DAEMUN III / Guide to MUN

Guide to MUN

If this is your first conference, start here. What the two committees do, how a session actually runs, how to write a resolution, and every document you will need.

The committees

Descriptions adapted from the official UN websites.

ECOSOC — Economic and Social Council

The principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues.

Official description — the official text from the UN website will be added here before September.

Source: ecosoc.un.org/en/about-us

UNOOSA — Office for Outer Space Affairs

Promotes international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and the use of space science and technology for sustainable development.

Official description — the official text from the UN website will be added here before September.

Source: unoosa.org/oosa/en/aboutus

How a session runs

An overview of how a committee session actually runs. The full Rules of Procedure document is available under Documents.

The flow of a session

  1. Roll call and setting the agenda — the chair calls each delegation, which answers “present”. The committee then votes on which of its topics to debate first.
  2. General Speakers’ List — delegates give opening speeches stating their country’s position. This list runs in the background for the whole session and the committee returns to it whenever no caucus is active.
  3. Moderated caucus — a focused debate on one sub-question. A delegate moves for a set total time and speaking time; the chair calls speakers one by one.
  4. Unmoderated caucus — free discussion. Delegates leave their seats, form blocs and draft working papers together. This is where most of the real negotiation happens.
  5. Draft resolution and approval panel — a bloc turns its working paper into a formal draft resolution with a main submitter and co-submitters, and sends it to the approval panel for checking.
  6. Debate, amendments and voting — speeches for and against the resolution, then amendments, then a final vote. A simple majority passes it.

Points you can raise

PointWhen to use it
Point of Personal PrivilegeYou cannot hear, or need to leave the room.
Point of OrderThe rules of procedure are not being followed.
Point of Parliamentary InquiryYou have a question about procedure itself.
Right of ReplyYour country’s dignity has been insulted.

Speak in third person

Always “the delegate of Kenya believes”, never “I think”. You represent a state, not yourself — even when its position is not your own.

Writing a resolution

A resolution is built from two kinds of clauses. The full vocabulary list is in the clauses PDF under Documents.

Preambulatory clauses

Set out why the committee is acting: past resolutions, treaties, and the facts of the problem. They end in a comma and are written in italics.

Affirming · Alarmed by · Bearing in mind · Deeply concerned · Noting with regret · Recalling

Operative clauses

Set out what the committee will do. They are numbered, underlined at the start, and end in a semicolon — the last one in a full stop.

Calls upon · Decides · Encourages · Requests · Urges · Further recommends

Structure at a glance

Committee: [ECOSOC] · Topic: [topic title] · Submitted by: [delegation]

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling [the relevant resolution or treaty],

Deeply concerned by [the problem being addressed],

Noting [the relevant fact or report],

1. Calls upon [who does what];

2. Requests [the follow-up action];

3. Decides [to remain seized of the matter].

The bracketed slots are for you to fill in — start from the resolution template in Documents rather than a blank page.

Documents

Every document a delegate needs, in one place. Click a title to download.