TEXAS MODEL UNITED NATIONS
COMMITTEE PRACTICE AND ETIQUETTE
1) Remind of what to do before session begins; always be an outgoing delegate!
A) Say hello to your chair - make a good impression!
B) Talk to other delegates as they walk in; introduce yourself with your name and country and make friends to fall back on in unmoderated caucuses;
C) Discuss trip down to the conference, their past experience with MUN, how school is, etc.
2) Prepare for important speeches (i.e. Topic Speech for each topic) by reviewing position paper and country policy.
3) During session, always remember to stay focused and take notes on potential allies, solutions to the issue, or points to bring up concerning a delegate's speech.
A) Do not motion to change the course of debate or ask for a point of personal privilege during a speech – wait until the chair calls on you.
4) Remember that you are able to motion for a recess! If you are feeling tired, be sure to do so and present a time limit that you think would work best. After motioning, delegates can be sure to vote or motion for a different amount of time for a recess.
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
1) Chair will call delegates to order – delegates will motion to move into rollcall, setting the agenda, and opening a speaker's list for Topic Speeches for the first topic.
A) Rollcall – options include "Present" or "Present and Voting." Be sure delegates understand that P&V = Always voting yes or no in any vote, while P = having the ability to abstain
B) Setting the Agenda – Delegates should vote to discuss whichever topic they feel more prepared in – one where they would be able to more easily participate in discussion.
C) Speaker's List – All delegates should aim to give their Topic Speech at the beginning of committee! Being a part of this speaker's list is the first step in participating more and advocating your country's policy towards the issue
1.) If not presenting during Topic Speeches, take notes on others' policies to find potential allies in creating a resolution
2) After the speaker's list is either exhausted or motioned out of, delegates can motion to move into EITHER a moderated or unmoderated caucus depending on the flow of debate.
A) For MODERATED caucus – Set for a specific amount of time with a specific amount of time for each speaker. This caucus should debate an issue that lies within the realm of the overall topic (i.e. feasibility concerns over sanctions).
B) For UNMODERATED caucus – Set with a specific amount of time, but is informal in practice. Groups of delegates come together to draft resolutions – during the caucus, delegates should also work to attain at least half of the committee's delegates as signatories for their resolution so to be able to debate it once the caucus ends (refer back to Week 5 – Resolution Writing for more on how to draft a resolution).
C) For any caucus, be sure delegates understand, to the chair's discretion, they are able to motion out of the caucus, extend its time, or change the time allotted to each speaker, etc.
3) Once caucusing has come to a close, delegates are able to motion to introduce their resolutions to the floor. For each resolution, a nominated delegate will approach the podium and read out the resolution verbatim; afterwards, they are given a set amount of time (usually set at 90 seconds) to give the first pro speech on why delegates should vote for the resolution.
Afterwards, the chair will scribe a list of those wishing to speak pro and, afterwards, those wishing to speak con. Then, the debate will flow like a normal pro-con session. During debate or once it has exhausted, delegates can then motion to EITHER (1) introduce an amendment, (2) move to voting procedure, or (3) table the resolution and introducing another.
Once the resolution has passed, failed, or is tabled, delegates can continue to introduce resolutions or move to the second topic. Once the committee reaches debate on the second topic, the procedure repeats again with a speaker's list for Topic Speeches.
1│ COMMITTEE PRACTICE & ETIQUETTE