How will the category work?

Structurally you have:

1. The Opening of the Debate

• Roll Call
• Setting the Agenda

2. The Debate

Opening Statements

• The General Speakers List
• Moderated and Unmoderated Caucuses
• Working Papers and Draft Resolutions

3. Closing the Debate

• Voting Procedure

Points used in MUN:

• Point of Order – these are used to correct a procedural error.

E.g. The chair forgot Roll Call.

• Point of Parliamentary Inquiry – Used to ask the Dais a question regarding the proceedings of the committee.
• Point of Personal Privilege – Used with to express a personal concern.

E.g. The room is too warm, your placard broke, or you cannot hear the speaker.

• Point of Information – Used to ask a delegate a question so they may clarify a speech.

Position Paper:

A summary of how a country sees the issue being discussed, their connection, and their policy proposals. Position Papers should be submitted to the chairs before the conference.

Motion:

How do you ask for something in MUN in the official request form? You can motion for many different actions to guide the debate forward in a specific way. Some examples of motions are motions for different types of caucuses (discussion), to move to vote or to end the committee session altogether. They are also known as the sub-topics of the major topic.

Simple Majority:

A vote that requires at least one over 50% of the vote to pass. Most procedural votes require a simple majority.

On the Floor:

When a motion, working paper, or draft resolution is open to discussion and voting. (The term floor is a legislative term meaning the part of a legislative hall where debate and other business is conducted).

Blocs:

Groups of delegates who agree on certain principles. These blocs will work together to write draft resolutions, which they later introduce and vote on. Blocs can be formed based on any common interest. Some blocs are formed around regional, cultural, or ideological interests but there are many more. Choosing who is in your bloc should be done on a case-by-case basis depending on the topic.

Unmoderated Caucus:

Lobbying time. When motioning for an Unmoderated Caucus usually no topic is needed, only the general time requested for the unmoderated caucus. Once passed, delegates get out of their seats and move freely around the room. During this time they can lobby, negotiate with other delegates and blocks and write draft resolutions. During this time, the chairs will exit the committee.

Working Paper:

The first draft of ideas in writing which is compiled by the different blocs. They do not need to be written in resolution format but are often written as complete clauses. These are usually the problems (preambulatory clauses) discussed within the committee regarding the topic.

Draft Resolution:

The final draft of a working paper where the bloc’s combined policy ideas are properly formatted and approved by the chair for both content and format. It will contain both the problems (preambulatory clauses) and the solutions (operatives) discussed within the committee regarding the topic. Once approved by the chair they can be discussed and, after the debate is closed, voted upon.