1997-1998 Edition (revised for
hypertext
by Thomas Weber, Sandia Preparatory School
(revised and moved to current site, November, 2003)
by
email: lokke@aa.edu
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******Click HERE for current information about participants, dates, the agenda, and advisors*******
Back to New Mexico Model UN Page
Welcome to the second on-line edition of the handbook. I hope that this will continue to provide the access that students and teachers need to develop their Model UN participation.
This continues to be a work in progress. As always, I welcome your suggestions for additions and improvements to this handbook. Your input is valued.
This handbook is dedicated to our late friend and colleague Clayton Rich.
Previous and present NMUN officers and advisors are the chief architects of this program and the contents of this handbook. Thanks in particular to Giles Pennington and Andy Sherman for their assistance in reviving this project.
Additional material comes from the Berkeley Model United Nations handbook. NMUN gratefully thanks the author, Brady C. Ho.
Model United Nations (Model UN) provides a forum in which students debate issues in international politics and ethics. Designed nearly 50 years ago by classroom teachers, Model UN chapters currently exist in all fifty states for high school students and on many college campuses as well.
The purpose of the Model United Nations program is to provide young people with an opportunity to learn the dynamics of diplomatic debate on current international issues with several different perspectives and interests in mind. Each team's primary task is to faithfully represent the policies of its country's government in a knowledgeable, accurate and active manner. The best teams involve all members of their team in the diplomatic process and are active in all aspects of the diplomatic process: speaking during the floor debate; appropriate use of parliamentary procedure; drafting speeches, resolutions and amendments; caucusing; negotiating; getting and communicating information to colleagues, etc.
In addition to gaining valuable experience in these skills, students spend many hours beforehand in preparation for the simulation, researching their countries, their policies and the issues. These skills are transferable to many other activities in students academic and post-academic careers.
New Mexico Model UN (NMUN) was founded in 1961. It is a not-for-profit organization, and neither faculty sponsors for school teams nor state Model UN officers receive payment for their association with the organization.
The NMUN Calendar has three, and sometimes four events: the "Draw," held in mid-April on a Saturday morning in Santa Fe – in recent years this draw has been accompanied by a one-day Model UN mini-conference of a subcommittee of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council of the UN; the " Mini-Mock ," held at the Albuquerque Academy usually the Saturday morning after Labor Day; and the November General Sessions which typically take place during the Wednesday-Friday prior to the week of Thanksgiving and are held in the House of Representatives Chambers at the State Capitol in Santa Fe.
The purpose of this meeting is for students to conduct an informal discussion to determine some general topic areas with possible sub-topics for debate by the Security Council in November. These topics should be relevant to the current world-political climate, should stimulate debate, and should fall within the purview of the Security Council. (Topics will be reconsidered during the Mini-Mock debate in September.) After the topics are selected and announced, the draw for countries takes place. At the November General Sessions meetings, sponsors will decide whether or not to hold a spring mini-conference with the draw. The host of the mini-conference will then plan the event in the ensuing months.
On the basis of the number of participating schools, advisors determine the number of countries needed for the November session and make a list of countries to add to the current Security Council members--countries that might lend substance to the debate. The Security Council is thus expanded beyond the original 15 nations in order to accommodate the number of school delegations.
Rotation: a rotation has been established to give each participating school a chance at representing a veto power in turn. The following principles apply:
This year's veto nations go to the bottom of the list.
New schools go beneath these.
No new school or a school returning from an absence gets a veto in its first year.
The rotation is as follows:
(Veto powers for 2005: Sandia Prep,
Country selection.
a. Schools with veto power select their country from a list of Security Council permanent member nations.
b. Schools pick other nations in order of the turn until each school has one team.
c. Schools desiring a second team select a second country.
d. Continue in order until each school has selected its countries.
e. Schools desiring a third team then select a third country, in order of the draw.
The purpose of the mini-mock in September is to set the agenda for the November sessions. Students came up with three topics in the Draws meeting in the Spring. This agenda is the starting point for the mini-mock discussion, during which the students act with the following considerations in mind:
a) will the topic be a good one for the Council to address in light of your country's interests and policies? (Keep in mind that a topic that casts your country in a negative light may still be a good one because it gives you a soapbox.)
b) will the topic stimulate a lively and healthy debate, or is it likely to lose luster because everyone agrees; is it relevant to current issues; is it too general or too specialized ?
The event is also a chance for students to get their feet wet with parliamentary procedure. Students who are new to Model UN are encouraged to attend with the veteran students to get a taste of what is to come in November.
This event simulates the Security Council meetings of the Model United Nations. The November sessions typically take place during the Wednesday-Friday prior to the week of Thanksgiving. The schedule is in the Appendix .
A basic maxim of Model UN participation is: the more you know, the more fun you will have. Time and time again this maxim is borne out by the comments from novice and experienced delegates during and after the sessions. Thus research--of your country, its philosophy of foreign policy, its specific stands on the issues of debate, and the views of other countries with regard to the issues--is a cornerstone of the Model UN experience.
Researching a country is like researching a role for a movie or a play. The more you know about what makes your character tick, what motivates him/her, what s/he cares most about, the easier it is to act the role. Get to know your country. Keep in mind that its history and culture are as important as its economy and politics for you to learn its basic philosophy of foreign affairs. Use the attached research questionnaire (see Appendix ) as a guide for research.
Also, follow the daily news about foreign affairs.
Read the daily summary of UN news (Daily Highlights) at the UN web site: http://www.un.org/News/ .
Become familiar with the UN Charter. This should be the foundation of any resolution you consider, including your own.
Learn about the history of the UN. An encyclopedia article should give you this, as can the UN Homepage (http://www.un.org). You will learn about important precedents and challenges for the UN.
Learn about the many activities of the UN. The Security Council is only a small part of a vast network of UN agencies and offices.
Researching the agenda topics
Read UN documents of debates and resolutions concerning the topic or related issues. Searching the UN web site www.un.org ) using keywords from the topic is an excellent way to do this.
Search the periodical literature from the last 5 years on the topics.
Try to learn about the origins of the issue, the different sides of the issue (there are often more than two!), who stands to gain/lose from a decision. Keep in mind that when your nation is not in the center of the controversy it can play a prominent role of mediator.
Use the telephone and/or email to interview an expert on your country or on an issue. This expert could be a diplomat from the country or a graduate student or professor whose scholarship is relevant to your research. This should be done after you have done a lot of research already. You don't want to waste a person's time with information you can get from an encyclopedia. Show the person that you already know some things about the topic and ask well-phrased questions. This approach can yield a tremendous amount of information unavailable elsewhere.
Encyclopedias provide a great start--but only a start--for learning about the UN and your country.
The World Political Factbook is an excellent resource for learning more about the foreign policy of countries and international organizations.
The text of the UN Charter can be found in the World Book Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia Britannica.
As you read, keep the author or the country in which the source is published in mind, and ask yourself the question," Does the source accurately reflect the values and perspectives of the country you are representing? Does it even reflect the general disposition of the United Nations?" For example, an article in the New York Times about nuclear weapons in India will probably reflect U.S. concerns about the spread of nuclear technology and the uncertainty that implies; but the article may overlook the criticism leveled by many nations around the world towards the U.S.A. about its nuclear arsenal, and how the U.S.A. is trying to hold the world to a double standard. Therefore it is very important that you DO NOT RELY ONLY ON U.S. NEWS SOURCES for your research about your country and the issues for debate. Below are some helpful news sources:
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Newspapers |
Magazines and Journals |
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The Christian Science Monitor |
Current History |
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New York Times |
The Economist |
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Manchester Guardian Weekly |
Foreign Affairs |
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Washington Post |
Foreign Policy |
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London Times |
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists |
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Los Angeles Times |
Department of State Bulletin |
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Wall Street Journal |
World Press Review |
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Le Monde
Diplomatique |
Far Eastern Economic Review |
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National Geographic Magazine |
Electronic Resources
The following World Wide Web sites are recommended because they come from institutions that take responsibility for the accuracy and quality of the information. The World Wide Web has an enormous array of web sites on international affairs, specific countries, etc. You need to take a skeptical view of independent sites (for example, an individual's home page about a country, or a usenet news post, or a page from an organization you've never heard of before). These may have distorted, inaccurate, or outright false information about your country or issue.
The United Nations Homepage is the gateway to a vast, well-organized and rich library of documents. www.un.org
Daily news on international affairs
The Christian Science Monitor - www.csmonitor.com
New York Times - www.nytimes.com
United Nations Daily News - www.un.org/News
CNN - www.cnn.com
The Earth Times offers news and views on the environment, sustainable development, population and current affairs -
http://www.earthtimes.org/lowgraphics.htm
One World (This provides a lot of useful perspectives not covered by
mainstream
Le Monde Diplomatique (highly-recommended) -
http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/md/en/
Library of Congress Country Studies (Studies of 85 countries) - http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html
Try to contact an embassy or UN mission for your country via electronic mail. Keep in mind that you should be well prepared before you take this step. Don't waste people's time with general questions that you can research on your own (i.e. population of your country, etc.). Yahoo provides a listing of embassies and consulates at - http://www.yahoo.com/Government/Embassies_and_Consulates/
Each country must submit one resolution per agenda item. Approximately forty (that is, one per delegation plus each of the judges and the chairperson) copies must be made and distributed so that each delegation, each judge, and the Chair receive a copy.
A sample resolution is in the appendix.
A Resolution has three parts: the header, the preambulatory clauses, and the operative clauses.
Header: At the top of the resolution. This simply states the topic, the sponsoring country or countries, and a title.
Preambulatory Clauses: these clauses define the problem and provide background information on past actions and precedents in regard to the problem.
Operative Clauses: these outline a specific solution or set of solutions to the problem. They define the actions to be taken. Since this is the heart of the resolution, most of your attention should be given to this section.
Examples of preambulatory clauses and operative clauses can be found on the list in the appendix.
The resolution can address the problem in a very general way or address only one or two aspects of the problem. The goal is to word the resolution in a way that reflects your country's perspective and interests and at the same time appeals to other delegations. The best resolutions need not be the lengthiest or the briefest. Rather, they are the clearest and most constructive.
The purpose of the policy statement is to: (a) express your country's general philosophy of foreign affairs and the role of the UN in general and the Security Council in particular, and (b) generally express your country's views with regard to the agenda topics.
The policy statement is presented orally during the first evening session of the November conference. There is a two-minute time limit on the speech. However, the written version of the statement may be longer than the speech, but must not exceed both sides of one sheet of paper. An electronic copy should be sent to the NM Model United Nations website administrator one week prior to the opening of the conference. This is typically the Wednesday of the week before the conference. Policy statements will then be loaded onto this website for review by other delegations during the week leading up to the conference. Hard copies of the statements on the website will be provided to judges and the chairperson at the opening of the conference.
The first paragraph may be given in the native language of the country during the speech.
Many delegations choose a novice delegate with a good speaking manner to make this speech as a way of getting one's feet wet.
Each delegate must wear a badge that clearly identifies the country and gives a number to the delegate. Do not put the delegate’s personal name or the school's name on the badge. These badges are large, because they must be seen from a distance.
The placard shows the name of the country in large letters (2 inches high at least). It must be clearly visible for the Chair and for pages. It must not be larger than 22” wide by 8 ½” tall (two regular sheets of paper, side by side).
Flags are permitted, if they do not interfere with the recognition of delegates and if they are small enough to not drape, fall, or lie inappropriately. They may not be applied to any surface with tape or glue.
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE FOR NMUN
The Agenda
The topics for debate (and their order) by the Security Council in the November Sessions are determined at the Mini-Mock. The order may be changed with a 2/3 vote at the general session.
Resolutions
Resolutions are presented in alphabetical order. The country that comes first in alphabetical order has the right to present its resolution for the first agenda item. Should the resolution be tabled or defeated, then the second country in alphabetical order can introduce its resolution. A country can pass to the next country in alphabetical order. Thus if Burundi is in a different caucus from Belgium, it would be unwise for Belgium to pass, but if Brazil is in the same caucus this may be appropriate.
The country that is last in alphabetical order has the right to present the first resolution on the second agenda item.
No resolution may be introduced until copies have been made and distributed to the other delegations, to the judges, and to the Chair.
After introduction and reading of the resolution by the sponsoring delegation, a Pro-Con debate commences, with speakers for the pro side lined up on one side of podium and con speakers lined up on the con side of the podium. Pro speakers have 10 minutes among themselves to speak in favor of the resolution. Con speakers then have 10 minutes (or a time length determined by a motion from the floor) among themselves to speak against the resolution.
After the Pro-Con debate, the resolution is open to debate, amendment and vote from the floor.
Amendments
Amendments are written during the debate and caucus in order to change a resolution that is on the floor for debate.
An amendment that changes more than one phrase in a resolution must, before it is introduced on the floor, have copies made and distributed so that each delegation, each judge, and the Chair receive a copy. The Chair has the power to rule whether or not written copies are required.
Amendments may not alter the intent of the resolution they are amending. The Chair has the power to rule on this. Preambulatory clauses may not be amended during floor debate in the general sessions.
A friendly amendment may be made, but it must be seconded by both the delegation that introduced the resolution and the delegation that seconded it.
Motions
An excellent introduction to parliamentary procedure is found in the article "Parliamentary Procedure" in the World Book Encyclopedia. A chart from the article (reproduced here in the appendix) outlines what you can do.
Use of the microphones
In the past the Speaker of the House of Representatives has extended to Model UN delegates the privilege of using the microphones in the House Chamber. This privilege must be used with decorum. The microphone is to be used only by the speaker recognized by the Chair. The microphone may not be used to obtain the floor or to raise a point that interrupts a speaker.
The Chair will advise the delegations when parliamentary procedure is being misused. This may include instances when procedure is within the rules but substantially violates the spirit of the parliamentary endeavor. Delegations may raise a point of order to call attention to an error in parliamentary procedure.
Filibuster
The filibuster--an attempt to hold the floor indefinitely and thereby stall the parliamentary process--is a tradition unique to the United States Senate. It is not used in the United Nations. Use of a filibuster in the New Mexico Model UN is not permitted. No delegation may hold the floor for more than 3 minutes unless an extension of no more than 3 minutes at a time is granted by the Chair or by majority vote of the body.
General Advice on Parliamentary Procedure
The best way to learn parliamentary procedure is by using it. Simulate debates in preparation for the November sessions. Experienced Model UN students should chair the debates. Start by choosing topics that do not require a good deal of advance research (i.e. the upcoming Presidential election, or Coke vs. Pepsi, etc.). As you get close to the November sessions, conduct debates on the agenda topics. Parliamentary Procedure at a Glance is another good book for reference and study.
Delegates on the floor
There may be no more than four delegates on the floor at any time. Delegations with more than four delegates will rotate their delegates on and off the floor. Delegates off the floor will observe from the gallery, caucus in the hallway, write/copy resolutions and amendments, and volunteer as pages.
Notes and Pages
Delegates may not leave their seats to visit another delegation while the floor is in session. Delegations communicate with each other with notes delivered by pages.
Delegates may volunteer as pages to deliver notes. The Chair may require a delegation to supply pages if the need arises. When speeches are being made at the podium, pages should avoid walking near the speaker and, in general, should be as unobtrusive as possible.
All notes must be signed and addressed by the sending delegation on stationary labeled by your school with your delegation name on the outside of the note. Pages will not accept unsigned notes. Frivolous and offensive notes are not permitted. These notes may come to the Chair's attention. The Chair has the right to censure a delegation for such behavior or suspend note passing altogether. Sending of notes and page activity must stop during keynote speeches and other visiting addresses to the body.
There is a limit of one page at a time per delegation on the floor. Additional delegation members, beyond the four allowed on the floor and one page must stay outside the chambers or sit in the gallery.
Caucuses function to look at an issue and build support for action with many votes instead of one vote. One purpose of a caucus is to decide which of the resolutions prepared by the delegations should be presented from the floor with the support of the caucus members. A consensus must be reached in order for a caucus to achieve a bloc of votes. Compromises are made and amendments are considered. Keep in mind the order in which resolutions will be presented. Know which delegation has first right to present its resolution and plan your caucus strategy accordingly.
In the past ( i.e., during the Cold War) there were 3 caucuses (Western, Eastern, and Non-aligned). But this is an open question these days. You must prepare by learning about the relationships your country has with the other countries on an issue-by-issue basis. Who are your allies? Who are your enemies (including philosophical enemies)? Come with ideas for caucus divisions before the session starts and propose them in informal caucuses and from the floor.
Caucuses take on a personality of their own. There are no definite rules for how a caucus should be run. Traditionally, once a caucus convenes the first order of business is to elect a caucus president and a caucus secretary. Delegates nominate themselves with short speeches advocating their candidacy and a vote is taken. Traditionally an informal use of parliamentary procedure is used, but the tone is ultimately set by the caucus president and caucus members. Delegates may want to arrive with a written proposal for caucus rules for the members to accept, amend, or reject.
Judges should be present to observe the caucuses (see "Judging"). Visits by advisors should be brief in order to allow the delegates to create and maintain their own working group.
Awards are given at the end of the November General Sessions by judges with the following guidelines.
Judging Guidelines
Each team is expected to represent its country as that country currently exists as a member of the United Nations Security Council or General Assembly. The best teams will represent their countries accurately. They involve all members of the team in the diplomatic process and exhibit consistent proficiency in speaking, writing speeches, researching, and communicating effectively with others.
The role of a judge is to gain some acquaintance with each team and, to the extent that it is possible, try to formulate some sense of the accomplishment of delegates and delegations in the floor debate and caucuses. Judges are strongly encouraged to circulate amongst the delegates and ask them questions during the debates and caucus to see the teams in all phases of the process.
At the end of the session judges will confer awards for three outstanding delegations, one most improved delegation, three outstanding delegates, and one outstanding policy statement. Judges may also decide to recognize additional delegations or delegates with commendations.
Judges evaluate performance according to the general categories suggested below and in the light of standards and perspectives agreed upon among themselves.
1. Knowledge of parliamentary procedure
2. Knowledge and practice of a country's policies
3. Knowledge of other countries' policies
4. Knowledge of one's country's history
5. Knowledge of one's country's U.N. role
6. Awareness of current events in general
7. Statesmanship on the floor
8. Statesmanship in caucus
9. Effective use of general knowledge
10. Diplomacy
11. Evidence of preparation to participate in Model U.N.
12. Oratorical style
13. Overall rating
Comments
DIPLOMACY, SPEECH, DRESS, ETIQUETTE, ETC.
Diplomacy
Politeness is always expected while interacting with delegates, be it on the floor or in caucus. It is wise for the more influential delegations to take into consideration the weaker delegations and enlist their support and active involvement.
Speaking
Outline your thoughts. Never say "I." Say "We" or "China..." Never address a delegate or delegation directly during floor debate unless invited to do so by the Chair.
Dress
Appropriate diplomatic attire has a significant effect on how a delegate is
treated by his/her peers as well as how the delegation as a whole presents
itself to the judges. Customary clothing indigenous to the country's culture is
appropriate if it is considered to be formal/semi-formal attire by that
country's culture. Indigenous forms of dress should be approved in advance by
team moderators, and students must take care not to offend. Otherwise follow the general guidelines for
dress:
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WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE |
WHAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE |
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Business Suit |
Jeans |
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Jacket and dress pants |
Shorts |
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Dresses |
Sweats or athletic gear |
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Slacks |
Tuxes or Prom Dresses |
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Blouses |
Tank Tops and T-Shirts |
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Collared Shirts |
Anything that glows or blinks |
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COMFORTABLE Shoes |
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Roundhouse Etiquette
The Capitol Building in Santa Fe (also called the Roundhouse) is a work place for New Mexico government all year long. Legislators, state and local officials, lobbyists, citizens, and journalists use the facilities for the many hours of work leading up to the development and possible passage of legislation, not to mention carrying out existing legislation. It is extremely important, therefore, that Model UN participants show appropriate respect for the facilities and the people using them while in the Roundhouse. Model UN advisors have a responsibility to enforce appropriate behavior.
Tips for Delegates: New and Old
New delegates-- Here are some things you can do to be involved and
learn how things go, even when you feel like you don't understand what's going
on:
Veterans--be sure to get your fellow delegates involved. Encourage the new members of your delegation to make prepared speeches (policy speech and pro/con speeches). Ask your fellow delegates to find out and report what other delegations and caucuses are doing. Remember, delegations with a balanced involvement are noticed favorably by the judges.
Supplies
Bring paper and writing implements. Delegations have benefited from laptop computers for drafting and revising resolutions. In the past, the Capitol building staff has generously provided one or two laser printers for Model UN use in order to print resolutions and the newsletter. However, this service was unavailable in the 2002 sessions. It may not be available in the future. Print services can also make copies of resolutions (within reasonable limits) from hard copies, but not from electronic files.
Schedule for the November Sessions
Sample Resolution
Sample Policy Statement
Preambulatory and Operative Clauses
Sample Amendment
Research Questionnaire
Summary of Parliamentary Procedure