New to MUN, or need a term fast? Start with the points and motions below, then look up any word in the MUN glossary.
| Point or motion | What it does | When to use it | Vote it usually needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | |||
| Point of order | Tells the chair that the rules were not followed. | The chair or the committee makes a procedural mistake. It usually cannot interrupt a speaker. | None. The chair rules on it. |
| Point of personal privilege | Raises a problem with your comfort or well-being, such as a cold room or a speaker you cannot hear. | Something keeps you from following the debate. It usually interrupts a speaker only if you cannot hear them. | None. The chair deals with it. |
| Point of parliamentary inquiryAlso called a point of inquiry. THIMUN texts also spell it enquiry. | Asks the chair to explain a rule or what happens next. | You are unsure of the procedure. Wait until no one is speaking. | None. The chair answers. |
| Point of information | Asks a speaker a question about their speech. | North American rules: after a speaker yields to questions. THIMUN: whenever the speaker is open to points of information. Some conferences, such as HMUN, do not use it. | None. |
| Motions | |||
| Open or close the speakers' listAlso called the General Speakers' List (GSL). THIMUN has no standing list: the chair calls on speakers. | Opening starts the list of delegates who give speeches on the topic. Closing it stops new names from being added. | It opens once the agenda is set. Move to close it when you want to stop new speakers and move debate toward a vote. | Usually none to open it: the chair does. Closing it is a procedural vote. |
| Moderated caucusTHIMUN: open debate. UN4MUN: formal informal. | Starts a short, chaired debate on one part of the topic, with shorter speeches. | You want to focus on one sub-topic. Name the topic, the total time and the speaking time. | Usually a simple majority. |
| Unmoderated caucusTHIMUN: lobbying. UN4MUN: informal informal. | Pauses formal debate so you can move around, talk to other delegates and write papers. | You need to build a bloc or draft a working paper. Name the total time. | Usually a simple majority. |
| Suspend or adjourn the meetingAt NMUN, suspending the meeting is how you call a caucus. | Suspending pauses the meeting for a break. Adjourning ends it. | Suspend for a scheduled break, such as lunch or the end of the day. You usually adjourn when the committee's work is done. Under UNA-USA rules, you adjourn every meeting. | A procedural vote, usually a simple majority. |
| Close debateAlso called closure of debate, or moving into voting procedure. THIMUN: move the previous question. | Ends debate and moves the committee to a vote. | The arguments have been made and you are ready to vote. | Usually two-thirds. Two delegates often speak against it first. |
| Introduce a draft resolutionTHIMUN: a main submitter and co-submitters instead of sponsors, approved by the Approval Panel. | Puts a draft resolution on the floor so the committee can debate and amend it. | Your draft has the sponsors and signatories it needs, and the dais has approved it. | None under UNA-USA rules, where the motion passes automatically; a simple majority at some conferences, such as HMUN. |
| Divide the questionUN: a separate vote. THIMUN does not use it; division of the house is a different motion. | Splits a draft resolution so some operative clauses are voted on by themselves. | During voting, when you back most of a draft but not certain clauses. | A procedural vote to divide, then a vote on each part, then on the draft as a whole. |
Procedure varies between conferences, so check the rules of procedure for yours.
When a country abstains from voting in a substantive vote, it means that the vote is effectively not counted. The country withdraws from having to take a position in favour or against the matter up for voting. It is typically not possible to abstain during procedural votes.
A motion that ends the meeting. Usually it comes once the committee's work is finished, after the last session. Under UNA-USA rules, the committee adjourns at the end of each meeting instead and meets again at the next one.
The topic which is to be discussed in committee. It is typically set through a "Motion to set the agenda".
A change to an already introduced draft resolution. It may remove, add or change existing operative clauses.
At most conferences, the best delegates of a committee are recognized for their performance. Typically the chairs pick the best delegate of their committee and a few runner-ups.
A group of countries that share similar interests or positions. These countries often work together during the conference to create and pass resolutions.
A meeting of delegates representing specific countries, often held to discuss specific issues or strategies. There are two types: moderated (structured with a speakers' list) and unmoderated (informal, free debate).
Not a piece of furniture. Impartial moderator of the debate and mentor to delegates. Typically a committee has multiple chairs to handle all required tasks.
A motion that ends debate on the current topic and moves the committee straight to a vote. Most conferences let two delegates speak against it first, then require a two-thirds vote to pass it. THIMUN calls the same idea moving the previous question.
One of the usually many simulated bodies of the United Nations which focuses on a specific topic in international relations. Committees can be as small as having only 15 people, like the Security Council or as large as 400, like a double-delegate General Assembly.
Agreement among all parties. In some committees, a resolution may be passed by consensus rather than by a formal vote.
A committee that deals with disputes over the rights and privileges of member states. It can also be called upon to resolve issues such as the improper use of placards.
The group of staff members who manage the committee, usually including a chair, a co-chair, and a rapporteur.
The order and respect for others that all delegates are expected to show during formal sessions. Chairs often use the phrase "Decorum, delegates!" to request delegates to be silent.
A participant in an MUN conference who represents a particular member state, non-governmental organization, or political figure in a simulated committee.
A group of delegates from the same school, university, or organization attending a conference together, usually led by a Head Delegate and sometimes accompanied by a Faculty Advisor.
Delegates are expected to act respectfully and professionally throughout the conference, as they are representing their respective countries. This is referred to as diplomatic courtesy.
A short written order that the whole committee debates and votes on, with sponsors and, if it is public, signatories, but none of the preambulatory clauses a resolution has. Once it passes, the crisis staff decides how the world reacts; a crisis note is the private version, sent by one delegate alone for their own character.
During voting on a draft resolution, delegates may move to vote on different parts or clauses of a resolution separately. This is called division of the question.
A committee format where each country is represented by two delegates who share one position and work as a team. The opposite is single delegation, where one delegate represents a country alone.
Already fulfilling all formal resolution requirements, a draft resolution remains a draft until it is voted upon after the closure of the debate. If it is adopted, it becomes an actual resolution, and the 'draft' prefix is dropped.
A teacher or staff member who accompanies and supervises a delegation, often the adult contact for permissions and payment.
The order of events in a Model UN committee, generally: roll call, setting the agenda, formal debate, presentation of draft resolutions, amendments, voting, and adjournment.
The standard format of Model UN conferences, where delegates speak for a set time following a set speakers' list.
An amendment to a draft resolution that all sponsors agree with. It can be incorporated into the resolution without a vote.
A small hammer used by the chairperson to call for attention or signal the beginning or end of a session. It's also a common award given to the best delegate in a committee.
Another name for the Speakers' List. See that entry: the two mean the same thing.
The leader of a delegation at a Model UN conference. The Head Delegate is typically the most experienced member of the delegation and is responsible for coordinating the team, organizing preparatory work, and guiding other delegates throughout the conference.
When you are for something, not against it, you are in favour of it.
Less structured than formal debate, often used in unmoderated caucuses to allow free-flowing discussion.
THIMUN's name for the time delegates spend before formal debate building support for their draft resolutions: talking to other delegations, merging drafts and collecting co-submitters. Conferences that use caucuses call the closest equivalent an unmoderated caucus.
THIMUN's name for the lead author of a draft resolution, called a sponsor at other conferences. The main submitter writes the text together with co-submitters, then the group collects enough support to bring it to the Approval Panel.
A structured debate where students take on the role of a country and work together to solve real-world problems on committees that simulate the United Nations and other bodies.
A moderated caucus is an intense debate lasting for a specified amount of time (usually between 5 and 15 minutes) to discuss a specific aspect of the overall agenda. Speeches are shorter than in the General Speakers' List.
A suggestion to change something about current committee procedures which is brought forward by one of the delegates: if the motion is granted by the chairs and a majority of delegates, the change will be adopted.
A method used by delegates to communicate with each other during formal debate. This is typically facilitated by the conference staff.
A participant that represents a non-member state or organization, such as the Red Cross or the Vatican. Observers can participate in debates but usually do not have voting rights.
The part of a resolution that describes the actions or policies that the committee will adopt to resolve the issue.
A little sign stating your country's name. In committee sessions, it is used, so chairs know which country you represent. You can raise it to indicate to the chairs that you want to raise a point or a motion.
This really is just another word for 'question'. Points of information may be allowed after speeches on the General Speakers' List or at some conferences also directed at the chair.
When the chair has made an error, or there was some other error in the committee's proceedings, this can be raised to the chair requesting a correction of the error.
This is a request to the chair to clarify the rules of procedure.
When raised to the chair, this point allows delegates to communicate concerns regarding their personal well-being (too warm, too cold, can't hear, can't read...) to the chair in hopes of improvement of the situation.
A document prepared before the conference outlining a country's position on the agenda item or items. It ideally states how the country feels about the current state of affairs and also hints at possible solutions it envisions.
The part of a resolution that describes the problem being addressed, the past international actions, and the purpose of the resolution.
The order in which motions or points will be considered by the chair, usually based on their importance or disruption to the flow of debate.
Once you are marked present and voting, you give up your right to abstain: in every substantive vote from then on, you must vote yes or no. The real UN uses the same two words for something narrower: only countries that cast a yes or no vote count, and countries that abstain are left out of the total.
The quorum is the amount of countries present which is required for the committee to conduct its business. Typically it is a certain share of the countries present during the conference's first roll call.
A member of the dais whose role is to assist in the administrative tasks of the committee, such as maintaining the speakers' list or passing notes.
The document detailing the measures your committee has agreed upon to tackle the committee's agenda. Resolutions are written as one long continuous sentence and must fulfil a specific format. They generally contain two sections: the preambulatory clauses to justify the action taken in the resolution and the operative clauses which take action.
A right given to a delegate to respond to serious insults against their country. It is granted at the discretion of the chair.
The process of checking who is there and who isn't. During a roll call, the chair will check for each country which should be part of the committee, whether it is absent (not there), present (there, and free to abstain in substantive votes), or present and voting (there, and committed to vote in favor or against in substantive votes, without abstaining).
A vote taken by calling out each country's name in order and recording its answer, rather than reading placards alone. At the real UN General Assembly, electronic voting machines have mostly replaced it with what is now called a recorded vote.
A document outlining how the specific conference works and what guidelines have to be followed during the debate. They typically vary to different degrees between conferences, so it's worth taking a look every time you go to a new conference!
The student leadership team that organizes a conference, led by the Secretary General.
While in the real world, a Secretary General is the head of the UN, in Model UN, he or she is usually the chief organizer or head of the conference's academics.
Countries that support putting a draft resolution on the floor for discussion. Being a signatory does not necessarily mean the delegate agrees with the resolution, it simply means they would like it to be discussed.
A type of voting requirement where a motion passes if more members vote in favor than against. Abstentions do not count towards the total.
A list of countries which will speak in order, one after the other. It persists for as long as the agenda item is debated: although it can be interrupted by a moderated or unmoderated caucus, it continues in the background and returns once that caucus ends. Also called the General Speakers' List (GSL).
The authors of a draft resolution or an amendment. They have usually worked together to write the proposal and are the ones who will be advocating for its passage.
A document provided by the chairs before the conference. It offers background info, key issues, and sources to help delegates prepare the topic of the committee.
A motion that pauses the meeting for a scheduled break, such as lunch or the end of the day, without ending the session. At some conferences this is also how delegates call for an unmoderated caucus.
Two different things depending on the room. In UNA-USA procedure, a motion to table shelves debate on an issue until another motion brings it back off the table. At the real UN, tabling means the opposite: formally submitting a draft resolution so the committee can start debating it.
The current right to speak given by the chair. A delegate who is speaking is said to "have the floor".
A type of voting requirement, often used for important decisions. It means that in order for a motion to pass, two-thirds of members present and voting must vote in favor.
An amendment that some or all sponsors do not agree with. It must be voted on by the committee.
A mode of 'debate' during which most rules are suspended. Whilst delegates are usually still expected to remain in the room, they can move around freely, talk to each other and prepare documents. They typically last 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
The power held by the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States) to prevent the adoption of a resolution, regardless of the level of support from the rest of the body.
Procedural votes are voting procedures which decide on procedural matters (the proceedings of the committee) only. They do not decide on substantive matters, such as measures being taken in a resolution. Their most common use is to decide on the adoption of motions.
A substantive vote is one that decides on substantive matters in the committee. It is almost exclusively used to vote on draft resolutions once the debate has been closed. At some conferences, votes on amendments are also substantive. Depending on the conference and committee, the required majorities may be different when compared to the procedural vote. Substantive votes usually also allow for additional motions to customize the voting, such as voting by roll call, division of the question, division of the house or reordering of draft resolutions.
Whilst not having to fulfil a specific format, working papers are the first time ideas to tackle the agenda are written down, introduced to the committee and shared with everyone else. A document can usually only be formally referred to as a working paper once it has been introduced through a motion.
The concept of returning 'the floor' or speaking right back to the chair, another delegate or questions at the end of a speech on the General Speakers' List.
After delivering a speech, a delegate may use the rest of their time to let another delegate speak.
After delivering a speech, a delegate may decide to use the rest of their time to answer questions from other delegates.
After delivering a speech, a delegate may return the rest of their speaking time to the Chair.