Quick Guide for Participation in the MOAS

1. Quick Guide for Participation in the MOAS* 1 Registration and organization of the delegation 2 Read and print the MOAS documents 3 Learn about the OAS 4 Learn about the country, assigned topic and drafting of resolutions 5 Familiarization with the dynamic of the Working Groups 6 Learn the debate procedure in the Committee (*) The base of preparation for the MOAS is the “MOAS Tutorial for students”

2. Official decision to participate by the institution (see requirements for registration of delegates that are published on the Web page of the respective MOAS www.moas.oas.org). Form a delegation which includes a faculty advisor, 10 delegates (Art. 5) and (optional) one Public Information Officer (Art. 9). It is not indispensable to have already defined all the members at the moment of registration. Once you have the delegation, choose the Chief of delegation (Art. 7), and the main and alternate delegates for each committee (Art. 8). The country assignment is sent by the MOAS Program once the delegation has met all registration requirements. Read, sign (faculty advisor and students), and print the Code of Conduct. Then, mail it electronically to the MOAS Coordination (Art.12). Coordinate all budgetary aspects and logistics necessary for participation (travel insurance, plane tickets, lodging, transportation, meals, appropriate clothing according to the Code of Conduct, etc.). Reference: Articles of the Rules of Procedure of the MOAS.

3. Rules of Procedure– At least one copy for each delegation. Pyramid for Preparation (Link to the Document). Letter announcing the MOAS (published on the website of the respective MOAS, containing guidelines for participation). Information Bulletin (published on the website of the respective MOAS). Schedule of Events (published on the website of the respective MOAS). Agenda of Topics (published on the website of the respective MOAS).

4. OAS Political Bodies • General Assembly • Permanent Council • Pillars of the OAS • Democracy • Human Rights • MultidimensionalSecurity • Development • Other Areas of Interest • Secretariat for Legal Affairs • Specialized Agencies • Observer Countries • Civil Society

5. Review and follow the Preparation Pyramid. Review and follow the Study Checklist. Review the terms related to the work of the OAS. Review the Working Groups’ Checklist for the drafting of resolutions in the working groups. Review the section of the OAS Web pageon Member States, and follow the link to the corresponding country, where you will be able to find the Web page of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

6. YOU ARE READY! Excerpts from Position Paper. Include the aspect(s) on your topic or subtopic to be proposed, and what your country has done about it. Justify your proposal. (1 minute max) WRITE YOUR GENERAL STATEMENT (Excerpt from position paper) Include your findings, country position, proposals and highlights on your topic (5 + pages). This document is for your own use. WRITE A POSITION PAPER Analyze all the data above. Produce your own ideas and proposals following your country’s stance. ANALASYS AND CRYTICAL THINKING UNDERSTAND THE POSITION OF YOUR COUNTRY IN RELATION TO YOUR TOPIC Contact the permanent mission of your country to the OAS in reference to your topic. Use the list of Reference documents and watch the videos published on the MOAS web. READ ABOUT YOUR TOPIC Political system, location, economy, main industries, and role of your country in your region, economic block. CONDUCT A GENERAL RESEARCH ABOUT YOUR ASSIGNED COUNTRY Study Checklist

7. Follow these 6 simple steps to guarantee a successful performance in the Model: 1. CONDUCT A GENERAL RESEARCH ABOUT YOUR ASSIGNED COUNTRY: Political system, location, economy, main industries and role of your country in your region or economic block. 2. READ ABOUT YOUR TOPIC: Use the “List of Reference Documents” published on the MOAS Web page. 3. UNDERSTAND THE POSITION OF YOUR ASSIGNED COUNTRY IN RELATION TO YOUR TOPIC: Contact the Permanent Mission of your assigned country to the OAS in reference to your topic. Continues (2 / 2)

8. 4. ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL THINKING: Analyze all the information gathered in previous steps. Produce your own ideas and proposals following your country’s stance. 5. WRITE A POSITION PAPER: Include your findings, country position, proposals and highlights on your topic (Approximately 5 + pages). This document is for personal use. 6. WRITE YOUR GENERAL STATEMENT (Excerpt from position paper): Include the aspect(s) on your topic or subtopic to be proposed, and what your country has done about it. Justify your proposal (1 minute max).

9. The Working Group meets in its assigned room (authorities will assign the locations of the WGs.) The discussions are less formal than in the Committees. The WG chooses a Working Group Representative (LINK), to moderate the discussions and negotiations. The WG Representative continues representing his/her country and making proposals. The members of the WG elect a Working Group Secretary (LINK), to take notes of the proposals by the members, and the resolution. The WG Secretary continues representing his/her country and making proposals. Delegates brainstorm and propose ideas for the draft resolution: concentrate on the “operative clauses,” first. Check Appendix 4 of the Rules of Procedure “Instructions for Drafting Resolutions.” Continues (2 / 3)

10. Delegates ask questions or present comments to the proposals. The WG Secretary and the Representative merge the proposals into one (1) document. The Representative reads it to the WG so that the delegates can make final remarks or adjustments. The draft resolution must have between 4 and 6 operative clauses. Delegates write the Preamble, as per the operative clauses. The Preamble is based on the documents included in the “List of Reading Documents.” Delegates discuss the final resolution with the OAS Specialist. The WG Secretary includes the recommendations and/or changes suggested by the OAS Specialist in the draft resolution, and reads the final draft resolution to the Working Group. All countries in the WG must agree with the draft resolution. Continues (3 / 3)

11. The names of the WG countries are listed on the resolution in alphabetical order (Those countries must vote in favor of the resolution during the debate in the respective Committee, unless it was amended and the country delegation does not agree with it.) The WG chooses 2 or 3 delegates (apart from the WG Representative) to answer questions during the debate of the resolution. The draft resolution is forwarded to the Committee Chair.

12. Working Group’s Procedure Flowchart (Next)

13. Delegates brainstorm & propose ideas for the draft resolution: concentrate on the “operative clauses,” first. Check document “Instructions for Drafting Resolutions.” The members elect a WG Secretary (LINIK), to take notes of the proposals & draft the resolution. The WG Secretary continues representing his/her country & making proposals (a committee Secretary or clerk may be invited to perform this function). The members elect a WG Representative (LINK), to moderate the discussions & negotiations. The WG Representative continues representing his/her country and making proposals. The Working Group (WG) meets in its assigned room. Delegates discuss the final resolution with the OAS Specialist. Delegates write the Preamble, as per the operative clauses. The Preamble is based on the documents included in the “List of Reading Documents.” The WG Secretary and the Representative write the proposals in a logical way. The Representative reads them to the WG so that the delegates can make final remarks or adjustments. Delegates ask questions or present comments to the proposals (The WG Representative is responsible for moderating the informal discussions). The WG Secretary includes the recommendations or changes suggested by the OAS Specialist in the draft resolution, and reads it to the WG. All countries in the WG must agree with the draft resolution. The names of the WG countries are listed on the resolution in alphabetical order (Those countries must vote in favor of the resolution during the debate in the respective Committee, unless it was amended and the country delegation does not agree with it.) The WG chooses 2 or 3 delegates (apart from the WG Representative) to answer questions during the debate of the resolution. The draft resolution is forwarded to the Committee Chair.

14. Flowchart: Debate of Resolutions in the Committee (Next)

15. 1 4 2 3 Working Group Representative “presents” the proposal to the committee indicating why it should be approved. The Chair opens the floor for questions, comments, or amendments about the Preamble. Committee Secretary drafts a speaker list of the delegations that requested the floor. The Committee Secretary reads the proposal. IF there are no speakers on the Preamble, the Chair opens the floor to debate the Operative clauses. Debate will proceed in order, clause by clause, from first to last. IMPORTANT: No delegate may interrupt the voting, except for a point of order related to a manner in which the vote is conducted. IF there are Speakers for the Preamble, the Chair announces that the debate will proceed in order from the first clause to the last clause in the Preamble The motion or resolution does not go to a vote. Then the Chair proceeds with the next speaker. IF no one seconds 6 If a delegate presents a motion to change part of the resolution, the Chair asks if anybody “seconds the motion”. The Chair gives the floor to the speakers on the list, according to the order of clauses , and keeps track of time. 5 7 The Chair calls for a vote and asks if any delegation “objects” to the motion. If nobody objects, it passes by consensus. If somebody objects, Chair asks for “those delegations in favor” and “those delegations against.” IF seconded The Chair may propose the closing of a debate if he considers that the resolution has been discussed sufficiently. At least one delegation must second this motion to proceed to a vote. IF a delegate is not in the Speakers’ List but needsto ask a question or to respond to the Speaker of a motion being debated, the Chair must give him/her the Floor. 8 A motion or resolution passes by majority with the vote of half the number of delegations plus 1. If the vote is for changing a decision already voted, it will need two-thirds of the vote. 10 9 After the vote, the Chair gives the floor to the next speaker in the List, and so on. (Chair might alter the order of speakers to provide continuity of debate). The Chair announces the result of the vote: the motion or resolution “Passes” or “Does not Pass.”