delegate guide 2013
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Basic rules on how to get trainedTRANSCRIPT
Rome Model United Nations 2013 Edition
DELEGATE PREPARATION
GUIDE
RomeMUN
7-11 MARCH 2013 Powered by
Rome Model United Nations 2013 Edition
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Welcome from RomeMUN 2013 Secretary General
Mr. Davide Ianniello
Honorable Delegates,
It is my privilege to extend my warm welcome to all of you to the Rome
Model United Nations 2013 and it is my honor to serve as Secretary
General to the 4th edition of this international conference.
My name is Davide Ianniello, and I’m an International Affairs graduate
from John Cabot University, Rome. I have interned at the U.S. Mission to
Italy in Rome in the GSO and have long-standing interest and passion for
international affairs and law. Despite my academic international politics-
oriented background, I am currently working in the aviation industry.
It is, however, my pleasure to come back to MUN every year. I have
participated in Model UN since my freshman year in university and
became the Treasurer of the MUN team at my university in 2010. I attended several conferences around the
world, among which SMUN, RomeMUN, and WorldMUN, and I was in the planning committee of JCUMUN
for high school students too. I have participated at RomeMUN in all editions, as delegate, GA Rapporteur,
International Promotion Manager, and last, but not least, Secretary General.
MUN is such an inspiring experience, where you are not only learning about major issues around the world,
but also developing network and making friends of a lifetime. It is a valuable experience for practice on
researching, public speaking, decision-making and problem solving. Last but not least, MUN opens your mind
and develops your analytical thinking.
With this thought in your mind and your research in your hands, I wish you to have a wonderful learning
experience here in Rome and I look forward to meeting you all.
Sincerely,
Davide Ianniello
RomeMUN 2013 Secretary General
Rome Model United Nations 2013 Edition
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Welcome from RomeMUN 2013 Officials’ Executive Chairman
Mr. Luca Marco Giraldin von Lahnstein
Most distinguished Delegates,
Welcome to RomeMUN 2013!
It is with great honor that as Officials’ Executive Chairman and on behalf of
the whole Secretariat I welcome you at one of the most prestigious MUN
simulations in Europe in the wonderful setting of Roma Capitale.
My name is Luca Marco Giraldin von Lahnstein, I am an International
Economics and Management graduate at Università Bocconi in Milan and
post-graduate at EMLyon Business School. I started my MUN adventure as a
delegate in 2008 and since then, I have had the opportunity to challenge my
skills as Official, Secretary General, MUN trainer and consultant in many
other experiences worldwide.
Some of you might have approached this MUN world for the first time,
driven by curiosity, some others instead already know the mesmerizing effect
of these conferences. MUNs are, as I personally like to consider them, an experience to be remembered in a
lifetime, not only an educational but also a profound personal enrichment.
As Giovani nel Mondo - RomeMUN, our goal is that of providing young men and women with an opportunity
to experience diplomacy, to stimulate their curiosity, push them to achieve higher levels of intellectual and
academic excellence. This is the motive force of what we do.
I am honored to address such a diverse audience of future professionals, managers, leader and even, diplomats,
driven by the common will to work together, share their knowledge, broaden their horizons and plan new
solutions to the most crucial issues of our Society.
From now on you will not be the same anymore, you will have to argue your convictions, fight for your ideas
and reading reality through the eyes of a different culture by experimenting diplomacy. Let’s make the 2015
Millennium Development Goals possible!
We all cherish the values of tolerance, respect, cultural openness, but sometimes, in our very busy lives, we
just forget the meaning of these words. Here at RomeMUN 2013 you will feel them on your skin and through
your mind.
Honorable delegates, my very personal wish is to that we will manage to give you a chance to experience
diplomacy at a glance, hear and be heard, joining us in one of the most prestigious Model United Nations in
Europe, with the hope that even in our own small way, as students, we will be able to change the world.
Thank you and welcome again at RomeMUN 2013.
Sincerely, I am,
Luca Marco Giraldin von Lahnstein
RomeMUN 2013 – Officials’ Executive Chairman
Rome Model United Nations 2013 Edition
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Tentative Programme
Wednesday, MARCH 6th
- ARRIVES IN ROMEMUN AFFILIATED HOTELs
Check in From 12.00 pm ONLY FOR THOSE DELEGATES WHO SELECTED ALSO THE
ACCOMMODATION FEE
Thursday, MARCH 7th
– FAO, Room Plenary Meeting, Via Terme di Caracalla
8.30 am Delegates Registration
10.00 am/1.30 pm Opening Ceremony “Millenium Development Goals”
Moderator: Minister Stefano Baldi – Director of the Diplomatic Institute of the Italian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Author of “Carriere Internazionali”
Invited Speakers:
- Welcome Remarks:
Marcela Villareal* - FAO Outreach Division
Dr. Daniela Conte- Giovani nel Mondo Association
Keynote speeches:
Ambassador Staffan De Mistura, Under-Secretaries of State for Foreign affairs (the role of multilater
diplomacy) TO BE CONFIRMED
Mr. Franco Frattini (focus on bilateral diplomacy) TO BE CONFIRMED
Rome International:
Gianni Alemanno, Mayor of Rome - Roma Capitale*/Concillor Filippo la Rosa - Roma Capitale
Mr Giorgio Bartolomucci - Diplomacy and Prof. Federigo Argentieri - John Cabot University
Mr Oscar Farinetti – Eataly
MDGs - Best Practices
UN Millennium Campaign - FAO - WFP – IFAD
Raul Bova (Italian Actor) - Testimonial of the social campaign "United against HIV we win" TO
BE CONFIRMED
1.30/3.00 pm Lunch break
3.00/7.00 pm Workshops on Rules of Procedure
7.00/11 pm Concert Social Events* 7.00 pm: Get Well Soon @ Lanificio 159, Roma
*To be confirmed
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FRIDAY, MARCH 8th
–Different Locations depending on committee’s affiliation
9.30 am/11.00am Committee Sessions
11.30/1.30 pm Coffee Break + Meeting with Embassies based in Rome
1.30 pm Light Lunch
2.30 / 5.00pm Committees Sessions
5.00/5.30 pm Coffee Break
6.00 p.m./7.00 pm Committees Sessions
Social Event* 8.00 pm: EATALY- Miss an Mister RomeMUN election (to be confirmed)
SATURDAY, MARCH 9th
– Luiss Guido Carli University,
Viale Romania, 32
9.30 am/11.00 am Committees Session
11:30 am/1 pm Committees Session
1.00 pm Light Lunch
3.00 pm/ 5.00pm Committees Session
5.00/5.30 pm Coffee Break
6.00 p.m./7.00 pm Committees Session
Social Event* 8.00 pm - until very late: Global Village at RomeMUN Dance Party
SUNDAY, MARCH 10th
– Luiss Guido Carli University,
Viale Romania, 32
9.30 am/11.00 am Committees Session
11:30/ 1.00 pm Committees Session
1.00 pm Light Lunch
2.30 / 5.00 pm Committees Session
5.00/5.30 pm Coffee Break
6.00 p.m./7.00 pm Committees Session
Free Evening
MONDAY, MARCH 11th
, Teatro dell’Opera, (to be confirmed)
Roma city centre
10:00/11:00 am Closing Ceremony RomeMUN: Youth for a new Future
11.30 am/1.00 pm RomeMUN TV News Report/Youth Associations Contacts/Award Assignment
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PLEASE NOTE: During RomeMUN we will try to put all delegates in contact with relevant experts
from international organizations, so we are organizing some meetings in institutional buildings
present here in Rome and other similar activities. More information about those sessions will be
available soon.
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Contents
DELEGATE PREPARATION GUIDE ............................................................................................................................... - 0 -
Tentative Programme ..................................................................................................................... - 3 -
Wednesday, MARCH 6th
- ARRIVES IN ROMEMUN AFFILIATED HOTELs .................................................................. - 3 -
Check in From 12.00 pm ONLY FOR THOSE DELEGATES WHO SELECTED ALSO THE
ACCOMMODATION FEE ............................................................................................................. - 3 -
Thursday, MARCH 7th
– FAO, Room Plenary Meeting, Via Terme di Caracalla ............................................................ - 3 -
8.30 am Delegates Registration ...................................................................................................... - 3 -
10.00 am/1.30 pm Opening Ceremony “Millenium Development Goals” ..................................... - 3 -
1.30/3.00 pm Lunch break .............................................................................................................. - 3 -
3.00/7.00 pm Workshops on Rules of Procedure ............................................................................ - 3 -
7.00/11 pm Concert Social Events* 7.00 pm: Get Well Soon @ Lanificio 159, Roma .................. - 3 -
FRIDAY, MARCH 8th
–Different Locations depending on committee’s affiliation ........................................................... - 4 -
9.30 am/11.00am Committee Sessions ............................................................................................ - 4 -
11.30/1.30 pm Coffee Break + Meeting with Embassies based in Rome ....................................... - 4 -
1.30 pm Light Lunch ....................................................................................................................... - 4 -
2.30 / 5.00pm Committees Sessions ................................................................................................ - 4 -
5.00/5.30 pm Coffee Break ............................................................................................................. - 4 -
6.00 p.m./7.00 pm Committees Sessions ......................................................................................... - 4 -
Social Event* 8.00 pm: EATALY- Miss an Mister RomeMUN election (to be confirmed) ............ - 4 -
SATURDAY, MARCH 9th
– Luiss Guido Carli University, ................................................................................................ - 4 -
Viale Romania, 32 ............................................................................................................................................................. - 4 -
9.30 am/11.00 am Committees Session ........................................................................................... - 4 -
11:30 am/1 pm Committees Session ............................................................................................... - 4 -
1.00 pm Light Lunch ....................................................................................................................... - 4 -
3.00 pm/ 5.00pm Committees Session............................................................................................. - 4 -
5.00/5.30 pm Coffee Break ............................................................................................................. - 4 -
6.00 p.m./7.00 pm Committees Session ........................................................................................... - 4 -
Social Event* 8.00 pm - until very late: Global Village at RomeMUN Dance Party .................... - 4 -
SUNDAY, MARCH 10th
– Luiss Guido Carli University, .................................................................................................. - 4 -
Viale Romania, 32 ............................................................................................................................................................. - 4 -
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9.30 am/11.00 am Committees Session ........................................................................................... - 4 -
11:30/ 1.00 pm Committees Session ............................................................................................... - 4 -
1.00 pm Light Lunch ....................................................................................................................... - 4 -
2.30 / 5.00 pm Committees Session ................................................................................................ - 4 -
5.00/5.30 pm Coffee Break ............................................................................................................. - 4 -
6.00 p.m./7.00 pm Committees Session ........................................................................................... - 4 -
Free Evening .................................................................................................................................... - 4 -
MONDAY, MARCH 11th
, Teatro dell’Opera, (to be confirmed) ........................................................................................ - 4 -
Roma city centre ................................................................................................................................................................ - 4 -
10:00/11:00 am Closing Ceremony RomeMUN: Youth for a new Future ..................................... - 4 -
11.30 am/1.00 pm RomeMUN TV News Report/Youth Associations Contacts/Award Assignment - 4 -
RESEARCH AND PREPARATION FOR ROMEMUN 2013 ........................................................................................... - 12 -
1. Study the structure and history of the United Nations ............................................................................................ - 15 -
2. Understanding what a Model United Nations conference is................................................................................... - 16 -
3. Study the structure and history of your committee .................................................................................................. - 16 -
4. Understand the politics of your assigned Member-State ........................................................................................ - 16 -
5. Focus on the Agenda Topics ................................................................................................................................... - 17 -
6. Prepare a Position Paper ....................................................................................................................................... - 17 -
Position Paper Example ............................................................................................................... - 19 -
Awards criteria for RomeMUN position papers: .................................................................................... - 21 -
7. ROMEMUN RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES ........................... - 22 -
GENERAL RULES ........................................................................................................................ - 22 -
RULE # 1: SCOPE ................................................................................................................................. - 22 -
RULE # 2: LANGUAGE ....................................................................................................................... - 22 -
RULE # 3: REPRESENTATION ........................................................................................................... - 22 -
RULE # 4: CREDENTIALS .................................................................................................................. - 22 -
RULE # 5: PARTICIPATION OF NON-MEMBERS ........................................................................... - 22 -
RULE # 6: PARTICIPATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ............................ - 23 -
RULE # 7: STATEMENTS BY THE SECRETARIAT ........................................................................ - 23 -
RULE # 8: GENERAL POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE STAFF ..................................................... - 23 -
RULE # 9: QUORUM ............................................................................................................................ - 23 -
RULE # 10: COURTESY....................................................................................................................... - 24 -
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RULE # 11: ELECTRONIC AIDS ........................................................................................................ - 24 -
RULE # 12: DELEGATE CONDUCT .................................................................................................. - 24 -
RULE # 13: ABSENCES ....................................................................................................................... - 24 -
RULES GOVERNING DEBATE ................................................................................................... - 24 -
RULE # 14: AGENDA ........................................................................................................................... - 24 -
RULE # 15: DEBATE ............................................................................................................................ - 25 -
RULE # 16: UNMODERATED CAUCUS ............................................................................................ - 25 -
RULE # 17: MODERATED CAUCUS ................................................................................................. - 26 -
RULE # 18: CLOSURE OF DEBATE ................................................................................................... - 26 -
RULE # 19: SUSPENSION OR ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING ............................................ - 26 -
RULE # 20: POSTPONEMENT AND RESUMPTION OF DEBATE - TABLING ............................ - 27 -
RULE # 21: RECONSIDERATION ...................................................................................................... - 27 -
RULE # 22: APPEAL............................................................................................................................. - 27 -
RULES GOVERNING SPEECHES .............................................................................................. - 27 -
RULE # 23: SPEAKERS LIST .............................................................................................................. - 27 -
RULE # 24: SPEECHES ........................................................................................................................ - 28 -
RULE # 25: TIME LIMIT ON SPEECHES .......................................................................................... - 28 -
RULE # 26: YIELDS ............................................................................................................................. - 28 -
RULE # 27: COMMENTS ..................................................................................................................... - 29 -
RULE # 28: RIGHT OF REPLY ............................................................................................................ - 29 -
RULES GOVERNING POINTS .................................................................................................... - 29 -
RULE # 29: POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE ............................................................................ - 29 -
RULE # 30: POINTS OF ORDER ......................................................................................................... - 29 -
RULE # 31: POINTS OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY ................................................................... - 29 -
RULES GOVERNING THE PATH TO A DRAFT RESOLUTION ............................................... - 29 -
RULE # 32: WORKING PAPERS ......................................................................................................... - 30 -
RULE # 33: DRAFT RESOLUTIONS .................................................................................................. - 30 -
RULE # 34: INTRODUCTION TO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ............................................................. - 30 -
RULE # 35: AMENDMENTS ............................................................................................................... - 31 -
RULES GOVERNING VOTING ................................................................................................... - 31 -
RULE # 36: PROCEDURAL VOTING ................................................................................................. - 31 -
RULE # 37: SUBSTANTIVE VOTING ................................................................................................ - 31 -
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RULE # 38: VOTING BY ACCLAMATION ....................................................................................... - 32 -
RULE # 39: REORDERING DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ........................................................................ - 32 -
RULE # 40: DIVISION OF THE QUESTION ...................................................................................... - 32 -
RULE # 41: ROLL CALL VOTING ..................................................................................................... - 33 -
PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS .................................................................................................... - 33 -
RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR SECURITY COUNCIL ............................................................. - 35 -
I. MEETINGS ................................................................................................................................ - 35 -
RULE 1 ................................................................................................................................................... - 35 -
RULE 2 ................................................................................................................................................... - 35 -
RULE 3 ................................................................................................................................................... - 35 -
RULE 4 ................................................................................................................................................... - 35 -
RULE 5 ................................................................................................................................................... - 35 -
II. AGENDA .................................................................................................................................. - 36 -
RULE 6 ................................................................................................................................................... - 36 -
RULE 7 ................................................................................................................................................... - 36 -
RULE 8 ................................................................................................................................................... - 36 -
RULE 9 ................................................................................................................................................... - 36 -
RULE 10 ................................................................................................................................................. - 36 -
RULE 11 ................................................................................................................................................. - 36 -
RULE 12 ................................................................................................................................................. - 36 -
III. REPRESENTATION AND CREDENTIALS ........................................................................... - 37 -
RULE 13 ................................................................................................................................................. - 37 -
RULE 14 ................................................................................................................................................. - 37 -
RULE 15 ................................................................................................................................................. - 37 -
RULE 16 ................................................................................................................................................. - 37 -
RULE 17 ................................................................................................................................................. - 37 -
IV. PRESIDENCY ......................................................................................................................... - 37 -
RULE 18 ................................................................................................................................................. - 37 -
RULE 19 ................................................................................................................................................. - 37 -
RULE 20 ................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -
V. SECRETARIAT ......................................................................................................................... - 38 -
RULE 21 ................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -
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RULE 22 ................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -
RULE 23 ................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -
RULE 24 ................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -
RULE 25 ................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -
RULE 26 ................................................................................................................................................. - 38 -
VI. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS..................................................................................................... - 39 -
RULE 27 ................................................................................................................................................. - 39 -
RULE 28 ................................................................................................................................................. - 39 -
RULE 29 ................................................................................................................................................. - 39 -
RULE 30 ................................................................................................................................................. - 39 -
RULE 31 ................................................................................................................................................. - 39 -
RULE 32 ................................................................................................................................................. - 39 -
RULE 33 ................................................................................................................................................. - 39 -
RULE 34 ................................................................................................................................................. - 40 -
RULE 35 ................................................................................................................................................. - 40 -
RULE 36 ................................................................................................................................................. - 40 -
RULE 37 ................................................................................................................................................. - 40 -
RULE 38 ................................................................................................................................................. - 40 -
RULE 39 ................................................................................................................................................. - 40 -
VII. VOTING ................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 40 ....................................................................................................................................... - 41 -
VIII. LANGUAGE ......................................................................................................................... - 41 -
RULE 41 ................................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 42 ................................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 43 ................................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 44 ................................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 45 ................................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
IX. PUBLICITY OF MEETINGS, RECORDS .............................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 46 ................................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 47 ................................................................................................................................................. - 41 -
RULE 48 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
RULE 49 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
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RULE 50 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
RULE 51 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
RULE 52 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
RULE 53 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
RULE 54 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
RULE 55 ................................................................................................................................................. - 42 -
X. RELATIONS WITH OTHER UNITED NATIONS ORGANS.................................................... - 43 -
RULE 56 ................................................................................................................................................. - 43 -
FORMAT OF A DRAFT RESOLUTION ...................................................................................... - 45 -
SAMPLE DRAFT RESOLUTION ................................................................................................. - 47 -
ORDER OF PRECEDENCE ........................................................................................................................................... - 49 -
GENERAL RULES ........................................................................................................................................................... - 50 -
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RESEARCH AND PREPARATION FOR ROMEMUN
2013
The RomeMUN Conference is an educational project with the purposes of:
1) Increasing the practical and experience-based approach to college study in Italy;
2) Providing delegates from different countries worldwide the possibility to acquire skills and
experience that will be useful both during and after college;
3) Bringing youth closer to the United Nations institutions and activities.
RomeMUN prides itself on realizing, for the second time in Rome, an international meeting which
allows hundreds of college-level students to address some of the most important and delicate issues
of our time.
In this guide you will find all the guidelines necessary in order to become a successful delegate.
However, be aware that in order to achieve this goal your contribution is essential, as it is the main
part of the conference.
Please note: the key to being a successful RomeMUN delegate is through your preparation before the
final conference
All MUN projects around the world are very complex, particularly for those who are experiencing
their first conference. With that said, this guide aims to give you the best tools in order to prepare
yourself.
If you have any questions or doubts about the content of this guide, please feel free to contact
RomeMUN staff for personal assistance; the following are the most useful contacts:
RomeMUN Executive Director
Dr. Daniela Conte
RomeMUN Officials’ Executive Chairman
Dr. Luca M. Giraldin von Lahnstein
RomeMUN Secretary General
Dr. Davide Ianniello
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RomeMUN 2013 – Officials’ List
United Nations Security Council – UN SC
Chairperson - Mr. IANNIELLO Davide
Director - Ms. KOJIC Aleksandra
United Nations General Assembly – UN GA
Chairperson - Mr. BRICENO Cesar
Director - Mr. INFANTE Francisco
United Nations Human Rights Council – UN HRC
Chairperson - Ms. MANCHEVA Iglika
Director - Mr. GAVALIATSIS Theodoros
United Nations Environmental Program – UNEP
Chairperson - Ms. CIGLIANO Agnese
Director - Mr. GAMAL EL-DIN Moustafa
World Health Organization – WHO
Chairperson - Ms. ANAND Mrinalini
Director - Mr. ATTRAMS Prince
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO
Chairperson - Mr. MINHEV Atanas
Director - Mr. LANGAH Fawad
International World Bank – WB
Chairperson - Mr. LEE Howon
Director - Mr. SPROCCATI Giacomo
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USEFUL REMINDER
In preparing for MUN it is useful to learn how to manage your time, as well as using smart study
habits. In studying smartly you must be ORGANIZED! Try using this method to help you prioritize
what you should be studying before the conference begins.
There are six main areas of research, which should be addressed in the preparation process:
1. The structure and history of the United Nations
2. Understand what a Model United Nations conference is
3. Study the structure and history of your Committee
4. Understand the politics of your assigned Member-State*
5. Focus on the agenda topics from what is written in the background guides and beyond
6. Prepare a position paper outlining your Member State’s policies towards the agenda topics
7. Understand the Rules of Procedures
How to find sources about these six main areas of research?
The RomeMUN background guides provide detailed explanations of topics as well as what has been
done by the different committees to reach their goals. You will have to research you country’s
position on all three topics in order to be able to participate successfully in the conference.
*Remember, you are NOT representing your opinion!
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1. Study the structure and history of the United Nations
Use as references the UN Charter; here we quote only the Preamble of the Charter for all chapters see
http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/intro.shtml :
“WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has
brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human
person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from
treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,
AND FOR THESE ENDS
to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and
to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force
shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social
advancement of all peoples,
HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS
Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San
Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the
present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be
known as the United Nations.”1
Other useful sources:
United Nations website: http://www.un.org
On the Web site of the United Nations you can access individual committee sites, links
to specific issues on the UN’s agenda, related information and data, and links to Representations of
Member States to the UN, etc.
United Nations Bibliographic Information System: http://unbisnet.un.org/
This source is one of the most basic and useful sources, including UN documents, resolutions of UN
bodies, meeting and voting records or press releases.
United Nations WebTV: http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/preamble.shtml
This source is useful if you want to see with your eyes what really happens inside the UN bodies, the
most important meeting of UN are recorded here. To see the videos it is necessary to download Real
Player program.
1 Charter of the United Nations, UN official website, from http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/preamble.shtml
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2. Understanding what a Model United Nations conference is
Model UN Conferences are formative programs aimed to teach students the inner workings of the
United Nations. Participants represent member countries in a simulation-game of multilateral
diplomacy, reproducing the debate of one or more UN committees like real delegates. The aim of this
experience-based program is to find common and effective solutions on the agenda topics by signing
and approving a number of resolutions. Model UN conferences have been organized in many
countries all over the world; the most prestigious ones are based in New York at the official UN
building like the National Model United Nations. The history of the Italian participation to Model
UN is recent, that is why an official international MUN has never taken place in Rome before.
In an MUN conference delegates reproduce two main aspects of multilateral negotiations, the formal
and informal debate. Formal debate is a simulation of the committee’s meetings where member states
express their own positions in front of the entire Assembly trough brief speeches (details on the rules
of procedures section); the informal debate is a way to speed up the process of debating; also called
with the parliamentary term “Caucus”, the informal debate is a procedural “time out,” where the
committee can break down into smaller groups for discussing the topic, drafting resolutions, or
debating the merits of various resolutions.
For a deeper look into MUN world see the video “Model United Nations for Everyone”.
3. Study the structure and history of your committee
The RomeMUN 2013 conference will consist of the simulation of the following committees: Security
Council, General Assembly, Human Rights Council, UN Environmental Program, UNESCO, World
Health Organization, International World Bank.
It is necessary that all participants understand the role and the history of that body of the United
Nations they have been assigned to in order to more actively participate in the debate. We tried to
give delegates a general overview of these elements inside the Specialized Background Papers that
will be available committee-by-committee.
4. Understand the politics of your assigned Member-State
At the RomeMUN conference you are the representative of your assigned member state. DO NOT
FORGET IT!
One of the scopes of the simulation is to represent your member state as honestly and correctly as
possible. That is why it is so important that the most part of your individual research focuses on the
general overview of your country (populations, labor sectors, natural resources, type of government,
economy, position in the international arena, important alliances, economical and social issues), and
particularly about what your country has done regarding the three agenda topics.
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The CIA World Fact Book (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/) provides
you a general presentation about your country. Your individual research must focus on what actions
your country as taken in the United Nations.
5. Focus on the Agenda Topics
As a participant of any MUN conference you have to present a position paper before the beginning of
the conference. A position paper is a document in which you present the position of your member
state on the agenda topics. In order to write a strong position paper, you must understand the topics,
and know how your country feels about each topic, as well as any actions your country has taken in
favor or against each topic.
Our suggestion is to study topics one by one and then write down the position paper.
RomeMUN provides you the background guide with an introduction of each topic and an extensive
annotated bibliography. The guide represents an understanding of how each of the topics has been
addressed in the last year at the international level and particularly in the UN.
In order to exchange points of view with the other delegates attending RomeMUN and to receive
more information about the agenda topics, the RomeMUN team has set up an online forum. The
RomeMUN team will be hosting meetings on the forum for all of the delegates to participate in
throughout the end of February and the beginning of March. The forum can be found at this link
www.romemun.org/forum. (Detailed information about these meetings will be available as soon as
possible)
6. Prepare a Position Paper
ALL POSITION PAPERS MUST BE SENT BY MARCH 3RD
The following are the main guidelines for writing your position paper. All position papers will be
saved onto a CD; each delegation will receive a copy of this collection at the beginning of the
RomeMUN conference.
The position paper has to be prepared by each delegation; it is the summary of your country position
on the topics set in the agenda. The position paper is one of the most important parts of your
preparation. It is the beginning point of your research and one of the ways you will be presenting
your country’s political position on the agenda topics. The best position paper will be awarded at the
closing ceremony of the conference. All papers must be formatted as following:
length must not exceed one double-spaced page or two single-spaced pages
font must be Times New Roman size 10 pt or 12 pt
your country name clearly labeled on the first page
each agenda topic should be clearly labeled
national symbols are inappropriate
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The majority of your preparation time for the Conference will be spent researching your actual
committee topics. Search for speeches made by your country on the topic, as well as important
resolutions that were discussed.
What are you looking for in your research?
Basic Questions:
1. Which is the focus of each of the topics?
2. Why are these issues important internationally? Especially for your country?
3. If this issue has been addressed previously by the committee, why does it remain unresolved?
4. What are the most important resolutions on each topic? Is your country a signatory?
5. What actions have various international bodies taken in the past regarding these issues?
6. What actions are being taken, or what committees exist to address them?
7. What should be done from the perspective of your state to solve the issues?
Please note that your position paper must cover what the UN and your country have done
previously to address the matter, what is currently in place, and what is planned for the future.
Internal structure of the position paper:
1. Introduction: Historical excursus (in brief) and Focus on topic;
2. Problem analysis: Political relevance of the topic, actions taken in the past by your country,
Statements of political representatives of your country (Head of State, Ministries), reference to
previous agreements to implement or to modify;
3. Solutions and proposals: Possible solutions, strategies proposals and actions to be taken,
proposing at least one resolution, recommendation or declaration of principles, Cooperation with
regional or international organizations.
The Position Paper must be coherent:
-Internal coherence: logical evolvement of the essay, starting from the problem and ending with the
solutions
-External Coherence: declarations in line with the real politics of the represented country
An example of a position paper is on the next page.
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Position Paper Example
Delegation from Malaysia
Position Paper for General Assembly2
The topics before the General Assembly are: eradicate extreme hunger and poverty; protecting the earth facing the
climate change; the role of the youth in fostering intercultural dialogue. Malaysia is a affirm believer that a just and
equitable international system needs to be in place for nations to reach peace, security and to pursue economic
advancement. However, recent international events have dealt with the “3F” crises – fuel, food and finance adversely
affecting nations worldwide. These crises are the most visible evidences of how interdependent the community of nations
has become. Malaysia believes that the UN continues to be a relevant organization to provide a platform for nations
seeking collective solutions to global problems.
1. Eradicate the extreme hunger and poverty
For half of a century, Malaysia has been trying to promote just economic system, which guarantees equal opportunities
for every ethnic group. In fact, a priority for the government, as the Article 25 of the Universal Human Rights
Declarations states, is to ensure every citizen a high standard of life, and adequate social services including access to
food, clothing, housing, and medical care. Our progress to eradicate poverty and hunger has been demonstrated by the
most recent United Nation Development Program (UNDP) report; in fact the New Economic Plan (NEP) created in the
1970’s built a strong economic system based on urbanization that has reduced the poverty trend. It is effectively known
that in 1970 half of our population lived below the poverty line, in 2005 just 5.5%. We appreciate the solutions brought
by the institution of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but these are not sufficient on their own. Respecting
one of the common goals to halve the hunger rate between 1990 and 2015, since 1993 Malaysia has reduced the
percentage of children under five years old who are underweight from 23.3% to 10.6%. This is only the first step of our
development strategy, our ambition is to improve the results achieved in these past few years. However we are convinced
that a better world can be built only with just and transparent laws. As underlined in the 2009 Non Aligned Movement
(NAM) summit in Sharm El Sheikh, there is an urgent need to reform the UN system to give more representation to every
member. An important agency like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the expression of the global subordination
of developing countries under the current economic power. Many times the poorer countries remain with a growing debt
caused by the unsustainable rates of the loans given by the International Monetary Fund. It is deeply unfair that the
financial policies of this institution are under the unilateral oligopoly of few developed countries. Agreeing with
resolution A/64/418/Add.3, the issue of foreign debt is fundamental to cope with the problem of hunger and extreme
poverty, but it isn’t a sufficient reason to get rid of the interest rates on low-income countries until 2011. The crisis we are
living in points out how in this system the poorest countries are the most affected. As reported by the Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO) in the 2009 Rome summit report, the number of malnourished people across the globe
has increased from 824 million in 1992 to 963 million in 2007- 2008.
Asian and South Pacific countries have the highest number of hungry people: 642 million. These numbers make regional
cooperation fundamental in order to combat the food crisis. Because of the volatility of food prices, every nation with an
agriculture-based economy has suffered. For this reason, we want to discuss a reform of the global financial system that
could ensure effective rules on the protection of economies based on the agricultural production. Too often, food prices
have been used as an instrument for political and economic pressure and this is unacceptable. Food security and the
objective to eradicate extreme poverty are essential topics guarantying international peace and security.
2. Protecting earth, how to face climate change?
Climate change is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social, and economic threats
facing the planet. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007 (IPCC) and the report on the
Security implications on climate change for the UN system (2004) climate change has been causing: warmer
temperatures; more rainfall, more frequent and severe floods and droughts; rising sea levels, which are further expanded
by run off from melting continental ice fields; increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as
hurricanes and tornadoes; and extended ranges and seasons for tropical disease carriers. Malaysia is among the countries
2 This is one of position papers which received the Award as best position paper in RomeMUN 2010
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most involved in working together with the UN to partially solve the problem of global warming by cutting greenhouse-
gas emissions (GHGs) and helping vulnerable nations adapt to the adverse consequences of global warming. Although we
are a developing country with few resources, Malaysia is slowly achieving all of the MDG's concerning the matter of
protecting the environment. We ratified the Kyoto protocol in 2002 and have participated in the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and also ratified the Montreal Protocol concerning the Ozone
Depletion Substances (ODS) and are committed to these causes. Despite our efforts, Malaysia still remains one of the
most vulnerable nations facing climate change, as reported in the Executive Talk Global Warming: Climate Change
Adaptation organised by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD). For this reason Malaysia’s intention is “to
balance the goals of socio-economic development and the maintenance of sound environmental conditions” as affirmed in
the First National Communication to the UNFCCC, which aims to continue our development but in a “sustainable” way.
Aiming to realize this goal, Malaysia not only strongly promotes to curb deforestation, as it releases harmful GHGs, and
in this way helps to preserve biodiversity as the cornerstone of its economy. Moreover, we would like to continue to use
our own natural resources towards Energy Efficiency (EE) and strengthen its commitment on the issue. Deeply conscious
of the fact that in the past few years our nation successfully initiated Renewable Energy projects, like the Renewable
Photovoltaic Energy agreement with Japan (as the climatic conditions in Malaysia are favourable for the development of
solar energy), the Biofuel Policy on Palm Oil and the Malaysian Building Integrated Photovoltaic Technology Application
Project (MBIPV). Referring to Article 4.7 of the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) by Developing
Countries and resolution A/63/L.8/Rev.1 of the 85th
General Assembly Plenary “it was vital that Member States,
particularly industrialized nations, promote sustainable development, while adhering to the principle of common but
differentiated responsibility, and fully implement Agenda 21 and other relevant development commitments”. Agreeing
with this, and despite the fundamental support of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Center for
Environment, Technology and Development Malaysia (CETDEM) Malaysia needs more help from the Climate Funds and
the Multilateral Climate Technology Fund (MCTF), to make our “sustainable” projects become realities. Above all we
would like to receive help from more developed countries.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU HAVE TO PREPARE ONE POSITION PAPER PER COMMITTEE, SO IF YOUR
COUNTRY IS REPRESENTED IN ALL THE 4 COMMITTEES YOU HAVE TO DO 4 POSITION PAPERS.
EACH POSITION PAPER WILL BE PREPARED BY THE ONE OR TWO MEMBERS OF EACH
COMMITTEE.
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Awards criteria for RomeMUN position papers:
1. Overall quality of writing, proper style, grammar, etc.
2. Citation of relevant resolutions/documents
3. General Consistency with bloc/geopolitical constraints
4. Consistency with the constraints of the United Nations
5. Analysis of issue, rather than reiteration of the Committee Background Guide
6. Receipt of the position paper by March 3rd (.doc or .pdf)
All position papers are due by the 3rd
of March by email to [email protected], any late papers will
not be considered for an award.
PLEASE TITLE EACH E-MAIL/DOCUMENT WITH THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE,
AND ASSIGNMENT NAME (Example: GA_NAMIBIA or SC_GABON)
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7. ROMEMUN RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES3
GENERAL RULES
RULE # 1: SCOPE
The rules included in this guide are applicable to all committees of the UN General Assembly, World Health
Organization, UNESCO, Human Rights Council, Environment Program, and the World Bank. Each rule is
self-reliant unless modified by the Secretariat, in which case, the modification will be presented before the
session begins and adopted hereinafter. No other rules of procedure apply. If a situation arises which has not
been addressed by the Rules of Procedure, the Committee Chair will be the final authority on which rule to
apply. In some committees, the rules can be adapted by the Committee Chair to reflect the rules of the actual
body being modeled; these adapted rules override former rules, unless explicitly specified by the Committee
Chair.
RULE # 2: LANGUAGE
English will be the official and working language of the conference. If a delegate wishes to present a document
written in a language other than English, the delegate will have to provide a translation to the committee staff
that will then distribute the translated version to the rest of the committee.
RULE # 3: REPRESENTATION
A member of the Committee is a representative who is officially registered with the Conference. Each member
will be represented by one or two delegates and will have one vote on each Committee. If two delegates
represent a Member State of a Committee, the delegates can present speeches together without formally
yielding as long as only one delegate speaks at any given time.
RULE # 4: CREDENTIALS
The credentials of all delegations have been accepted upon registration. Actions relating to the modification of
rights, privileges, or credentials of any member may not be initiated without the written consent of the
Secretary-General. Any representative whose admission raises an objection by another member will
provisionally be seated with the same rights as other representatives, pending a decision from the Secretary-
General.
RULE # 5: PARTICIPATION OF NON-MEMBERS
3 Part of Rules of Procedures are used with permission from World Model UN
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Representatives of Accredited Observers will have the same rights as those of full members, except that they
may not sign or vote on draft resolutions or amendments. These representatives reserve the right to vote only
on procedural matters but not substantive matters. A representative of an organization that is not a member of
the United Nations or an Accredited Observer may address a Committee only with the prior approval of the
Chair.
RULE # 6: PARTICIPATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations reserve the same rights as a full member of the
committee, with the exception of the right to vote on substantive matters, or the right to sponsor (or sign) draft
resolutions. At the discretion of the committee Chair, the delegates of Non-Governmental Organizations hold
certain unique procedural rights stated below:
Introductory Statements to Committee: If desired, an NGO holds the right to submit a written introduction to the
Committee Chair that elaborates on the position and powers of the NGO. The Chair reserves the right to
postpone the introduction of the NGO if necessary.
Written or oral announcements: An NGO is allowed to address the committee in oral or written form, stating its
stance on the topic being discussed and the possible contributions it can make. This announcement will also be
made at the discretion of the Committee Chair.
RULE # 7: STATEMENTS BY THE SECRETARIAT
The Secretary-General or a member of the Secretariat designated by him/her may at any time reserve the right
to make either written or oral statements to the Committee.
RULE # 8: GENERAL POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE STAFF
The Committee Dais Staff consists of the Committee Chair and Director. Each Committee session will be
announced open and closed by the Committee Chair who may also propose the adoption of any procedural
motion to which there is no significant objection. The Chair, subject to these rules, will have complete control
of the proceedings at any meeting. The Chair will direct the flow of debate, grant the right to speak, ask
questions, announce decisions, rule on points of order, and ensure and enforce the adherence to these rules. If
necessary and given no objections, the Committee Chair may choose to suspend the rules in order to clarify a
certain substantive or procedural issue. The Committee Chair also has the right to interrupt the flow of debate
in order to show a presentation, or to bring in a guest speaker or an expert witness. The Chair can choose to
temporarily transfer his or her duties to another member of the Committee Dais staff. Committee Dais staff
members may also advise delegations on the possible course of debate. Further, no handouts may be circulated
to the committee body without the knowledge and explicit approval of the Chair. In the exercise of these
functions, the Committee Dais staff will be at all times subject to these rules and responsible to the Secretary-
General.
RULE # 9: QUORUM
Quorum denotes the minimum number of delegates who need to be present in order to open debate. Quorum is
met, and the Chair declares a Committee open to proceed debate when at least one-quarter of the members of
the Committee (as declared at the beginning of the first session) are present. A quorum will be assumed to be
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present unless specifically challenged and shown to be absent. A roll call is never required to determine the
presence of a quorum. In order to vote on any substantive motion, the Committee must establish the presence
of a simple majority of members. For double delegation committees, at least one delegate from each pair must
be present during substantive voting. A simple majority is defined as when the number of “yes” votes exceeds
the number of “no” votes.
RULE # 10: COURTESY
Every delegate will be courteous and respectful to the Committee staff and to other delegates. The Chair will
immediately call to order any delegate who does not abide by with this rule. Any delegate who feels that he or
she is not being treated respectfully is encouraged to report the incident to the Chair of the committee who will
then follow the appropriate protocol.
RULE # 11: ELECTRONIC AIDS
Delegates are not permitted to use any type of electronic device, including laptops, phones, etc., in the
committee room when the committee has been convened. All laptop use must occur outside of the committee
room unless otherwise specified by the Chair; however, the Chair may also grant the use of electronic
dictionaries at his or her discretion.
RULE # 12: DELEGATE CONDUCT
Delegates are warned that RomeMUN has a zero-tolerance policy concerning slandering, disparaging, or any
other actions that are derogatory to other delegates. Neither speeches nor debates with other delegates may
contain such remarks. Those delegates who believe that their countries’ policies merit such conduct are
advised to consult the chair before taking any action.
RULE # 13: ABSENCES
If a delegate is not present during roll call, he or she is considered absent until a note is sent to the dais staff. A
delegate who is recognized but is not present when called upon yields his or her time to the chair, and debate
shall continue unabated.
RULES GOVERNING DEBATE
RULE # 14: AGENDA
The Agenda decides the order in which the topics will be discussed in committee. Therefore the first matter the
Committee decides on will be setting the agenda. The only motion in order at this time will be in the form of
“I move that Topic Area X be placed first on the Agenda.”
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A motion shall be made to put a Topic Area first on the agenda. This motion requires a second.
Delegates may only propose those Topic Areas listed in the preparation materials. The Chair holds the
right to modify these Topic Areas at his or her discretion.
A Committee in which only one Topic Area may be proposed for the agenda will be considered to
have automatically adopted that Topic Area without debate.
A Speakers List will be established ‘for’ and ‘against’ the motion; speakers ‘for’ will speak in support
of the Topic Area suggested, speakers ‘against’ will speak in favor of the other Topic Area.
Debate over the Agenda can only be closed by a motion after the Committee has heard from two
speakers for the motion and from two against, or all the speakers on one side and at least two on the
opposite side. As stated in Rule 18, the Chair will recognize two speakers against the motion to close
debate. A vote of two-thirds is required for closure of debate on the agenda. In the situation where the
Speakers List on setting the agenda is exhausted, debate will automatically be closed even if a motion
to close debate would not normally be in order.
Once debate is closed, the Committee will move to an immediate vote on the motion, which will
require a simple majority to pass. If the motion fails, the other Topic Area will automatically be placed
first on the agenda.
A motion to proceed to the second Topic Area is in order only after the Committee has adopted or
rejected a resolution on the first Topic Area. A motion to proceed to the second agenda item after a
resolution has failed requires a second and is debatable to the extent of one speaker in favor and one
against. This motion requires a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting to pass.
In the event of a simulated international crisis or emergency, the Secretary-General, members of the
Secretariat or the members of the Committee Staff may call upon a the delegates of a certain
Committee to set aside or table debate on the current Topic Area so that the more pressing issue may
be attended to immediately. After a draft resolution has been passed on the crisis topic, the Committee
will return to debate on the tabled topic. If a draft resolution on the crisis topic fails, the Committee
may return to debate on the tabled Topic Area only at the discretion of the Committee Staff.
Comments are not in order during debate on the agenda, since deciding the Agenda is a procedural
question.
All motions for caucus shall be ruled dilatory during the consideration of the agenda. Also, delegates
will not be allowed to yield their time (see Rule 26).
RULE # 15: DEBATE
The setting of the Agenda is followed by the opening of a new, continuous Speakers List, which is used to
begin general debate. This Speakers List will decide the order of speakers for all debate on the Topic Area,
except when superseded by procedural motions, amendments, or the introduction of a draft resolution.
Speakers may speak generally on the Topic Area being considered and may address any draft resolution
currently on the floor. Once a draft resolution has been introduced, it remains on the floor and may be debated
until it fails, the Committee postpones debate on it, or the Committee moves to the next Topic Area.
RULE # 16: UNMODERATED CAUCUS
A delegate may motion for an unmoderated caucus at any time when the floor is open, prior to closure of
debate. The delegate making the motion must specify a time limit and a topic of discussion for the caucus, not
to exceed twenty minutes. The motion will immediately be put to a vote and will pass given a simple majority.
In the case of multiple unmoderated caucuses, the Chair will rank the motions in descending order of length
and the Committee members will vote accordingly. The Chair may rule the motion out of order and his/her
decision is not subject to appeal. An unmoderated caucus may be extended only twice.
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a. CONSULTATION OF THE WHOLE
At the discretion of the chair, delegates may motion for an informal consultation of the entire
Committee in which the rules of parliamentary procedure are suspended and the Committee members
moderate the ensuing discussion. The disruptiveness of this motion is equivalent to an unmoderated
caucus and is entertained at the discretion of the chair. The delegate making the motion must specify a
time limit and a topic of discussion for the consultation of the whole, not to exceed ten minutes. The
motion will be put to a vote and will pass if it has a simple majority. During the execution of this
motion, delegates will be expected to remain in their seats and respectful of speakers at all times. The
moderation of the committee is carried out by the Committee’s delegates.
RULE # 17: MODERATED CAUCUS
The purpose of a moderated caucus is to facilitate substantive debate at critical stages in the discussion. In a
moderated caucus, the Chair will temporarily depart from the Speakers List and call on delegates to speak off a
new speaker’s list, specifically set up for the moderated caucus. A motion for a moderated caucus is in order at
any time when the floor is open, prior to closure of debate. The delegate making the motion must briefly
explain its purpose and specify a time limit for the caucus, not to exceed twenty minutes, and a time limit for
the individual speeches. Once raised, the motion will be voted on immediately, with a simple majority of
members required for passage. In the case of multiple moderated caucuses, the Chair will rank the motions in
descending order of length and the Committee members will vote accordingly. The Chair may rule a motion
out of order and his/her decision is not subject to appeal. No motions are in order between speeches during a
moderated caucus. A delegate can and will be ruled out of order if the delegate’s speech does not address the
topic of the moderated caucus. If no delegate wishes to speak during a moderated caucus, the caucus shall
immediately end. A moderated caucus may be extended only twice but only after the caucus has ended. There
is no yielding of time in moderated caucuses.
RULE # 18: CLOSURE OF DEBATE
When the floor is open, a delegate may move to close debate on the substantive or procedural matter under
discussion. Delegates may move to close debate on the general topic, debate on the agenda, or debate on an
amendment. The Chair may, subject to appeal, rule such a motion dilatory. When closure of debate is moved,
the Chair may recognize up to two speakers against the motion. No speaker in favor of the motion will be
recognized. Closure of debate requires the support of two-thirds of the members present and voting. If there
are no speakers against the closing debate, the Committee Chair will ask the delegates if there are any
objections to voting by acclamation (Please see Rule 38 for details on procedure). If there are no objections,
the motion to close debate will automatically be adopted and the Committee will move immediately to
substantive voting procedure.
RULE # 19: SUSPENSION OR ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING
The suspension of the meeting means the postponement of all Committee functions until the next meeting. The
adjournment of the meeting means the postponement of all Committee functions for the duration of the
Conference. Whenever the floor is open, a delegate may move for the suspension of the meeting or
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adjournment of the meeting. The Chair may rule such motions out of order; these decisions shall not be subject
to appeal. When in order, such motions will not be debatable but will be immediately voted upon, barring any
motions taking precedence, and will require a simple majority to pass. A motion to adjourn will be out of order
prior to the lapse of three-quarters of the time allotted for the last meeting of the Committee. In the case of a
real emergency as declared by the Secretary-General, members of the Secretariat or the Committee Staff,
debate will automatically be suspended without any exceptions.
RULE # 20: POSTPONEMENT AND RESUMPTION OF DEBATE - TABLING
Whenever the floor is open, a delegate may move for the postponement of debate on a draft resolution,
amendment, or topic currently on the floor. The motion, otherwise known as "tabling," will require a two-
thirds vote to pass and will be debatable to the extent of one speaker in favor and one opposed. No debate or
action will be allowed on any draft resolution, amendment, or topic on which debate has been postponed. A
motion to resume debate on an amendment, draft resolution, or topic on which debate has been postponed will
require a simple majority to pass and will be debatable to the extent of one speaker in favor and one opposed.
RULE # 21: RECONSIDERATION
A motion to reconsider is in order when a draft resolution or amendment has been adopted or rejected, and
must be made by a member who voted with the majority on the substantive proposal. The Chair will recognize
two speakers opposing the motion after which the motion will be immediately voted upon. A two-thirds
majority of the members present is required for reconsideration. If the motion passes, the Committee will
immediately vote again on the draft resolution or amendment being reconsidered.
RULE # 22: APPEAL
An appeal can only be made to procedural matters, but not substantive ones. A delegate may appeal any
procedural decision of the Chair unless it is one that cannot be appealed as stated by the rules of procedure.
The delegate can only appeal a ruling immediately after it has been pronounced. The delegate will be given
thirty seconds in order to explain the reasoning behind the appeal. The Chair may speak briefly in defense of
the ruling. The appeal shall then be put to a vote, and the decision of the Chair shall stand unless overruled by
two-thirds of those members present and voting. The Chair’s decision not to sign a draft resolution or
amendment is never appealable. A “Yes” vote indicates support of the Chair’s ruling; a “No” vote indicates
opposition to that ruling. The Chair’s ruling shall stand unless overruled by two-thirds of the Committee
voting “No.”
RULES GOVERNING SPEECHES
RULE # 23: SPEAKERS LIST
The Committee shall at all times have an open Speakers List. The Chair will either set a speaking time or
entertain motions to set a speaking time. Separate Speakers Lists will be established as needed for procedural
motions and debate on amendments. A member may add or remove its name to the Speakers List by
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submitting a request in writing to the Chair. At any time the Chair may call for members that wish to be added
to the Speakers List. The names of the next several members to speak will always be posted for the
convenience of the Committee. The Speakers List is the default activity of the Committee. If no motions are
on the floor, debate automatically returns to the Speakers List. A motion to close any Speakers List is never in
order.
RULE # 24: SPEECHES
No delegate may address a session without having previously obtained the permission of the Chair. The Chair
may call a speaker to order if his/her remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion, or are offensive
to Committee members or staff. Delegates are required to make all speeches from the 3rd
person perspective.
There can be no speeches made from the 1st person unless the approval of the chair is received.
RULE # 25: TIME LIMIT ON SPEECHES
The Chair may limit the time allotted to each speaker. The minimum time limit will be ten seconds. When a
delegate exceeds his/her allotted time, the Chair may call the speaker to order without delay. However, the
Chair has the discretion to be flexible (within reason) about the time limit to allow a delegate to finish his or
her thought.
RULE # 26: YIELDS
A delegate granted the right to speak on a substantive issue may yield in one of three ways at the conclusion of
his/her speech: to another delegate, to questions, or to the Chair. A delegate must declare any yield at the
conclusion of his or her speech.
Yield to another delegate. His or her remaining time will be offered to that delegate. If the delegate
accepts the yield, the Chair shall recognize the delegate for the remaining time. The second delegate
speaking may not yield back to the original delegate. To turn the floor over to a co-delegate of the
same member state is not considered a yield.
Yield to questions. Questioners will be selected by the Chair and limited to one question each. Follow-
up questions will be allowed only at the discretion of the Chair. The Chair will have the right to call to
order any delegate whose question is, in the opinion of the Chair, rhetorical, leading and/or not
designed to elicit information. Only the speaker’s answers to questions will be allowed.
Yield to the chair. Such a yield should be made if the delegate does not wish his/her speech to be
subject to questions. The Chair will then move to the next speaker.
Only one yield is allowed per speech (i.e. no yields on yielded time). There are no yields allowed if the
delegate is speaking on a procedural matter. A delegate must declare any yield by the conclusion of his/her
speech, even if time has elapsed.
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RULE # 27: COMMENTS
If a substantive speech involves no yields, the Chair may recognize up to two delegates, other than the original
speaker, to comment for thirty seconds on the specific content of the speech just completed. Commentators
may not yield. No comments shall be in order during debate on procedural motions.
RULE # 28: RIGHT OF REPLY
A delegate who urges to respond to any statements/comments made by other delegates may seek for a Right of
Reply by raising his or her placard. The Chair will grant the Right of Reply at his/her discretion. A Right of
Reply to a Right of Reply is out of order.
RULES GOVERNING POINTS
RULE # 29: POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
Whenever a delegate experiences personal discomfort, which impairs his/her ability to participate in the
proceedings, he/she may rise to a Point of Personal Privilege to request that the discomfort be corrected. A
Point of Personal Privilege may only interrupt a speaker if the delegate speaking is inaudible. Otherwise, the
delegate rising on the Point of Personal Privilege must always wait till the end of the speech to raise the Point.
RULE # 30: POINTS OF ORDER
During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may rise to a Point of Order to indicate an instance of improper
parliamentary procedure. The Point of Order will be immediately decided by the Chair in accordance with
rules of procedure. The Chair may rule out of order those points that are dilatory or improper. A representative
rising to a Point of Order may not speak on the substance of the matter under discussion. A Point of Order may
not interrupt a speaker during the speech. The delegate who rises to a point of order must wait till the end of
the speech. Additionally, the Committee Chair has the right to address a delegate if proper parliamentary
procedure is not being followed.
RULE # 31: POINTS OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
When the floor is open, a delegate may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to ask the Chair a question
regarding the rules of procedure. A Point of Parliamentary Inquiry may never interrupt a speaker. Delegates
with substantive questions should not rise to this Point, but should rather approach the Committee staff during
caucus or send a note to the dais.
RULES GOVERNING THE PATH TO A DRAFT RESOLUTION
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RULE # 32: WORKING PAPERS
Delegates may propose working papers for Committee consideration. Working papers are intended to aid the
Committee in its discussion and formulation of draft resolutions and need not be written in draft resolution
format. Working papers are not official documents and may be presented in any format, but do require the
signature of the Chair to be copied and distributed. Once distributed, delegates may consider that working
paper introduced and begin to refer to that working paper by its designated number. Working papers do not
require signatories or votes of approval. No document may be referred to as a “working paper” until it has
been introduced.
RULE # 33: DRAFT RESOLUTIONS
A draft resolution may be introduced when it receives the approval of the Chair and is signed by 20 members
in the General Assembly, 10 members in other bodies. Signing a draft resolution does not indicate support of
the draft resolution, and the signatory has no further rights or obligations. There are no official sponsors of
draft resolutions. Signatories should be listed in alphabetical order on every draft resolution.
A draft resolution requires a simple majority of members present to pass. Only one draft resolution may be
passed per Topic Area. After a draft resolution is passed, voting procedure will end and the Committee will
move directly into the second Topic Area (following the rules governing the setting of the agenda.
RULE # 34: INTRODUCTION TO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS
Once a draft resolution has been approved as stipulated above and has been copied and distributed, a
delegate(s) may move to introduce the draft resolution. The Chair, time permitting, may read the operative
clauses of the draft resolution. Alternatively, the Chair may recognize a certain number of delegates (at the
Chair’s discretion) to come forward to answer questions on the resolution to which they were signatories. In
addition, the Chair may also allow for an informal presentation of the resolutions. No document may be
referred to as a “draft resolution” until it has been introduced.
A procedural vote is then taken to determine whether the resolution shall be introduced. Should the motion
receive the simple majority required to pass, the draft resolution will be considered introduced and on the
floor. The Chair, at his/her discretion, may answer any clarifying points on the draft resolution. Any
substantive points will be ruled out of order during this period, and the Chair may end this ‘clarifying
question-answer period’ for any reason, including time constraints. More than one draft resolution may be on
the floor at any one time. A draft resolution will remain on the floor until debate on that specific draft
resolution is postponed or a Resolution on that Topic Area has been passed. Debate on draft resolutions
proceeds according to the general Speakers List for that Topic Area and delegates may then refer to the draft
resolution by its designated number. No delegate may refer to a draft resolution until it is formally introduced.
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RULE # 35: AMENDMENTS
Delegates may amend any draft resolution that has been introduced by adding to, deleting from or revising
parts of it. Only one amendment may be introduced at any given time. An amendment must have the approval
of the Chair and the signatures of 12 members in the General Assembly, 5 members in the Economic and
Social Council and the Regional Bodies, or 3 members in the Specialized Agencies. Amendments to
amendments are out of order; however, an amended part of a draft resolution may be further amended. There
are no official sponsors of amendments. As there are no official sponsors of draft resolutions, there can be no
friendly amendments. If a the submitted amendment contains a typological error, the corrected version should
be submitted to the Chair only and does not need to be circulated to the entire committee. The Chair, at his or
her discretion will announce the corrections made in the latter version. Preambulatory phrases may not be
amended. The final vote on the amendment is substantive; NGOs, Observer Nations, and Third Party Actors
will not be allowed to vote on amendments.
A motion to introduce an approved amendment may be introduced when the floor is open. After this
motion, the Chair may read the amendment aloud, time permitting. The motion will pass by a simple
majority. General debate will be suspended and a Speakers List will be established for and against the
amendment.
A motion to close debate will be in order after the Committee has heard from two speakers for the
amendment and from two speakers against or from all the speakers on one side and at least two on the
other side.
The Chair will recognize two speakers against the motion to close debate, and a vote of two-thirds is
required for closure. If there are no speakers against the motion to close debate, the Committee Chair
will ask to move to voting by acclamation.
When debate is closed on the amendment, the Committee will move to an immediate vote.
Amendments need a simple majority to pass.
After the vote, debate will resume according to the general Speakers List.
RULES GOVERNING VOTING
RULE # 36: PROCEDURAL VOTING
Voting on any matter other than draft resolutions and amendments is considered procedural. Each and every
member of the committee, including representatives of Accredited Observers and of NGOs must vote on all
procedural motions, and no abstentions will be allowed. A simple majority shall be considered achieved when
there are more “Yes” votes than “No” votes. A two-thirds vote will require at least twice as many “Yes” votes
than “No” votes. If there is not the required number of speakers for or against a motion, the motion will
automatically fail or pass.
RULE # 37: SUBSTANTIVE VOTING
Substantive voting includes voting on draft resolutions and amendments. Once the committee closes debate on
the general Topic Area, it will move into substantive voting procedures. At this point of time, the chambers are
sealed and no interruptions will be allowed. The only points and motions that will be in order are: Division of
the Question, Reordering Draft Resolutions, Motion to Vote by Acclamation, Motion for a Roll Call Vote,
Point of Personal Privilege, Point of Parliamentary Inquiry, and Point of Order. If there are no such motions,
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the Committee will vote on all draft resolutions. For substantive voting, each member will have one vote. Each
vote may be a ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ or ‘Abstain.’ Abstaining members are not considered to be voting. All matters will
be voted upon by a show of placards, unless a motion for a roll call vote is accepted. Abstentions are not
counted in the total number of votes cast. A simple majority requires more “Yes” votes than “No” votes (i.e.
more countries voting in the affirmative than the negative). Once any Resolution has been passed, the voting
procedure is closed, as only one Resolution may be passed per Topic Area. In the Security Council, the five
permanent members have the power to veto any substantive vote. A “No” vote by one of the five permanent
members in the Security Council is considered a veto. NGOs, Observer Nations, and Third Party Actors will
not be able to vote on draft resolutions and/or amendments.
RULE # 38: VOTING BY ACCLAMATION
Before the beginning the vote on a particular motion, draft resolution or amendment, the Committee Chair has
the right to ask his or her members if there are any objections to a vote by acclamation. If the committee
members have no objections, then the motion will automatically be adopted without the committee going into
voting procedure. A single objection to voting by acclamation will mean that the committee will go into
normal voting procedure.
RULE # 39: REORDERING DRAFT RESOLUTIONS
A Motion to Reorder Draft resolutions will only be in order immediately after entering voting procedure, and
before voting has started on any draft resolutions. If the motion receives the simple majority required to pass,
the Chair will take all motions to reorder draft resolutions and then vote on them in the order in which they
were introduced. Voting will continue until either a motion passes, receiving a simple majority, or all of the
motions fail, in which case the Committee will move into voting procedure, voting on the draft resolutions in
their original order. Only one motion to reorder draft resolutions is in order in each round of voting
procedures.
RULE # 40: DIVISION OF THE QUESTION
After debate on any topic has been closed, a delegate may move that the operative parts of a draft resolution be
voted on separately. Preambulatory clauses and sub-operative clauses may not be altered by division of the
question.
The motion can be debated to the extent of two speakers for and two against, to be followed by an
immediate procedural vote on that motion.
If the motion receives the simple majority required to pass, the Chair will take motions on how to
divide the question and prioritize them from most severe to least severe.
The Committee will then vote on the motions in the order set by the Chair. If no division passes, the
resolution remains intact. Once a division has been passed, requiring a simple majority, the draft
resolution will be divided accordingly, and a separate procedural vote will be taken on each divided
part to determine whether or not it is to be included in the final draft resolution. If all of the operative
parts of the substantive proposal are rejected, the draft resolution will be considered to have been
rejected as a whole.
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Parts of the draft resolution that are subsequently passed will be recombined into a final document.
The final document will be put to a substantive vote.
RULE # 41: ROLL CALL VOTING
A delegate has the right to request a roll call vote after debate on a draft resolution is closed. A roll call vote
can only be in order for substantive votes. A motion for a roll call vote may be made from the floor and
seconded by 20 members of the General Assembly, 10 members of the Economic and Social Council and
Regional Bodies and 5 members of the Specialized Agencies.
In a roll call vote, the Chair will call members in alphabetical order starting with a randomly selected
member.
In the first sequence, delegates may vote “Yes,” “Yes with Rights”, “No,” “No with Rights”,
“Abstain,” or “Pass.” Delegates who vote either “Yes with Rights” or “No with Rights” reserve the
right to explain his/her vote only when the delegate is voting against the policy of his/her country. The
delegate will only be allowed to explain an affirmative or negative vote, not an abstention from voting.
A delegate who voted “Pass” during the first sequence of the roll call must vote (i.e. may not abstain
or pass) during the second sequence. The same delegate may not request the right to explain his/her
vote.
The Chair shall then call for changes of votes; no delegate may request a right of explanation if he or
she did not request on in the previous two sequences. All delegates who had requested the right of
explanation will be granted time to explain their votes. The speaking time will be set at the discretion
of the Chair, not to exceed thirty seconds.
The Chair will then announce the outcome of the vote.
PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS
Motions will be considered in the following order of preference:
1. Point of Personal Privilege (Rule 26)
2. Point of Order (Rule 27)
3. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry (Rule 28)
4. Adjournment of the Meeting (Rule 17)
5. Suspension of the Meeting (Rule 17)
6. Unmoderated Caucusing (Rule 14)
7. Consultation of the Whole (Rule 16a)
8. Moderated Caucusing (Rule 15)
9. Introduction of Draft Resolution (Rule 31)
10. Introduction of an Amendment (Rule 32)
11. Postponement of Debate (Rule 18)
12. Resumption of Debate (Rule 18)
13. Closure of Debate (Rule 16)
At the start of voting procedure, the following points and motions are in order, in the following order of
precedence:
1. Point of Personal Privilege (Rule 26)
2. Point of Order (Rule 27)
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3. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry (Rule 28)
4. Reordering Draft Resolutions (Rule 36)
5. Division of the Question (Rule 37)
6. Motion for a Roll Call Vote (Rule 38)
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RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR SECURITY COUNCIL
1. These rules shall be the only rules which apply to the Security Council (hereinafter, referred to as “the
Council”) and shall be considered adopted by the Council prior to its first meeting.
2. For purposes of these rules, the Security Council Director, the Assistant Director(s), the Under- Secretaries-
General, and the Assistant Secretaries-General are designates and agents of the Secretary- General and
Director-General, and are collectively referred to as the “Secretariat.”
3. Interpretation of the rules shall be reserved exclusively to the Director-General or her/his or her designate.
Such interpretation shall be in accordance with the philosophy and principles of the Rome Model United
Nations, and in furtherance of the educational mission of that organization.
4. For the purposes of these rules, “President” shall refer to the chairperson, or acting chairperson of the
Council.
I. MEETINGS
RULE 1
Meetings of the Security Council shall, with the exception of the periodic meetings referred to in rule 4, be
held at the call of the President any time he or she deems necessary.
RULE 2
The President shall call a meeting of the Security Council at the request of any member of the Council.
RULE 3
The President shall call a meeting of the Security Council if a dispute or situation is brought to the attention of
the Security Council under Article 35 or under Article 11 (3) of the Charter, or if the General Assembly makes
recommendations or refers any question to the Security Council under Article 11 (2), or if the Secretary-
General brings to the attention of the Security Council any matter under Article 99.
RULE 4
Periodic meetings of the Security Council called for in Article 28 (2) of the Charter shall be held once a year,
at such times as the Security Council may decide.
RULE 5
Meetings of the Security Council shall normally be held at the seat of the United Nations. Any member of the
Security Council or the Secretary-General may propose that the Security Council should meet at another place.
Should the Security Council accept any such proposal, it shall decide upon the place and the period during
which the Council shall meet at such place.
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II. AGENDA
RULE 6
The Secretary-General shall immediately bring to the attention of all representatives on the Security Council
all communications from States, organs of the United Nations, or the Secretary-General concerning any matter
for the consideration of the Security Council in accordance with the provisions of the Charter.
RULE 7
The provisional agenda for each meeting of the Security Council shall be drawn up by the Secretary-General
and approved by the President of the Security Council. Only items which have been brought to the attention of
the representatives of the Security Council in accordance with rule 6, items covered by rule 10, or matters
which the Security Council had previously decided to defer may be included in the provisional agenda.
RULE 8
The provisional agenda for a meeting shall be communicated by the Secretary-General to the representatives
on the Security Council at least three days before the meeting, but in urgent circumstances it may be
communicated simultaneously with the notice of the meeting.
RULE 9
The first item of the provisional agenda for each meeting of the Security Council shall be the adoption of the
agenda.
RULE 10
Any item of the agenda of a meeting of the Security Council, consideration of which has not been completed
at that meeting, shall, unless the Security Council otherwise decides, automatically be included in the agenda
of the next meeting.
RULE 11
The Secretary-General shall communicate each week to the representatives on the Security Council a summary
statement on matters of which the Security Council is seized and of the stage reached in their consideration.
RULE 12
The provisional agenda for each periodic meeting shall be circulated to the members of the Security Council at
least twenty-one days before opening of the meeting. Any subsequent change in or addition to the provisional
agenda shall be brought to the notice of the members at least five days before the meeting. The Security
Council may, however, in urgent circumstances, make additions to the agenda at any time during a periodic
meeting. The provisions of rule 7, paragraph one, and of rule 9, shall apply also to periodic meetings.
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III. REPRESENTATION AND CREDENTIALS
RULE 13
Each member of the Security Council shall be represented at the meetings of the Security Council by an
accredited representative. The credentials of a representative of the Security Council shall be communicated to
the Secretary-General not less than twenty-four hours before he or she takes her/his seat on the Security
Council. The credentials shall be issued either by the Head of State or of the Government concerned or by its
Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Head of Government or Minister of Foreign Affairs of each member of the
Security Council shall be entitled to sit on the Security Council without submitting credentials.
RULE 14
Any Member of the United Nations not a member of the Security Council and any State not a Member of the
United Nations, if invited to participate in a meeting or meetings of the Security Council, shall submit
credentials for the representative appointed by it for this purpose. The credentials of such a representative shall
be communicated to the Secretary-General not less than twenty-four hours before the meeting, which he or she
is invited to attend.
RULE 15
The credentials of representatives on the Security Council and of any representative appointed in accordance
with rule 14 shall be examined by the Secretary-General who shall submit a report to the Security Council for
approval.
RULE 16
Pending the approval of the credentials of a representative on the Security Council in accordance with rule 15,
such representatives shall be seated provisionally with the same rights as other representatives.
RULE 17
Any representative on the Security Council, to whose credentials objection has been made within the Security
Council, shall continue to sit with the same rights as other representatives until the Security Council has
decided the matter.
IV. PRESIDENCY
RULE 18
The Presidency of the Security Council shall be held in turn by the members of the Security Council in the
English alphabetical order of their names. Each President shall hold office for one calendar month.
RULE 19
The President shall preside over the meetings of the Security Council and, under the authority of the Security
Council, shall represent it in its capacity as an organ of the United Nations.
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RULE 20
Whenever the President of the Security Council deems that for the proper fulfillment of the responsibilities of
the presidency he or she should not preside over the Council during the consideration of a particular question
with which the member he represents is directly connected, he or she shall indicate her/ his decision to the
Council. The presidential chair shall then devolve, for the purpose of the consideration of that question, on the
representative of the member next in English alphabetical order, it being understood that the provisions of this
rule shall apply to the representatives on the Security Council called upon successively to preside. This rule
shall not affect the representative capacity of the President as stated in rule 19 or her/his duties under rule 7.
V. SECRETARIAT
RULE 21
The Secretary-General shall act in that capacity in all meetings of the Security Council. The Secretary-General
may authorize a deputy to act in his place at meetings of the Security Council.
RULE 22
The Secretary-General, or his deputy acting on his behalf, may make either oral or written statements to the
Security Council concerning any question under consideration by it.
RULE 23
The Secretary-General may be appointed by the Security Council, in accordance with rule 28, as rapporteur for
a specified question.
RULE 24
The Secretary-General shall provide the staff required by the Security Council. This staff shall form a part of
the Secretariat.
RULE 25
The Secretary-General shall give to representatives on the Security Council notice of meetings of the Security
Council and of its commissions and committees.
RULE 26
The Secretary-General shall be responsible for the preparation of documents required by the Security Council
and shall, except in urgent circumstances, distribute them at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting
at which they are to be considered.
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VI. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
RULE 27
The President shall call upon representatives in the order in which they signify their desire to speak.
RULE 28
The Security Council may appoint a commission or committee or a rapporteur for a specified question.
RULE 29
The President may accord precedence to any rapporteur appointed by the Security Council. The Chairman of a
commission or committee, or the rapporteur appointed by the commission or committee to present its report,
may be accorded precedence for the purpose of explaining the report.
RULE 30
If a representative raises a point of order, the President shall immediately state his ruling. If it is challenged,
the President shall submit his ruling to the Security Council for immediate decision and it shall stand unless
overruled.
RULE 31
Proposed resolutions, amendments, and substantive motions shall normally be placed before the
representatives in writing. For purposes of this rule, all “proposals” shall be in the form of working papers
prior to their approval by the Secretariat. Working papers will not be copied, or in any other way distributed,
to the Council by the Secretariat.
The distribution of such working papers is solely the responsibility of the sponsors of the working papers.
Along these lines, and in furtherance of the philosophy and principles of the NMUN and for the purpose of
advancing its educational mission, representatives should not directly refer to the substance of a working paper
that has not yet been accepted as a draft resolution. After approval of a working paper, the proposal becomes a
draft resolution and will be copied by the Secretariat for distribution to the Council. These draft resolutions are
the collective property of the Council and, as such, the names of the original sponsors will be removed. The
copying and distribution of amendments is at the discretion of the Secretariat, but the substance of all such
amendments will be made available to all representatives in some form.
RULE 32
Principal motions and draft resolutions shall have precedence in the order of their submission. Parts of a
motion or of a draft resolution shall be voted on separately at the request of any representative, unless the
original mover objects.
RULE 33
The following motions shall have precedence in the order named over all principal motions and draft
resolutions relative to the subject before the meeting: 1. to suspend the meeting; 2. To adjourn the meeting; 3.
To adjourn the meeting to a certain day or hour; 4. To refer any matter to a committee, to the Secretary-
General or to a rapporteur; 5. To postpone discussion of the question to a certain day or indefinitely; or 6. To
introduce an amendment.
Any motion for the suspension or for the simple adjournment of the meeting shall be decided without debate.
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As the motion to adjourn the meeting, if successful, would end the meeting until the Council’s next regularly
scheduled meeting the following year, and in accordance with the philosophy and principles of the NMUN and
in furtherance of its educational mission, the President will not entertain such a motion until the end of the last
meeting of the Council.
RULE 34
It shall not be necessary for any motion or draft resolution proposed by a representative on the Security
Council to be seconded before being put to a vote.
RULE 35
A motion or draft resolution can at any time be withdrawn so long as no vote has been taken with respect to it.
RULE 36
If two or more amendments to a motion or draft resolution are proposed, the President shall rule on the order
in which they are to be voted upon. Ordinarily, the Security Council shall first vote on the amendment furthest
removed from the original proposal and then on the amendment next furthest removed until all amendments
have been put to the vote, but when an amendment adds or deletes from the text of a motion or draft
resolution, that amendment shall be voted on first.
RULE 37
Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may be invited, as the
result of a decision of the Security Council, to participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question
brought before the Security Council when the Security Council considers that the interests of that Member are
specially affected, or when a Member brings a matter to the attention of the Security Council in accordance
with Article 35 (1) of the Charter. If the Council considers that the presence of a Member invited according to
this rule is no longer necessary, it may withdraw the invitation again. Delegates invited to the Council
according to this rule should also keep in mind their role and obligations in the committee that they were
originally assigned to. For educational purposes of the NMUN Conference, the Secretariat may thus ask a
delegate to return to his or her committee when his or her presence in the
Council is no longer required.
RULE 38
Any Member of the United Nations invited in accordance with the preceding rule, or in application of Article
32 of the Charter, to participate in the discussions of the Security Council may submit proposals and draft
resolutions. These proposals and draft resolutions may be put to a vote only at the request of a representative
of the Security Council.
RULE 39
The Security Council may invite members of the Secretariat or other persons, whom it considers competent for
the purpose, to supply it with information or to give other assistance in examining matters within its
competence.
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VII. VOTING
RULE 40
Voting in the Security Council shall be in accordance with the relevant Articles of the Charter and of the
Statute of the International Court of Justice.
VIII. LANGUAGE
RULE 41
English shall be the official and working language of the Security Council.
RULE 42
Any representative may make a speech in a language other than the language of the Security Council. In this
case, he or she shall herself/himself provide for interpretation into English.
This rule does not affect the total speaking time allotted to those representatives wishing to address the body
in a language other than English. As such, both the speech and the interpretation must be within the set time
limit.
RULE 43
Verbatim records of meetings of the Security Council shall be drawn up in the language of the Council.
RULE 44
All resolutions and other documents shall be published in the language of the Security Council.
RULE 45
Documents of the Security Council shall, if the Security Council so decides be published in any language other
than the language of the Council.
IX. PUBLICITY OF MEETINGS, RECORDS
RULE 46
Unless it decides otherwise, the Security Council shall meet in public. Any recommendation to the General
Assembly regarding the appointment of the Secretary-General shall be discussed and decided at a private
meeting.
RULE 47
Subject to the provisions of rule 51, the verbatim record of each meeting of the Security Council shall be made
available to representatives on the Security Council and to the representatives of any other States which have
participated in the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m. of the first working day following the meeting.
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RULE 48
The representatives of the States which have participated in the meeting shall, within two working days after
the time indicated in rule 49, inform the Secretary-General of any corrections they wish to have made in the
verbatim record.
RULE 49
The Security Council may decide that for a private meeting the record shall be made in single copy alone. This
record shall be kept by the Secretary-General. The representatives of the States which have participated in the
meeting shall, within a period of ten days, inform the Secretary-General of any corrections they wish to have
made in this record.
RULE 50
Corrections that have been requested shall be considered approved unless the President is of the opinion that
they are sufficiently important to be submitted to the representatives of the Security Council. In the latter case,
the representatives on the Security Council shall submit within two working days any comments they may
wish to make. In the absence of objections in this period of time, the record shall be corrected as requested.
RULE 51
The verbatim record referred to in rule 49 or the record referred to in rule 51, in which no corrections have
been requested in the period of time required by rules 50 and 51, respectively, or which has been corrected in
accordance with the provisions of rule 52, shall be considered as approved. It shall be signed by the President
and shall become the official record of the Security Council.
RULE 52
The official record of public meetings of the Security Council, as well as the documents annexed thereto, shall
be published in the official language of the Council as soon as possible.
RULE 53
At the close of each private meeting the Security Council shall issue a communiqué through the Secretary-
General.
RULE 54
The representatives of the Members of the United Nations which have taken part in a private meeting shall at
all times have the right to consult the record of that meeting in the office of the Secretary-General. The
Security Council may at any time grant access to this record to authorized representatives of other Members of
the United Nations.
RULE 55
The Secretary-General shall, once each year, submit to the Security Council a list of the records and
documents which up to that time have been considered confidential. The Security Council shall decide which
of these shall be made available to other Members of the United Nations, which shall be made public, and
which shall continue to remain confidential.
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X. RELATIONS WITH OTHER UNITED NATIONS ORGANS
RULE 56
Any meeting of the Security Council held in pursuance of the Statute of the International Court of Justice for
the purpose of the election of members of the Court shall continue until as many candidates as are required for
all the seats to be filled have obtained in one or more ballots an absolute majority vote.
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APPENDIX
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FORMAT OF A DRAFT RESOLUTION
HEADING
The title should be centered, in capital letters, above the main body of the draft resolution. The title can be as
simple as “DRAFT RESOLUTION.” On the left margin and two lines below the title should be the committee
and topic name. NOTE: There are no sponsors of a draft resolution. The signatures are only there to show that
the committee wants to discuss the draft resolution. The names of “authors” should not be included.
BODY
The draft resolution is written in the format of a long sentence, with the following rules:
• The draft resolution begins with The General Assembly for all GA committees.
• The next section, consisting of Perambulatory Clauses, describes the problem being addressed, recalls
past actions taken, explains the purpose of the draft resolution, and offers support for the operative
clauses that follow. Each clause in the preamble begins with an underlined word and ends with a
comma.
• Operative Clauses are numbered and state the action to be taken by the body. These clauses are all
with the present tense active verbs and are generally stronger words than those used in the Preamble.
Each operative clause is followed by a semi-colon except the last, which ends with a period.
SAMPLE PREAMBULATORY/OPENING
CLAUSES
Affirming
Alarmed by
Approving
Aware of
Bearing in mind
Believing
Cognizant of
Confident
Contemplating
Convinced
Declaring
Deeply concerned
Deeply conscious
Deeply convinced
Deeply disturbed
Deeply regretting
Desiring
Emphasizing
Expecting
Expressing its appreciation
Expressing its satisfaction
Fulfilling
Fully alarmed
Fully aware
Keeping in mind
Noting further
Noting further
Noting with approval
Noting with deep concern
Noting with regret
Noting with satisfaction
Observing
Reaffirming
Realizing
Recalling
Recognizing
Referring
Seeking
Taking into account
Taking note
Viewing with appreciation
Welcoming
SAMPLE OPERATIVE CLAUSES
Accepts
Affirms
Approves
Authorizes
Calls for
Calls upon
Condemns
Confirms
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Fully believing
Further developing
Further recalling
Guided by
Having adopted
Having considered
Having considered further
Having devoted attention
Congratulates
Declares accordingly
Draws attention
Emphasizes
Encourages
Endorses
Expresses its appreciation
Expresses its hope
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SAMPLE DRAFT RESOLUTION
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ORDER OF PRECEDENCE
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GENERAL RULES
Being a Diplomat
Remember that the most important aspect of being a RomeMUN delegate is to act as a foreign diplomat and/or
expert. You are the representatives of the government and the peoples of the Member State to which you have
been assigned and professional diplomats conduct themselves, and regard one another, with the utmost dignity
and respect, regardless of foreign policy affiliation or personal feelings. Even if inside the committee it is
possible to assist of strongly conflicting ideological perspectives all delegates must work closely together
within the UN on diplomatic matters of mutual concern.
Delegate’s personal opinions are entirely inapplicable during the course of the simulation.
Clothing
In keeping with the spirit of the simulation, delegates are required to wear formal dress, in a professional
business style.
Further, national symbols of any kind are forbidden in committee chambers, in accordance with practices of
the UN. Only symbols associated specifically with the United Nations (e.g., the seal of the UN) are allowed in
committee chambers.
Decorum
Decorum is one of the most important rules for the days of the simulation. The ability to conduct normal
business while in formal or informal session is very difficult when decorum is not maintained. Delegates will
be asked for their assistance in this aspect.