✧Background guide

Written by conference organizers, it is a summary of important information for your committee topic and is the starting point for any Model UN Delegate.

✧Bloc

A group of countries with either a similar geographic location or opinion on a certain topic.

✧Committee

A body that is tasked with investigating, reporting, and taking action on a particular issue.

✧Committee Session

A meeting by a Committee or Council that includes debate on the committee topic.

✧Debate

Formal discussion on a particular topic where various opinions are expressed.

✧Delegate

A student who is the representative for a particular state or person in a Model UN committee.

✧Placard

A signboard that shows which country the delegate is representing; a delegate can raise it when they would like to speak.

✧Position Paper

An essay that presents your delegation’s assessment of a situation and how to fix it.

✧Abstain

Deciding not to vote on a particular matter. This is generally understood as not supporting a resolution strongly enough to vote for it, but not being opposed enough to want to vote against it either.

✧Adjourn

Suspending the debate for a particular committee session; discussion can be resumed in the next scheduled session.

✧Agenda

The order in which issues will be discussed; delegates can suggest topics for the agenda through motions.

✧Moderated Caucus

Discussion that is moderated by the committee chair on a particular sub-topic.

✧Unmoderated Caucus

Discussion where delegates can move around the committee room and have more informal discussions on their committee topic.

✧Decorum

Proper etiquette that is expected of delegates in a committee room; a committee Chair will set expectations for decorum.

✧Motion

Raised by delegates, used to discuss procedural matters and help further the discussion of the committee topic. The appropriate Motions change depending on the stage in the Flow of Debate.

✧Point

Raised by delegates, used to discuss issues outside of substantive debate.

✧Quorum

The minimum number of delegates required for votes to pass in a Model UN committee (simple majority, two-thirds majority).

✧Roll Call

Takes place at the start of a Committee session; the Chair counts the number of delegations in the Committee room to determine the Quorum.

✧Rules of Procedure

The rules that govern how a Model UN committee is run.

✧Speakers' list

A list that determines the order for Delegates to speak. When the Chair calls for new speakers, Delegates can raise their placard to be added.

✧Veto

The special ability held by the 5 Permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russia, UK, USA) that allows them to prevent any Draft Resolution from passing.

✧Yield

When a speaker gives up the rest of their speaking time. Delegates can yield their time to 1. the Chair (most common), 2. Other Delegates, 3. Comments.

✧Resolution

A legal document that expresses the general opinion of the committee on a particular committee topic.

✧Working paper

The first form of a Resolution, normally drafted together by a certain bloc.

✧Draft Resolution

A Working Paper after it is submitted to the Chair.

✧Amendment

A change to a Draft Resolution that does not require a vote if it is Friendly; if it is an Unfriendly amendment, then the committee will vote on it.

✧Operative Clause

Clauses that help you outline your solutions in an organized and easily understandable manner.

✧Preambulatory Clause

Clauses that outline the general problems that your Resolution will solve.

✧Signatory

People who believe that the resolution is significant enough to submit to the Dais for debate.

✧Sponsor

Someone who made a significant contribution to the Resolution writing process.