At the Conference

Home

About
       Opportunities
       Calendar
       National Council
       National Executive
       UNYANZ and the Curriculum
       National Awards
       Alumni
       Our Partners
       Contact Us

National Events
       THIMUN 2011
       NZ Model UN 2010
       NZ Model Security Council 2010
       National Conference 2010
       Youth Declaration 2010
       UNYC 2010

Regional Events
       Auckland
       Wellington
       Canterbury
       Otago

Model UN
       Introduction
       Getting Involved
       The United Nations System
       Research
       Resolutions
       Debating Strategies
       At the Conference
       Glossary
       For Teachers

Resources
       Photos
       Videos
       Event Evaluations
       Newsletter

Join
       Member Registration
       Teacher Registration

United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand

Saturday, 11 September 2010

Contents

At the Conference

Model UN isn’t simply an individual pursuit – in fact, it’s more about your ability to influence and work together with other people. Even if you are the best public speaker in the world, you might not be an effective Model UN delegate if you’re not good at lobbying with other delegates. You need to get other delegates on-board to be effective.

Here are some ideas on how you can increase your influence at the conference:

Setting the agenda
Being the Proposer or Seconder
Formal Debate
Yielding
Informal Debate
Voting Procedures

Setting the Agenda

At most Model UN events, you will probably debate several resolutions. One of the first things your committee will decide is the order in which the topics will be debated. It is important you push to have the topic most important to your country debated first or alternatively, to push the topic that will be most embarrassing to your country as far down the agenda as possible. Getting a favourable resolution debated first means that you’re more likely to have more time to debate that resolution and it’s fresh in everyone’s minds.

Being the Proposer or Seconder

If your Model UN uses pre-prepared resolutions, try to be the Proposer for the resolution (provided that your country agrees with that resolution). Being the Proposer is advantageous because you make the first speech on the resolution and everyone has to concentrate on your speech since note-passing will not be open. It also means that you have the Right of Reply just before the resolution gets voted on as a whole. This means the last thing the committee hears before voting is your speech in support of the resolution. It also gives you more speaking time which is especially crucial in a large committee where it is often difficult to get on the Speakers’ List.

Being the Seconder is also advantageous because it means you can make a speech right after the Proposer. However, the Seconder does not have a Right of Reply.

Formal Debate

Formal debate usually begins right after the agenda has been set. The rules of procedure governing your formal event will vary from event to event. Make sure that you are familiar with the Rules of Procedure (downloadable at the bottom of this page). Formal debate allows individual delegates to make speeches from the “floor” (or podium). If you wish to speak, send a note to the Chair requesting to be added to the Speakers’ List. Remember to indicate clearly whether you want to speak For or Against the resolution. Time allotted for each speech is usually 1-2 minutes, but that will depend on the size of your committee.

Formal debate is exactly what it sounds like – you will need to use formal language in your speech. Avoid referring to other delegates using personal pronouns. Address other delegates as “Honourable delegates” and acknowledge the Chair at the beginning of your speech.

If time permits, the Chair will ask you whether you are open to any points of information. If you are, delegates from the audience will be invited to pose a short question to you. Try to answer these questions succinctly and not to look flustered if you don’t know the answer. If you don’t know the answer, avoid saying that you don’t know; a good tactic might just be to say that you would like to reserve your judgment until further instructions from your government. There is no cross-floor debate and the Chair will be very annoyed if delegates try to engage in back-and-forth discussion.

Yielding

At the end of your speech in formal debate, the Chair will ask you how you wish to yield. You have two options: you may yield to the Chair (who will then call for the next speaker on the speakers’ list) or to another delegate. Yielding to another delegate is an extremely useful strategy to get several speakers’ on the same side speaking after one another. This way you can reinforce a key issue that you, and other delegates who agree with you, want to make. The rules of procedure allow three consecutive speeches in favour of or against the resolution. Be aware that you can only yield to another delegate that is already on the speakers’ list, so if you plan to yield to somebody, make sure they have sent a note to the Chair to be put on the speakers’ list.

Informal Debate

Informal debate is debate that occurs outside the formal debate structure. There are two forms of informal debate:

Moderated Caucus

Moderated caucus is not always available at High School Model UN events. The key difference between moderated caucus and formal debate is that it is much faster. Moderated caucus focuses on a very specific issue and there is a specified time limit. Delegates do not need to approach the floor to speak but instead are recognised by the Chair by raising their placard and they speak, standing, from their seat. Speeches are usually limited to about 30 seconds. The advantage of moderated caucus is that it speeds up the debate and can focus on a narrow issue.

Unmoderated Caucus (Lobbying time)

Lobbying time is one of the most important aspects of Model UN because it allows you to informally network with other delegates. In fact, unmoderated caucus is the time when most of the business at the United Nations gets done (and likewise at Model UN’s). There are no formal rules governing lobbying time, so make the most of this opportunity to seek out like-minded delegates and to discuss your position on issues that are important to you. During lobbying time, you can discuss your positions on different issues and perhaps work towards preparing draft resolutions.

A tip is to find delegates with whom you share similarities. For example, you might network with other delegates representing countries in your region or delegates sharing your beliefs on human rights, the environment or whatever issue is being debated. Focus on the priorities that you want to achieve as a group. Consolidating your influence as a group means that you have a much better bargaining position to lobby with other groups. Networking in groups means that any resolutions you draft will attract more support and be more likely to pass. Remember that consensus building is at the heart of UN negotiations.

If you are in a delegation, you may want to approach Model UN strategically by having some members in the debating chamber, focused on the formal debate, while another delegate is outside, lobbying with other delegates.

Voting Procedures

Voting procedures are usually fairly straight forward.

Voting on the Resolution as a Whole

Once debate has been exhausted on a draft resolution (either by the exhaustion of the speakers’ list or by passage of a motion to close debate), the committee will usually move to a vote on the resolution as a whole.

Voting on the Resolution is a substantive vote. This means that you may: vote for the resolution, vote against the resolution or abstain. General Assembly resolutions pass by a simple majority.

Remember that voting procedures in the Security Council normally require the positive votes of all five permanent members (China, USA, UK, France and Russia), although a P5 member may abstain rather than cast a negative vote. The passing of a Security Council resolution still requires the affirmative vote of nine members. Because the P5 members are able to “veto” resolutions, straw polls are sometimes permitted in the Security Council. This is when delegates raise their placards to indicate how they would vote on the resolution if the draft resolution were to be voted on as a whole at that time. Straw polls can be useful to show whether any P5 members would oppose the resolution, and if a P5 member indicates that it intends to vote against the resolution, the committee can re-negotiate certain issues to ensure the passage of the draft resolution.

Amendments

All amendments to a resolution are passed by a simple majority. Voting on amendment is procedural so you cannot abstain.

Useful Resources

Title	Owner	Category	Modified Date	Size (Kb)
Model UN (High Schools) Rules of Procedure	Vice President Model UN		8/02/2010	19.22	Download
Model UN (Universities) Rules of Procedure	Vice President Model UN		8/02/2010	39.06	Download
Flow Chart of Debate Structure (Model UN High Schools Rules of Procedure)	Vice President Model UN		8/02/2010	499.97	Download
Model Security Council (Universities) Rules of Procedure	Vice President Model UN		8/02/2010	38.36	Download