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Dec 2014

Delegate Manual

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Welcome to the second edition of the Millennium Model United

Nations-Dec 2014.

This year we are back with more experience and more

expectations. We hope to see a lot of high quality debate and

budding MUN’ners. By integrating OMR campus’ in this edition,

we hope to see more diverse styles of public speaking.

An important note to all the delegates, those who perform well in

this MUN will be taken as the A-team for other Inter-school

MUNs and be given the first preference while choosing countries

and committees.

We have put in a lot of hardwork into this and we hope to see

pure talent on 6th and 7th of December. Be there !

-Secretary Generals

(actually written by the Director of HRC)

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1. Introduction

2. Procedure

3. Rules and Regulations

4. Parliamentary Points

5. Position Paper and Foreign Policy Statement

6. Resolutions

7. Clauses

8. Pre-ambulatory

9. Operative

10. Rubrics

11. Awards

12. Resources

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One of the most common questions we are asked is what exactly is

a Model United Nations (or MUN in short).

Well, politically speaking, a MUN is a simulation of an actual

UN Conference, where students play the role of delegates, forming

and debating the solutions for some very realistic situations.

To a commoner, a MUN is an excellent opportunity for students

interested in current affairs and building on their social skills.

Procedures in a MUN are actually really straight forward and

once you get the hang of it, it really feels more sophisticated and

formal.

And that’s where this manual comes in. The target audience -

first timers. This manual is your bible. All rules, regulations,

procedures and everything in between, it’s all here in a language

easy to understand and comprehend.

So all the very best, go through this manual carefully, take a

print out if required (that’s what I did for my first MUN) because

this will save you time and again from sticky situations.

For additional information, you can get in contact through our

mail - millenniummun@gmail.com or access some resources from

the official website www.themillenniummun.weebly.com

See you on 6th and 7th December!

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So how does a MUN work?

A MUN demands that you be uber-formal and sophisticated. This is an absolute

necessity. Penalties could be anything ranging from being gagged in committee to

being suspended, and this could seriously affect your credits, which the moderator

will be tracking.

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• ROLL CALL

The Roll call begins with the moderator calling out the name of your country, and

the delegates must reply, with either “Present” or “Present and Voting” instead of

using casual phrases such as “yes ma’am” or “here”. The term “Present” indicates that

the delegate will not vote on the resolution on the floor or rather, abstain from

voting. “Present and Voting” makes it obligatory that the delegate votes.

Succeeding this, any delegate can propose a motion to begin formal session. This

marks the presentation of the Opening Speech.

• OPENING SPEECH

The opening speech is a very brief speech made by a delegate regarding either one or

all the agendas. Also, no points will be entertained during these speeches. The

number of Point of Orders to be entertained after a certain number of speakers will

be decided by the chairs of your respective committees.

NOTE: Opening speeches will be entertained only on the first day at the beginning

of the session.

• SETTING OF THE AGENDA

Next up is voting on your agendas, and if your committee has multiple agendas, you

can choose which one will be discussed first. The delegate will assign a speaking

time and give a very brief introduction on what the topic is and why it is of

importance. Other delegates, if they agree, will vote for it and it should be passed

with simple majority. However, it can be passed even with the Chair’s discretion.

• GENERAL SPEAKERS’ LIST

The delegates who are on the speaker’s list will get to present their speeches

regarding the agenda. (The delegates need to critically analyze the situation at hand

and must mention what they want the committee to do through the United Nations’

resolution). This must be a General Speech on the topic. At the end of their speech,

delegates can “yield” the floor to questions or comments or both. If the floor is

opened to questions, other delegates can ask the speaker about certain points the

delegate mentioned in the speech, or general clarifications regarding the nation’s

policy. Questions do not have to be directly related to the delegate’s speech; but they

must be directly related to the topic. After posing a question, the delegate who asked

the question can request for a follow up question in case the answer was not

satisfactory, or if further clarification is required. Typically about 2 to 5 questions

will be entertained. Comments are generally two to three sentences about the

delegate’s speech. Delegates are not ordinarily allowed to reply to comments.

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However, the chair may entertain a Right to Reply in case the point is particularly

thought provoking.

You have to raise the right Point to be recognized by the chair in case of questions

or comments. And please be accurate, crisp and concise while raising your points.

• MODERATED CAUCUS

The formal session resumes and any delegate may propose a topic-which comes under

the mandate of the committee (but preferably related to the agenda) - for a proposed

total time period and a proposed individual speaker time.

• UN-MODERATED CAUCUS

The un-moderated caucus is when the delegates will come together to draft their

resolutions. During this caucus session, formal rules will not apply and delegates are

free to walk around the room and speak to one another informally. The chairs may

not necessarily be present in the room at all times. However, irrespective of their

presence, delegates are required to maintain absolute decorum as they will be under

the constant scrutiny of the moderators in charge, who will be observing their ability

to display leadership skills in gathering support for resolutions, and framing

credible ones.The time limit for un-moderated caucuses will be specified when the

motion is raised by the delegate. Delegates are expected to hand in their resolutions

within the specified time frame. Resolutions which fail to reach the chairperson on

time may not be debated upon in the committee.

A simple majority is required for passing of a resolution. Amendments for the

resolution are appreciated and will be passed with 2/3rds majority. Delegates must

bear in mind that the final approval of the resolution is solely the discretion of the

respective chairs of each committee.

*Un-Moderated and Moderated Caucus can be interchanged in the order of events in case all speakers on GSL have not

completed their speeches.

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A MUN really requires you to be as diplomatic and formal as humanly possible. So

language and behavior really needs to be brief and formal. Here are some general

tips –

• We mention it time and again- FORMAL LANGUAGE is an absolute must and delegates may even be suspended for using informal or inappropriate language.

• Use of personal pronouns are STRICTLY forbidden during session. This implies that no offhand phrases such as “I got a question for you man.” or the like may be used. If the delegate wishes to refer to himself/herself or others, he/she must strictly use -“the Delegate of (country)” or just “the Delegate”, or even just the name of the Country.

• When any Chair, Moderator, Head, or Dignitary enters your committee, your Chair is likely to say “Rise for __________”. When this happens, you are expected to, very simply, raise your placards.

• Attire during the conference is strictly formal. You are NOT permitted to wear jeans and sneakers. It’s either Western or Indian formals.

Boys are expected to wear a formal shirt with formal trousers. Ties and blazers are optional.

Girls are expected to wear a formal blouse with a formal skirt (or) formal pants; or a formal dress. If you are wearing a skirt or dress, it’s not mandatory, but obligatory to wear stockings and if you are wearing sleeveless, you are expected to wear a formal jacket.

Indian formals include kurtas, veshtis, pyjamas (for boys) and sarees or salwars (for girls). Yet again, jeans are not permitted.

• Electronic gadgets are allowed, HOWEVER, the usage of internet is STRICTLY PROHIBITED during Formal session.

• DO NOT make eye contact with any other delegate in the committee. That calls for a couplet:

Look at the ground, look at the sky

Anywhere but the delegate’s eye.

• Chit (or Note) passing is almost always in order (But beware, we are like the NSA to your Russia. If you get this…you might just be the best delegate).

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POINT OF INFORMATION

After a speaker has finished a speech about a resolution, a clause, or an amendment,

she/he may open the floor to questions and comments. Any and all questions and

comments directed towards the delegate must be raised in the form of a Point of

Information. You must raise your placard and get recognized by the board before

speaking.

RIGHT TO REPLY

It is raised if the delegate feels that his or her personal or national integrity has

been compromised or insulted.

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

Point of personal privilege refers to personal comfort. You have the right to request

this point if you cannot hear another delegate or the chair, or did not receive one or

multiple materials. This point should not deliberately be used to interrupt another

delegate’s speech. If you feel the need for this point, you may raise your placard at

any time of the conference; however, you may not speak until recognized by the

chair. Any points such as a request to visit the restroom or permission for a water

break must be requested through a note to the chair.

POINT OF ORDER

A point of order is raised when one recognises a Factual Inaccuracy or a Foreign

Policy Violation. You may raise this point at any point of time another delegate’s

speech and must merely QUOTE the incorrect fact(s) from the delegate’s speech.

POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE/ POINT OF INQUIRY

If you are unsure of a rule or procedure, you can request an explanation from the

chair, but this does consume debate time, so it is strongly recommended that such

enquiries be made via a note to the chair.

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( )

It is held in general view that perhaps the compilation of the Foreign

Policy Statement (FPS) is the most challenging thing about a MUN.

Albeit, as hard as it may seem, it is merely a matter of good research and

will be supportive and elementary throughout the Conference.

An FPS should include:

i. Your country’s policies with respect to the issue and your countries

justification for these policies;

ii. Quotes from your country’s leaders about the issue;

iii. Statistics to back up your country’s position on the issue;

iv. Actions taken by your government with regard to the issue;

v. UN Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or

ratified;

vi. UN actions that your country supported or opposed;

vii. What your country would like to accomplish in the committee’s

resolution.

• Do not forget, you are marked even for your FPS.

• Last date of submission: First day of Millennium MUN

• Bring a hard copy. Remember- you will be marked for this.

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Sample FPS

Committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee

Topic: The security concerns regarding arms transfers, with conflict states and non-

state actors, with special reference to Nuclear Proliferation.

Country: Argentine Republic (Argentina)

Delegate: (Name, Class and Section)

Arms trafficking, as the name suggests, is the contraband of weapons and

ammunition. Although arms’ trafficking is predominantly seen in countries facing

political turmoil, it is most definitely not restricted to these areas. Arms’ trafficking,

for obvious reasons, poses a great threat to the civilian security of any country. Apart

from security reasons, it may even be the cause of political pandemonium. These

weapons are used as a means of violating human rights, including jeopardizing the

peace of a nation, in particular, through the resurgence of crime and armed gangs as

well as road blockers and mercenaries; Small arms and light weapons are also at the

root of a new wave of crisis and conflicts that compromise any prospect of peace and

security.

The growing availability of arms has been a major factor in the increase in the

number of conflicts, and in hindering smoother rebuilding and development after a

conflict has ended. It is estimated, for example, that there are around half a billion

military small arms around the world; Some 300,000 to half a million people around

the world are killed by them each year; They are the major cause of civilian

casualties in modern conflicts.

The illicit trade in arms and ammunition delivers a global supply of weapons and

ammunition to the demand of rogue state and non-state actors. Trade also takes

place when a state sells arms to the rebels of another, thus improving their own

economic status. While arms do not create conflict, they increase the intensity of

violent conflict. The illicit trafficking of small arms contributes to irregular

conflicts in the Middle East, a region of persistent conflict and instability. The

international community has attempted to regulate the global supply of small arms

through non-binding agreement and embargoes, but these efforts have been

ineffective in achieving the goal of preventing the flow of weapons to criminal

organizations, terrorists, and other de-stabilizing non-state actors.

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Now, with nuclear weapons in the picture, the world has become a more formidable

one.

Although Argentina has never produced or used any nuclear missiles from the 1960-

1970’s, the country’s uranium-based missile and its ballistic missile program were a

source of international concern. This concern was mainly based on the stated

intention of the Argentine government to build nuclear weapons and to proliferate

missile technologies to other countries. Moreover, Argentina refused to join the

nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) until February 1995, and its nuclear

facilities were not covered by any safeguards agreement in the 1960s and 1970s.

But when the authoritarian rule ended in 1970, the nuclear programme was placed

under civilian control. Under the pressure from the United States, the Argentine

government began to dismantle its missile program in 1993 and joined the Missile

Technology Control Regime (MTCR), as well as various export control groups. The

accession to the Treaty of Tlatelolco in 1994 and the NPT in 1995 led to further

adherence to international nonproliferation norms.

The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread

of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful

uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and

general and complete disarmament. The Treaty represents the only binding

commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-

weapon States. Opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) could be the solution for the illicit trade of arms. It

is the first ever international treaty to regulate the trade of conventional weapons

will open a door of hope to millions of people living in deprivation and fear because

of the poorly controlled trade and the proliferation of these deadly weapons.

Although implementation is years away and there is no specific enforcement

mechanism, the treaty would for the first time force sellers to consider how their

customers will use the weapons and to make that information public. The goal is to

curb the sale of weapons that kill tens of thousands of people every year.

As a sponsor and as a signatory, Argentina continues to support the ATT and works

toward a more secure and safe world.

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Resolutions are documents written by participating delegates during caucusing (it’s

an actual word). Resolutions are the ultimate results of a MUN Conference. A

Resolution is a carefully drafted document consisting of well formulated solutions,

keeping in mind the foreign policies of all Nations. These documents have several

key concepts attached to them, which must be thoroughly understood:

• Format: A resolution follows a fixed format or pattern. It starts with the name of

the submitting committee and country, and proceeds to the list of co-submitters.

The resolution then moves into the pre-ambulatory clauses (which highlights the

situation at hand), followed by the operative clauses ( which lists out of the

actions to be taken to curb the issue ).

• Main Submitting nation: This is the nation that assumes leadership of the group

that produces the resolution. The representative delegate of this nation makes the

opening speech on the resolution.

• Co-Submitting nations: Member nations, other than the main-submitting nation,

which participate in the formation of the resolution, form the list of co-

submitting nations. Delegates can only co-submit one resolution on a particular

issue.

• Signatories: Signatory nations are those who want the resolution to be discussed.

A delegate may be a signatory to more than one resolution.

NOTE: A resolution requires a minimum of 1/6th of the committee as signatories

for the resolution to be discussed.

• Amendments: An amendment to a resolution is a change in one or more clauses in

the resolution. This is proposed by a delegate so that the resolution can be made

more effective. Amendments must be voted upon before the suggested changes are

made to a resolution. Amendments may add new clauses, remove existing ones

entirely, or alter them.

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Clauses

PRE-AMBULATORY CLAUSES

These Clauses describe the recent history of the situation and the issue as it currently stands. It is the base for resolution making. Delegates must acknowledge or mention the following in their Preambulatory Clauses:

• Past United Nations actions regarding the issue, if applicable.

• Previous UN resolutions passed on the topic,if applicable.

OPERATIVE CLAUSES

They include statements of actions to be undertaken to solve the problem at hand.

Each clause is numbered and indented. Each introductory word is Capitalized and

underlined .

Points To Remember

• Be accurate in reflecting the views and policies of the country you represent

• Be crisp and concise by using language that is direct and easily comprehensible by

all.

• Don’t be blatantly political in the content of the resolution; this may damage

efforts to reach a consensus on the issue.

• Remember to end your resolution with ‘Decides to remain actively seized of the

matter.’, if you’re in the Security Council.

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SAMPLE RESOLUTION

Main Submitters: United States of America, Russian Federation

Co-Submitters: Japan, Canada, Netherlands

Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Brazil, India, Denmark, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, Indonesia

Topic: "Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies”

The General Assembly,

Reminding all nations of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all global

citizens, [use commas to separate preambulatory clauses]

Reaffirming its Resolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages Governments to work with

UN bodies aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance,

Noting with satisfaction the past efforts of various relevant UN bodies and nongovernmental

organizations,

Stressing the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is in need of

reform, particularly in the humanitarian realm,

1. Encourages all relevant agencies of the United Nations to collaborate more closely with

countries at the grassroots level to enhance the carrying out of relief efforts; [use semicolons to

separate operative clauses]

2. Urges member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs

to streamline efforts of humanitarian aid;

3. Requests that all nations develop rapid deployment forces to better enhance the coordination of

relief efforts of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies;

4. Calls for the development of a United Nations Trust Fund that encourages voluntary donations

from the private transnational sector to aid in funding the implementation of rapid

deployment forces;

5. Stresses the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic

and social situations and events of all countries;

6. Calls upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidated appeals for humanitarian

assistance; and

7. Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post-conflict assistance through

reconstruction and development. [end resolutions with a period]

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Pre-ambulatory Clauses

Acknowledging Considers Further (e.g. considers) Noting with (e.g. satisfaction)

Affirming Approving Contemplating Guided by Observing

Alarmed by Convinced Having adopted Reaffirming

Approving Deeply (e.g. concerned) Having approved Realizing

Aware of Deploring Having considered Recalling

Bearing in mind Desiring Having examined Recognizing

Believing Determined Having received Referring

Concerned Emphasizing Having reviewed Regretting

Condemns Expecting Having studied Seeking

Confident Expressing (e.g. gratitude)

Keeping in mind Stressing

Congratulates Fully (e.g. alarmed by) Noting Taking note

Operative Clauses

Affirms Declares accordingly Further reminds Requests

Approves Deplores Further requests Solemnly affirms

Authorizes Designates Has resolved Strongly condemns

Calls Draws the attention Notes Supports

Calls upon Emphasizes Proclaims Takes note of

Condemns Encourages Reaffirms Transmits

Confirms Endorses Recommends Trusts

Congratulates Further invites Regrets

Considers Further proclaims Reminds

*A copy of this page is highly recommended for the conference.

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You will be marked along the following parameters:

• Foreign Policy

• Diplomacy

• Pre-requisite knowledge regarding topics

• Negotiating skills and effectiveness

• Active participation

• Behavior during formal session.

In each committee, the following awards will be presented–

• Best Delegate - This award is handed to the best delegate in each committee.

• High Commendation – Awarded to a delegate from each committee

• Special Mentions - These are awarded to two delegates who have put up an

excellent

performance.

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1. www.bestdelegate.com

2. www.unfoundation.org

3. www.un.org

4. www.reuters.com

5. www.cnn.com

6. www.amnesty.org

7. www.millenniummun.ml

8. www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

9. www.indexmundi.com

10. Governmental organizations’ websites

11. News networks websites

12. Model UN Application on Play-store and App store.