What to expect 

As with everything, the first step is to register for a conference that interests you. Here are some things that may come in handy when doing so (remember, each conference works differently, so the following may vary).

Firstly, one important thing to know is your delegation size (remember, a delegation is a group of students that represent the same country and that attend the conference together). Depending on it, you will be assigned one country or another. For instance, the Big Five (those countries with veto power: the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom) are represented in each committee, so they are reserved for large delegations. Most conferences also allow individual delegates, so do not worry if you are not part of a delegation. Moreover, if your delegation is between two sizes, some people can apply as individual delegates.

Secondly, conferences normally ask for your preferences regarding which country to represent. Don’t be afraid to choose countries that are outside your comfort zone and that are controversial; many think those are the most fun!

In addition, at some point, you will be asked to choose a committee. Make sure you choose one that interests you since you will spend a considerable amount of time preparing.

Finally, if you are part of a delegation, you will need to choose an ambassador, who is the delegate in charge of representing the delegation in the General Assembly (or Opening Ceremony) and whenever required. The importance of this role varies, but if the delegation prefers, their responsibilities can be minimal.

Click here to see Preparation. 

The first event you will always take part in is the Opening Ceremony, in which everyone in the conference participates (there is no distinction between committees). If you are a first-timer, you should know you don’t have to worry about it. Keep in mind there will be a lot of people, so if you don’t want to, you don’t need to draw attention to yourself. However, it would be great if, along with your delegation, you participated to make a great first impression.

Once you get there, you will see that delegates sit with their delegations, and the countries are arranged in alphabetical order. During the Opening Ceremony, you should expect the first roll-call, which consists of naming all present countries while the ambassador of each one answers “present” and raises their placard. After that, there will be speeches delivered by ambassadors (that delegation's representative), special guests, and the Secretary-General. The speaker list is normally organized before the conference, so if you want to deliver a speech, you need to notify the organizers (if the conference gives the option to do so).

Again, this may vary depending on the conference you are attending, but usually, after the Opening Ceremony, delegates are asked to go to their committees to meet their colleagues. There’s tipically a round of introductions, and at some conferences, you might also participate in icebreaker activities.

After this, the debate will start. The first thing that happens is opening speeches, which are normally done in alphabetical order.

To find out more about how to make a good opening speech, click here. Opening speeches will let you know each country’s position regarding the discussed topic and how they would like to tackle the issue. This is a perfect opportunity to make Points of Information to other countries, which will make you look like a strong delegate. 

After understanding each country’s position, the committee will move into an unmoderated caucus. This is a more informal way to debate, where no formal procedures need to be followed, and delegates can and should stand up and talk to each other. The reason for moving into an unmoderated caucus can vary, but there is always one to discuss which draft resolution will be debated first.

During this unmoderated caucus, you have two options: try to be the main submitter or contribute to the working paper you support.

If you want to be the main submitter, you should approach your allies and ask them to sign your working paper and contribute to it if they want. It is a good strategy to let them change whatever they think is not right and to let them add new clauses if you agree with the content. It is likely the main submitters will be one of the Big Five since they are normally the countries with the most support, still, that is not mandatory, and smaller countries could play a significant role and even become main submitters. 

Remember that to become the main submitter, your draft resolution needs to have the most signatures. Signing a draft resolution doesn’t necessarily mean that you agree with what it says; it just means you would like to debate it.

If you don’t want to or can’t be the main submitter, you should try to present measures you have previously thought of to other delegates. You can write them as a clause before presenting them if you haven’t done so before. You can negotiate so that this is added to the working paper that is more likely to be debated first. This will benefit you since the clauses won’t have to be amended and voted on. 

The next thing done is the presentation of the draft resolution with most signatures. The main submitter will read the whole document in front of the committee, followed by a brief speech. If the main submitter is open to point of information, which will probably be the case, the rest of the committee can ask questions. For instances, the purpose of some questions could be to ask the delegate to clarify something or to ask if the delegate is taking something into consideration. 

It is important that all delegates read carefully the draft resolution while asking themselves if their country would be in favor of the different clauses.  

As it has been stated before, it is important that all delegates ask themselves if their country would agree with the measures proposed. If that is not the case, do not worry, you can present amendments. 

In short, amendments are modifications of the drafted resolution. There are two different types of amendments: 

1. Friendly amendments.

These amendments are not meant to change the content of what it is stated, just to correct format, grammar or spelling mistakes. These amendments could be even presented verbally (if the Chairs admit it). 

2. Unfriendly amendments.

These do change the content of the drafted resolution. There are three types: 

• Create a new clause.

If there is a measure you would like to include, this is the way of doing it. For instances, clauses that you had written in your position paper could be amended and added to the resolution. 

• Eliminate a clause.

If there is a clause that your country does definitely  not agree with, not even a part, you can eliminate the entire clause. 

• Modify an existing clause.

If there is a clause that your country agrees with but has some controversial things you would like to change, you have the option to do so by modifying only that part. That is also an intelligent thing to do if your country does not agree with the clause but could do it with some slight changes. This is because the committee is more likely to vote in favor of a change than to eliminating a clause. 

Once an amendment has been presented, this is the process that it must follow: 

1. Submitting the amendment. 

There are different ways to submit an amendment, depending on the conference; some do it by handwriting, while others use a Google form or something similar. The chairs will choose which amendments are discussed (they will usually do it by the order they have been submitted), but you can always raise a motion to present an amendment so that yours is debated first. Click here to see more motions. 

2. Presentation of the amendment: reading it and delivering a small speech about why nations should vote in favor.

3. Speeches in favor or against the amendment. Other nations can deliver a speech defending why the modification should or shouldn't pass. 

4. Voting procedure. The voting procedure is not difficult. Countries can be in favor, against or abstain (as long there is no motion to divide the house, which would mean that countries can’t abstain). Chairs will ask: “all those countries in favor raise your placards high now”, after this they will ask: “all those countries against raise your placard high now”, and finally “all those countries abstaining raise your placards high now”. They will count the placards risen and say whether the amendment passes. An amendment needs to pass with more than half the committee voting in favor. Remember that during the voting procedure other motions can be risen as: motion to explain the vote and motion to retake the vote. Click here to see the other motions. 

If an amendment passes, that amendment is now part of the resolution.  

Once all the amendments have been discussed, delegates will be able to deliver speeches in favor or against the entire resolution (including the amendments that have passed), explaining why other nations should vote for the resolution to pass or not.  

After listening to delegates' speeches, the committee will move into voting procedure. The entire resolution needs to pass with a two-thirds majority. It is common that to vote upon the entire resolution, the committee votes by roll-call. This means that each country will say by alphabetical order what they vote. To vote this way a motion needs to be risen.  

After this, you can debate another resolution or move on to another topic (in case you have two topics). The flow of the debate will be the same: opening speeches, unmoderated caucus to decide which working paper is debated, amendments on the drafted resolution, general speeches, and the voting procedure on the whole resolution.

It is possible that there will be a crisis. When there is a crisis, a newspaper explaining some hypothetical events is delivered. These events are hypothetical but could happen in real life, such as Iran declaring war on Israel or China trying to go after Taiwan. There will be a general conflict, and this will be broken down into different situations that each committee needs to tackle.

Once the newspaper is given to delegates, there will be some time for an unmoderated caucus. You should read the general conflict and the one concerning your committee. You can also use the time to meet with your delegation to decide what your position needs to be (you can also do this alone), talk with other delegates in your committee to find allies, start preparing your opening speech, or begin writing clauses for the resolution.

After this, some opening speeches will be delivered (in many conferences, not everyone needs to do one for the crisis). Next, you will either have some time for an unmoderated caucus to write a resolution with your allies and then debate the resolution with more signatures, or create a resolution in a moderated caucus by submitting clauses as if they were amendments and debating them in the same way. 

The last formal thing that is done is the general assembly. The main submitter of the resolution from each committee will make a speech, and points of information are usually allowed, as well as speeches in favor or against. However, these may be canceled because of time constraints. Questions or speeches may come from anyone, not only people in the committee that submitted that resolution. After this, the deputy secretary general and some guests deliver speeches.

In some MUNs, the DISEC resolution is voted upon, even if your country is not part of that committee. This is because in the UN, DISEC resolutions are binding as long as they are approved by the General Assembly; if not, they are just recommendations. 

This ceremony changes a lot between conferences. Normally, this is a less formal event, and it may not be mandatory to dress formally (ask your chairs if you don’t know). Awards are delivered, and some delegations decide to make a little show that is typical of their country (like a song, dance, etc.).

Awards are different in each MUN, but they are prizes given to the delegates who have performed best in each committee. Some prizes could be: best delegate, which is given in most conferences and there is only one award in each committee; overall best delegate, which is also given in most conferences and is awarded to the best delegate among all the participants; honorable mention, and outstanding delegate, of which there are usually more than one award, and are given to students who have done very well.