy, and etc.

Yields

o Delegates are allowed to yield their remaining time to the Chair, or to other delegates

o If yielding to another delegate, must notify Chair beforehand

o THERE ARE NO COMMENTS AFTER A YIELD HAS BEEN MADE

Comments

o There should be no “comments on previous comments”

o Comments must be relevant to the speech just made

Motion for an Informal/Unmoderated Caucus

o A delegate may make this motion in order to discuss the topic with other delegates

informally on the floor

o Length and purpose should be stated when the motion is made

o Requires Simple Majority to pass

o Whether entertained or not is up to Chair’s discretion according to flow of committee

o Can be extended with a Motion to Extend Informal/Unmoderated Caucus, and passes also

with Simple Majority (50%+1)

o After Informal/Unmoderated Caucus is over, the Committee returns to the Speakers List

Motion for a Moderated Caucus

o A delegate may make this motion in order to discuss a more specific area of the topic

while still moderated by the Chair

o During the caucus, individual delegates will make a mini speech to the whole committee

in the time they are allocated

o To make this motion, a delegate must state:

The Length of whole Caucus

The speaking time for each delegate

The delegate that makes this motion has the option of speaking first.

May be extended with a Motion to Extend Moderated Caucus, that is also passed

with a Simple Majority (50%+1)

o After Moderated Caucus is over, the committee returns to the Speakers’ List



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Resolution/ Amendments

Resolutions and Amendments are Carefully reviewed by the director

Director has right to ask a sponsor group to correct or rewrite their working paper and may

decide to accept it or not

Directors will set the numbers of sponsors and signatories for each resolution and amendment

Directors may also set a limit on the number of Resolutions and Amendments that is allowed to

be submitted and approved depending on the size of committee and the flow of debate

“Friendly Amendments” approved by all sponsors will be automatically accepted

Amendments may only be made to operative clauses

Motion for the Submission of a Proposal

o Used to submit a resolution or an amendment

o Once the motion is made, the Chair will accept the motion and the delegate will approach

the chair to submit their working paper.

Motion to move into Formal Caucus

o This motion is made once all Resolutions and Amendments have been submitted, copied,

and returned to the committee

o The delegate that makes this motion will set the time allocated for each sponsor group

o All amendments and resolutions will be presented at this time

o The Sponsor Groups may:

Present for the whole time

Present and then use the remaining time for questions

Yield their entire time to questions

The time of presentation may range from 5-10 minutes

Motion is passed with Simple Majority (50%+1)

The Chair will choose the delegates that will ask questions

Not all the sponsors are allowed to present, usually according to the size of

the committee or the size of the sponsor bloc, which generally ranges

between 3-6

Motion to move into Voting Bloc

o Needs 2 speakers for and against

o Need 2/3 Majority to pass

o Once passed, need have sign on door indicating in voting bloc and shouldn’t be disturbed

o No delegates are allowed to leave or enter once voting bloc begins,

o Once in voting bloc, there should be no passing of notes or talking amongst the delegates

o The only points or motions entertained at this time are:

Point of Order

Point of Inquiry

Motion to Reorder the Proposal



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Motion to Divide the Question

o Divisions are to be done AFTER AMENDMENTS Voted on and BEFORE voting on

final Resolutions

o ONLY operatives clauses may be divided out of a resolution

o If the operative is divided out, it is deleted from the resolution

Motion to Have a Roll Call Vote

o Does not need to be voted on

o Is taken into order as soon as a delegate motions it

o Since it is a procedural motion, it MUST be entertained by the Chair

o Only appropriate to ask for a Roll Call Vote if:

Vote is expected to be close and delegate feels it is pertinent to explain their

country’s vote

There are six responses: yes, yes with rights, no, no with rights, abstain, pass. If a

delegate passes, they can only vote yes or not when it is their turn to vote

Voting with rights is allowed if your vote doesn’t coincide with your

policy

Have unlimited time to explain vote

Motion to Move out of Voting Bloc

o Simple Majority (50%+1) is needed

o After committee moves out of Voting Bloc, the Committee continues with order of

agenda and starts again with general debate of new topic and repeats whole process again

o Everyone must vote either “yes,” “no,” “abstain,”

o Voting Order

Amendments voted on first

The first amendment that is passed will void all other amendments for the same

operative clause

Then Resolutions are voted on as amended

o Abstentions do not count as a vote

o If the number of “YES” votes exceeds the number of “NO” votes the resolution passes

Ending debate

Motion to Suspend Debate

o A delegate will make this motion when a session ends (Lunch / End of day 1)

o Means that debate is in pause and will later resume where the committee left off

o Requires Simple Majority (50%+ 1)

Motion to Adjourn Debate

o Delegate will make this motion at the end of a committee (and the conference)

o Requires Simple Majority (50%+1)



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Quick Reference Chart for Voting:

First Majority Simple Majority (50% +1) 2/3 Majority

Motion to Order the Agenda Motion to Open Debate Motion to Table the Topic

Motion to Reorder the Proposal Motion to Open Speakers’ List Motion to Move to the Next Topic

Motion to Change Speaking Time Motion to Move into Voting Bloc

Motion to Change the Number of Comments

Motion for an Informal Caucus

Motion to Extend a Caucus

Motion to Move into Substantive Debate

Motion for a Moderated Caucus

Motion to Close/Reopen Speakers’ List

Motion to move into Formal Caucus

To pass an Amendment/Resolution

Motion to Divide the Question

To pass a Divided Question

Motion to Suspend Debate

Motion to Adjourn Debate

Keeping Score:

Points are kept during the course of committee to determine committee awards, and also to allow

advisors to evaluate their student’s performance.

Speeches: Full speeches to the committee are evaluated on a scale of 1-10 points

Comments: Comments on Speeches get 1-5 points

Caucuses: In unmoderated caucuses those making real contributions are given 0-5 points, in

addition this category includes speeches made in moderated cuscuses also 1-5 points.

Diplomacy: Delegates start with 10 and lose points for being undiplomatic in their interactions

with fellow delegates. If sufficiently bad delegates may be given a negative score.

Example of Score Sheet:

Country Speeches Comments Caucuses Diplomacy Total

Atlantis 0 0 1 1 2 10 10 12

Freedonia 7 6 13 3 3 6 2 3 3 3 11 10 10 40

Narnia 6 6 3 3 5 3 8 10 10 27

Utopia 7 7 3 3 3 3 5 5 18



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Awards

Four types of Individual and three categories of delegation awards are given by UCIMUN

Best Delegate (aka: “The Gavel”)

Awarded to the best delegate in the committee who earns the most points, makes the largest

contributions to the committee is awarded best delegate and receives a gavel

Outstanding

For the top ~5% of the committee who do very well but are not quite the best

Commendation

For the next ~10% who do well and deserve recognition for their role in debate

Research Award

Awarded to the writers of the best position papers, independent of performance in committee

Delegation Awards

The schools that receive the most awards per number of delegates attending in three categories

based on program size (Large Class, Small Class, Club)

Conference Etiquette

Dress Code: Western Business Attire

Gentlemen: Business suits, sport coats, sweaters and dress shirts are all appropriate.

Dress shirt, tie and a pair of slacks minimum. No casual clothes, jeans, or t-shirts.

Ladies: Business dresses, slacks, blouses, suits, skirts are all suitable. Skirts and dresses

must be of acceptable length. (Not higher than 2-3 inches above the knee) No clubbing

outfits, revealing clothing, or heels over 3-4 in.

No sneakers, only dress shoes. No hats or hoods. Keep it classy, keep it professional.

Addressing/Speaking as a Delegate:

Delegates are always to be addressed by their country name, and always speak as if they embody

their country. (Never say: “I believe...”, instead use “We believe… and/or Oceania believes…” )

Laptops/Cell Phones/Other Electronics:

Keep your cell phones off during committee. If you use a laptop or tablet, make sure it is only for

committee business and you are not using it while others speak to the committee. No Facebook!

Respect and Professionalism:

Always be respectful and professional with other delegates! Discrimination or disparaging

comments are not tolerated, and should be brought to the chair’s attention imminently.



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Resolution Format

GA/1/1: (Numbering based on the order in which draft resolutions are accepted by the director.)

Committee: General Assembly

Topic: Writing a Resolution

Sponsors: Your nation’s full name + any other nation’s full name sponsoring this amendment

The General Assembly,

Recalling that a resolution is basically a long run-on sentence and that indents will follow this

example,

Remembering that all perambulatory clauses end with a comma,

Recalling all United Nations (UN) documents,

1. Urges delegates to remember that two spaces are required between the perambulatory clauses

and the operatives;

2. Notes that operatives end with a semicolon;

3. Requests that delegates take note of the following:

a. Sub-operatives end with a semicolon as well;

b. Sub-operatives are single spaces;

c. The following countries agree:

i. United States of America;

ii. Canada;

d. This is the only format recognized at UCIMUN;

4. Reminds everyone that General Assembly resolutions do not take direct action and that only

Security Council can do so;

5. Decides that all resolutions end in a period.



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65 Powerful Preambulatories:

Acknowledging Distressed Hearing

Affirming Disturbed Keeping in mind

Alarmed Emphasizing Mindful

Anxious Encouraging Noting

Appreciating Endorsing Reaffirming

Approving Examining Realizing

Aware Expecting Recalling

Bearing in mind Expressing Recognizing

Being convinced Fulfilling Referring to

Believing Having Regretting

Cognizant adopted Reiterating

Concerned approved Seeking

Condemning considered Shocked

Confident decided Stressing

Conscious devoted attention to Supporting

Considering examined Taking into account

Contemplating heard Taking into consideration

Convinced received Taking note

Declaring recognizing Underlining

Deploring regard for Urging

Desiring resolved Welcoming

Determined reviewed

studied

48 Omnipotent Operative Clauses:

Accepts Declares Recognizes

Adopts Demands* Regrets

Affirms Deplores Reiterates

Appeals Designates Rejects

Appreciates Determines Reminds

Approves Directs Renews

Authorizes Draws attention to Repeats

Calls upon Emphasizes Requests

Commends Encourages Resolves

Concurs Endorses Stresses

Condemns* Expresses Suggests

Confirms Instructs Supports

Congratulates Invites Takes note of

(* Denotes Security Council Only)



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Amendment Format

GA/1/1/1

Committee Name

Amendment to Resolution 1/1 by the resolution sponsors

Your nation’s full name + any other nation’s full name sponsoring this amendment

Amendment to Resolution 1/1

1. Changes operative clause 1 to read:

1. Recognizes that this amendment format is used at most conferences;

2. Adds operative clause 3 to read:

3. Understands that a delegate can use any combination of changes, deletes, or

adds in an amendment;

3. Deletes operative clause 2;

4. Renumbers accordingly.



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Position Paper Format

The University of California Irvine Model United Nations High School Conference requires

delegates to submit a position paper for both of their committee’s topics.

Most conferences follow a similar format.

Guidelines for all delegates:

o 3-4 pages double spaced

o Size 12, Times New Roman

o 1 inch margins, justified

Friendly Reminders and Warnings:

o Please do NOT include a country profile, title page, the delegate’s name, or the

school the delegate is from with the paper submission.

o All papers must follow the format outlined here, if not they may lose points or be

disregarded entirely.

o Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated and will result in disqualification for committee

awards.

o Read the topic synopsis for any changes to the position paper format for your

particular committee.

Substance:

o Position Papers should include a header incorporating the following

Official Committee Name

Your Country’s Official Name

Topic Name

o The Body of your position papers should be split into 3 sections (A, B, and C):

A. Historical Background (.75 - 1 page)

Relevant historical and recent and facts of importance that have lead to

or significantly influenced to the current situation of the topic.

B. United Nations Involvement (1 - 1.5 pages)

Related UN actions, programs, document, resolutions, standing bodies

and committees that have previously addressed the topic.

For committees based on Non-UN organizations, use this section for

that body’s actions on the topic instead

C. Country Position and Solutions (1.5 - 2 pages)

The most important portion of the paper, this section should consist of

well researched and rational policy positions for the delegate’s country

and reasonable and obtainable solutions that can be carried out under

their committee’s mandate.

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