MUN Guide

Introduction 2
What is the goal of MUN? 2
The Basics 3
Getting to know the Chair 3
If you want to open a motion… 3
Some basic terms to know 4
Important rules to know 4
Don’t know what you need to say? 5
Words that are not allowed 5
Timeline 6

Introduction
Hello there! And welcome to your first MUN (if it is your first one). I know you may feel
slightly nervous or just not interested in participating, but given that we are here now, we
might as well make the most of it!! I hope this guide can give you good Guidance on how
a MUN works and in case you´re feeling lost, you can always come back to it!
Remember that every MUN can vary on the words used to describe the processes, but I
will try my best to cover all the basis every MUN follows. Without further ado, lets get
into it, and remember to have fun!!

What is the goal of MUN?

This is a very important question to ask!! Ultimately, your goal in MUN is to reach an
agreement with all of the delegations and come together in order to make a resolution for
the problematic that you will be debating. The goal is that after you make your resolution
paper, you will present it with general assembly where they may ask questions and
evaluate your resolution. If it passes, congrats!! Your delegations came together and
solved a worldwide issue! And you have successfully completed MUN. However, if your
resolution doesn't pass or there wasn't even enough time to complete it, do not stress!!
While the goal may be the one previously mentioned, MUN also helps you extend your
views in several topics, expand your knowledge of the world and develop your critical

🙂
thinking and your conflict resolution. While it may seem important to hold a successful
session, it is always more important to enjoy the process and learn the most out of it
The Basics
Here is some of the main things you must know about MUN, this section will include
rules, most common phrases, often asked questions, etc

Getting to know the Chair

Now, usually the chair will consist of three people. The president, the moderator and the
staff. But it is very important to know what each one of them does:
● President: highest authority figure within the committee. They are in charge of
monitoring the debate and making sure rules are being followed and everything is
in order. They are in charge of setting the time for the speaker’s list, moderated
debate, unmoderated debate, etc. They wont often speak directly but instead make
the decisions quietly and assessing the best delegates.
● Moderator: The one in charge of the debate itself. They will be the ones to speak
the most and the one you will be referring to for most of the debate. They are here
to answer questions too so don't be shy to raise your placard and ask away!! They
will guide you through the debate, letting you know when the floor is open and
what motions are allowed to be opened.
● Staff: Also here to help you!! If you happen to have an emergency (Or just want
to head to the restroom) but don't want to interrupt the flow of the debate, you can
quietly reach for their attention and ask them for whatever you need. They will
mainly be monitoring and making sure all of the delegate’s and chair’s needs are
met.

If you want to open a motion…

● You’ll know you can open a motion when the moderator asks: “Delegates, the floor is
now open, is there any motion on the floor?” This will be your sign to raise your placard
and open the motion that is adequate, what you must say is “The delegation of (Your
delegation) wants to open (Name of the motion)”. If your motion is not the correct one,
you will be told and asked to reestablish, if you do you must repeat the sentence, but now
with the correct motion.
● If you wish to second the motion, you just raise your placard when the chair asks “Who
seconds the motion?” if you do second a motion, you will be the next person to pass after
the delegate who opened the motion.
● Remember that most motions require you to participate first if you choose to open them,
however, if you choose to do so you will gain more points and recognition from the chair
(Bigger chances of winning!!).
Some basic terms to know
● Delegates: people participating in the debate, you are a delegate too! You cannot refer to
others as “Classmate” or “Friend”, you must refer to them as delegates of their respective
countries.
● Chair: Conformed by the moderator, president and staff. They will be the ones regulating
MUN and making sure everything goes in order. They will be the ones opening the floor
and indicating when a motion can be set.
● Position paper: The paper you wrote on your country’s position on the topic at hand.
● General Assembly: the committee to which you will go to to show your resolution
paper. You will be asked questions and they will evaluate if your resolution passes or if it
needs more work.
● If you are asked to reestablish: You must repeat your request but modify whatever the
chair tells you to. For example, if you ask to open the session but the motion that is in
order is to open a moderated debate, you will be asked to reestablish. Therefore you must
repeat the request for a motion but this time to open a moderated debate.
● Sponsors: Three people the delegates will vote on in order to represent them in General
Assembly with their resolution paper. They will be the ones to go and show the proposal
to the committee.
● The floor is open: A sentence that will be said often by the moderator, when you hear
this it means you are allowed to open a motion, depending on which one is allowed.

Important rules to know

● You must not speak in first person, only refer to yourself as “The delegation of (Your
country)”
● You must not make personal offenses or targeted insults towards another delegate
● You must not use your phone or any other electronic device unless permitted by the chair
● You must not look directly at another delegate when talking in a moderated debate
● You must not refer to other delegates by “you”, but rather as “Delegation of (Their
country)
● You must not try to form wars or conflicts with other countries, we are here to reach
solutions, not further the problematics
● You must not arrive late to the session, once the roll call has happened, you will not be
allowed inside.
● You must not speak with other delegates unless given permission or in a moderated
caucus, you must remain quiet and respect the other delegate’s turns
● If you break any of these rules, you will receive a warning. Three warnings will get you
kicked out of the session.
 Don’t know what you need to say?
● If you want to answer the roll call: The delegation of (Your country) is present and
voting/ Present and voting
● If you wish to open the session (or any other motion): The delegation of (Your
country) wants to open the session/ Motion to open the session
● If you are asked for how much time on a motion: as long as the chair recommends
● If you have extra time on the speaker’s list: I yield my time to the chair
● If you want to go to the restroom: You shouldn't speak, but rather write a note and try
to catch the staff’s attention, they will bring it to the chair and they will grant you
permission
● If you catch someone using an unallowed word/Breaking a rule and the chair didn’t
notice: Point of order, the delegation of ___ (whatever rule they weren't following)
● If you want to ask a question to the chair: Point of inquiry (ask your question
afterwards)
● If you want to ask a second question on the Extraordinary Session of questions:
Follow up

Words that are not allowed

Keep in mind that if you do use these words, you will receive a warning.

Instead of this Use this

War Armed Conflict

Kill Commit Murder

Rich Countries Developed Countries

Poor Countries Developing Countries

Poor People Lack of Resources

Black African American

White Caucasian

Army Armed Forces

Money Economic Resources

I My delegation
Timeline
Now, every MUN follows a timeline of motions, it is important to understand what all of
these motions are named and what happens in each one of them. Whenever you feel
interested in opening a motion, remember which one was previous to it so you don't ask
for the wrong one!!

Roll Call The first thing the chair will do is start a roll
call, mentioning all the countries so they can
see who is present and who is absent, when
you hear your country’s name, you'll have to
raise your placard and say “present and
voting”

Opening the session A very simple procedure but necessary for

any MUN to start. If you wish to open the
session, you must raise your placard and state
“Motion to open the session”, the chair will
indicate if you are in order or not, a small
voting among delegates will happen to see if
they are in agreement with opening the
session, and then the session will begin.

Setting the agenda A delegate will also have to open this motion,
if you choose to set the agenda, you will have
to choose between Topic A or Topic B of the
committee. In order to set the agenda you
must say “Motion to set the agenda” The chair
will ask you which topic you’d like and you
must say “Motion to set the agenda on topic
A/B” afterwards, voting from the other
delegates will happen, and the motion might
pass if the majority of delegates agree with
your choice of topic

Speaker’s List Delegates also must open this session, but

keep in mind that if you do, you will be the
first to participate. In this motion, delegates
will have the chance to put themselves on a
“Speaker’s list” in which they will come to
the front of the classroom and read a brief
introduction from their position paper and
their country’s current position on the matter.
However, they MUST NOT read their
resolutions yet, just what their country is
 doing right now. If you open the session, the
chair will ask for how long your time should
be, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED you say
“As long as the chair recommends” Then, the
chair will set a specific time in which you
must read your position paper. If you finish
before the time is up, you must say “I yield
my time to the chair”.

Extraordinary session of questions These are obligatory questions at least two

delegates must make after another delegate
presents their position paper on the speaker’s
list. These questions must be related to the
topic discussed and relevant to the delegate´s
position. You can make a maximum of two
questions. In order to start an extraordinary
session of questions you must say “Motion to
open an extraordinary session of questions”
and if you want to ask another question you
must ask for a follow up. The delegate who
seconds the motion will be the second person
to ask a question.

Moderated Debate This is where the real debate starts. A

delegate must open this motion too, and
whoever opens it will be the first to talk, this
is where you can state your points and
different solutions for the problematic,
remember that in order to participate you
must raise your placard and wait patiently
until the chair calls your delegation’s name. It
is recommended that you only state your facts
and discuss with other countries during this
debate, making a rough draft of what your
resolution will be.

Break This will probably be when the first break

happens. If so, you must ask for the motion of
closing the session and you will be able to
head for lunch, and remember that when you
return you must open the session again!!

Unmoderated Debate This motion must be opened, as always. In

this debate all delegates will be able to leave
their seats and talk with each other in order to
create a resolution paper that will then be
 presented to another committee called
“General Assembly”. There can be many
resolution papers but only one will pass. The
passing resolution paper will be chosen via
voting of all the delegates.

Resolution paper After the delegates have chosen their

resolution paper, they must choose three
sponsors to represent them at General
Assembly. The three delegates chosen will
present the resolution paper, if it is accepted
the session is over!! If not, they will come
back and keep working on it

Closing the session A delegate must close the session, this will
either happen when a break is in order or
when we have reached a successful resolution
paper. This brings an end to the session and
therefore, to MUN

Chafis!! A little inside votation amongst delegates, in

which they will be able to vote for others for
funny titles such as “The funniest delegate” or
“the strictest delegate” little silly rewards will

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be given and delegates will have the chance to
unwind