study guide

The MUN Mini Study Guide

(UP MUN)

U P M U N D e l e g a t e P r e p a r a t i o n G u i d e |1

Main Organs of the United Nations

General Assembly

The General Assembly (GA) is the main and highest deliberative, policymaking, and

representative organ of the United Nations consisted of 193 member states. Member states have

one vote each and they discuss significant global issues through the six (6) committees of the

GA. According to Article 18 of the UN Charter, a vote of two-thirds majority of members with

present and voting status in the GA is required to pass a resolution.

The six committees are as follows:

GA 1 Disarmament and International Security

GA 1 discusses issues dealing with the prevention of arms and weapons trade that could

establish a threat to global and regional security. Broader outlook of the issues in Security

Council are discussed in this committee.

GA 2 Economic and Financial

Nations growth through economic development is the focus of GAs second committee.

Unlike Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), economic issues discussed in GA 2 are more

likely linked to sustainable development. This committee discusses economic issues in a more

general perspective.

GA 3 Social, Humanitarian and Cultural

The third committee of GA focuses on each member states marginalized sectors. GA 3

discusses feasible methods on how nations can progress and be protected while preserving their

history and culture.

GA 4 Special Political and Decolonization

The stability of policies and governments is the concern of GA 4. This committee also

evaluates a countrys sovereignty.

GA 5 Administrative and Budgetary

Solutions and efforts on global issues mostly require the establishments of UN Missions.

The fifth committee of GA is responsible for evaluating these missions on their failures and

successes. GA 5 also looks into the creation and spending of these missions budgets.


GA 6 Legal

GA 6 looks into the legal framework of member states. This committee is also

responsible for drafting legal systems for UN Missions in order to properly execute plans of

action.

Security Council

The Security Council (SC) is mandated by the UN Charter to maintain international

peace and security. Fifteen (15) member states form the SC.

In 1963, ten (10) of its members are mandated to hold offices for two years and are

entitled to a vote per country. The geographic distribution of the 10 nonpermanent members is:

Table 1. Seats allocated per regional bloc in the Security Council

Regional Blocs Number of Seats per Bloc

Asia * 2

Africa * 3

Eastern Europe 1

Latin America and Caribbean 2

Western Europe and Others 2

*Between the Asian and African nations, one must be an Arab country

Called as the Permanent Five or P5, Republic of France, Peoples Republic of China,

Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United

States hold veto powers. These countries were permitted permanent positions by the UN Charter

for leading the end of the World War II.

Resolutions concerning substantive matters require the affirmative votes of nine

members, including the agreeing votes of the P5. According to Article 25 of the UN Charter,

decisions made by SC are binding towards all member states of the UN. SC also recommends to

the GA the appointment of a new Secretary General and the admission of new members to the

UN.


Economic and Social Council

The fifty four (54) members of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) are

responsible for the coordination and recommendations of policies in order to attain sustainable

development through economic growth. Its members are elected by the GA for a three-year term

and may be re-elected immediately. Each of its members has one vote and decisions are made

through a majority of those present and voting.

The geographic distribution of the members is mandated as:

Table 2. Seats allocated per regional bloc in the Economic and Social Council

Regional Blocs Number of Seats per Bloc

Asia 11

Africa 14

Eastern Europe 6

Latin America and Caribbean 10

Western Europe and Others 13

ECOSOC has several commissions in order to efficiently address concerns under its

domain. These commissions are mostly of regional and functional type.

Table 3. ECOSOC regional and functional commissions

Regional Commissions Functional Commissions

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Commission on Population and Development

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and

the Pacific (ESCAP)

Commission for Social Development

Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Commission on the Status of Women

Economic Commission for Latin America and

Caribbean (ECLAC)

Commission on Narcotic Drugs

Economic and Social Commission for Western

Asia (ESCWA)

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal

Justice

Commission on Science and Technology for


Development

Commission on Sustainable Development

International Court of Justice

Based in Hague, Netherlands, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the primary

judicial organ of the UN which deals with disputes among states and those under the Charter and

international laws. ICJ can also cover cases concerning non-member states as stipulated under

the Statute of the Court. It also has the authority for legal advices to the UN organs. It is

composed of 15 justices with 9 justices making the quorum. However, the ICJ does not have

compulsory jurisdiction over all cases.

Trusteeship Council

With the independence of the last remaining trust territory, Palau, on 1 October 1994, the

Trusteeship Council suspended its operations on 1 November 1994. However, before its

operations have been suspended, the Trusteeship Council was originally made to assist the SC

and GA in handling trusteeship issues.

Members of the Council have three-year terms. As stipulated in the Charter, the Council

shall be in charge of formulating studies on the political, economic, social, and educational

advancement of the inhabitants of each trust territory. The administering authority for each trust

territory within the competence of the GA shall make an annual report to the GA based on the

results of their studies.

Secretariat

The Secretariat acts as the chief administrative organ of the UN. The Secretary-General

who heads the UN shall be appointed by the GA upon the recommendation of the Security

Council. He/she shall be the chief administrative officer of the UN and has the power to bring

any matter to the SC deemed threatening to international peace and security.

Staffs are appointed by the Secretary-General under regulations established by the GA on

the basis of necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, integrity, and

geographic diversity.


The Resolution

What is a Resolution?

A resolution is a formal statement of prescribed actions to a UN Council, Committee, or

Commission. It consists of one long, but coherent, sentence divided into clauses and sub-clauses.

It should not embody the position of one country but rather of a majority of the UN member

states. UN resolutions are non-binding as laws with the sole exception of resolutions from the

Security Council.

Writing the Resolution

Throughout the first stage of resolution writingdrafting and revising, these documents

are referred to as working papers. Working papers are written and are then discoursed among

delegates and revised or merged as needed according to their input. In order to be formally

presented to the floor, working papers must garner a certain number of supporting member states

and then be approved by the Director/Chair for printing and distribution as draft resolutions.

The language of a UN resolution is very formal and diplomatic. The two main

components of a resolution are the (1) preambulatory and (2) operative clauses.

Background information, arguments, and current stance of the actions are contained in

the preambulatory clauses. Preambulatory clauses usually start with a present or past participle

and are separated from other clauses by commas. On the other hand, operative clauses contain

the policy statements or the proposed actions of the body making the resolution. Each operative

clause should contain only one clear, definite statement of the decision to be taken by the body.

Each operative clause should be numbered separately, arranged in a logical or chronological

sequence. Each statement must begin with a verb in the third person singular of the present tense.

Table 4. List of Some Preambulatory Phrases

Acknowledging

Affirming

Alarmed by

Approving

Aware of Believing

Expecting

Expressing its appreciation

Expressing its satisfaction

Fully alarmed

Fully believing

Noting with appreciation

Noting with approval

Noting with deep concern

Noting with regret

Noting with satisfaction


Bearing in mind

Congratulating

Declaring

Deeply concerned

Deeply conscious

Deeply regretting

Deploring

Emphasizing

Further deploring

Further recalling

Having adopted

Having considered

Having devoted attention

Having examined

Keeping in mind

Noting further

Reaffirming

Realizing

Recognizing

Referring

Taking into account

Taking into consideration

Viewing with appreciation

Welcoming

Table 5. List of Some Operative Phrases

Accepts

Affirms

Approves

Asks

Calls for

Calls upon

Congratulates

Confirms

Declares accordingly

Deplores

Designates

Designates

Encourages

Endorses

Expresses its satisfaction

Expresses its hope

Further recommends

Hopes

Invites

Proclaims

Proposes

Recommends

Regrets

Requests

Resolves

Seeks

Strongly affirms

Strongly urges

Suggests

Supports

Trusts

Transmits

Urges


To act as a guide in writing a working paper and draft resolution, heres a sample resolution by

The Hague International Model United Nations.

FORUM: GENERAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION OF: Peace, security and reunification on the Korean peninsula

SUBMITTED BY: Russian Federation

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 55/11 of 31 October 2000, in which it welcomed and supported the

inter-Korean summit and the joint declaration adopted on 15 June 2000 by the two leaders of the

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations regarding the

maintenance of international peace and security,

Convinced that inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation are essential for consolidating peace

and security on the Korean peninsula and also contribute to peace and stability in the region and

beyond, inconformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter,

Recognizing that the summit held in Pyongyang from 2 to 4 October 2007 between the two

leaders and their Declaration on the Advancement of North-South Korean Relations, Peace and

Prosperity represent a major milestone in improving inter-Korean relations,

Recalling the statements welcoming the inter-Korean summit made on 1 October 2007 by

the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly, and recalling also the statement

welcoming the adoption of the Declaration made on 4 October 2007 by the Secretary-General,

1. Welcomes and supports the inter-Korean summit held from 2 to 4 October 2007 and the

Declaration on the Advancement of North-South Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity

adopted on 4 October 2007 by the two leaders of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

and the Republic of Korea;

2. Encourages the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to

implement the Declaration fully and in good faith, thereby consolidating peace on the Korean

peninsula and laying a solid foundation for peaceful reunification;

3. Invites Member States to continue to support and assist, as appropriate, the process of inter-

Korean dialogue, reconciliation and reunification so that it may contribute to peace and

security not only on the Korean peninsula but also in north-east Asia and the world as a

whole.


References

De La Salle-College of St. Benilde Model United Nations 2014 Programme Guide. (2014). PDF.

Mehra, U.R. (2010, February). How to Help MUN Delegates Become Prepared: The MUN

Guide. PDF.

National Model United Nations Delegate Preparation Guide 2013. (2013). PDF.

Souza, P. (Photographer). (2009 September 24). US President Barack Obama chairs a United

Nations Security Council meeting [digital image]. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council

Stein, I. and Williams, D.L. (2004, October). The Hague International Model United Nations

Instructional Guide 15th

Edition. PDF.

The Hague International Model United Nations Conference Basic Guidelines for New Delegates.

(n.d.). PDF.

study guide

Documents