A Basic Overview of a Model UN C onference

1. A Basic Overview of a Model UN Conference Beforeand During!

2. BEFORE • You cant just show up at a conference! There are things we need to do to get ready.

3. 1. Get your country assignment! • You must find out which country you will be representing at the conference • Ex- China, Ecuador, England, France

4. Research!! • Before the conference you need to make sure you understand your country and where it stands on the issue that will be discussed at the conference. • Example: • If you are china and you are attending a conference about the refugee situation in Lebanon, you need to figure out china’s position on this topic. • There are many questions your should research…we will talk to you more about this later

5. Write a position paper! • This is a summary of a country's position on a topic, written by a delegate before a Model UN conference.

6. DURING THE CONFERENCE • Here’s what to expect!

7. Who Will Be There? • Chair (moderates debate, keeps time, rules on points and motions, and enforces the rules) • Rapporteur: Takes notes • Director: Expert on topic. • Delegates: you guys!

8. Dias Members- they run the conference! Delegates- They represent the various countries of the world!

9. #1 – Roll call • You will be greeted by the rapporteur ( the person who records everything that happens in the conference) • He she/ will then call your country’s name. When your country is called, you must raise your placard and say “present” • The rapporteur will confirm your presence has been recorded LETS TRY IT!!

10. Formal Debate • For your purposes, we will usually already know what we are talking about, so then it is time to get started! • To start, either a point motion will be made or the speakers list will be opened. This is a list of the order in which the country delegates will be allowed too speak. • If you want a turn to speak : • Wait until the chair person says : “all delegates who want to speak, raise you placard” • Then, raise your card and wait until your country is acknowledged.

11. When its time for your country to speak.. • You will have a limited time to say what you want to say, often a minute or 2. • If you have leftover time, you can give it away to another country or let the other countries ask you questions!

12. After your done… • Once time is up, the chair will ask if there are any “motions” • This means that any of the countries can make a suggestion about what is done next • Example: • -take a break! • -change a topic! • -go back to the speakers list! • .etc …. Any suggestions must be voted upon by all countries.

13. Ways of talking • In model UN there can be formal or informal debates • Formal: what we just discussed. Everyone sits around the table and speaks in turn • Informal: All the countries have time to go talk with one another freely as they please for a certain amount of time.

14. REPEAT!! • We keep doing these things, talking about all of our issues and concerns about the topic we are given! • (don’t worry we will talk about this more in detail later)

15. Eventually • Draft resolutions will be put forward by you guys (the delegates). These are potential solutions to the problems we are discussing. • These potential solutions will be voted on. • Your country can agree, disagree, or not vote.

16. In the end… • We either : • Find a soloution • Run out of time • OR • Exhaust the speakers list

17. Lets see a video clip of model UN in action!Don’t mind the notes flashing across the screen. They discuss details that we will learn later.