Important Model UN Terms
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Abstain
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During a vote on a substantive matter, delegates may refuse to vote
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Adjourn
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The debate is suspended until the next meeting.
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Agenda
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The order in which the issues before a committee will be discussed.
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Amendment
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A change to a draft resolution on the floor
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Background guide
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starting point for any research before a Model UN conference usually written by the chairs.
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Binding
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Having legal force in UN member states.
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Bloc
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A group of countries in a similar geographical region or with a similar opinion on a particular topic
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Caucus
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A break in formal debate in which countries can more easily and informally discuss a topic
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Chair
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A member of the dais that moderates debate, keeps time, rules on points and motions, and enforces rules of procedure.
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Dais
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The group of people in charge of a Model UN committee. Consists of a Chair, a Director and a Rapporteur
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Decorum
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The order and respect for the others that all delegates at a Model UN conference must exhibit. Used when the Chair feels a committee is not being respectful of a speaker.
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Delegate
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A student acting as a representative of a member state or observer in a Model UN committee
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Delegation
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The entire group of people representing a member state or observer in all committees at a particular Model UN conference
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Director
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A member of the dais that oversees the creation of working papers and draft resolutions, acts as an expert on the topic, makes sure delegates accurately reflect the policy of their countries, and ensures that decorum is maintained during caucuses
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Division of the Question
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During voting bloc, delegates may motion to vote on certain clauses of a resolution separately, so that only the clauses that are passed become part of the final resolution
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Draft resolution
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A document that seeks to fix the problems addressed by a Model UN committee
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Faculty Advisor
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The faculty member in charge of a Model UN team, class or club
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Flow of debate
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The order in which events proceed during a Model UN conference.
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Gavel
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The tool which the Chair uses to keep order within a Model UN committee.
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Formal debate
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The \"standard\" type of debate at a Model UN conference, in which delegates speak for a certain time in an order based on a speakers' list.
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Head Delegate
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The student leader of a Model UN club or team
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Member State
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A country that has ratified the Charter of the United Nations and whose application to join has been accepted by the General Assembly and Security Council.
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Moderated Caucus
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Delegates remain seated and the Chair calls on them one at a time to speak for a short period of time, enabling a freer exchange of opinions than would be possible in formal debate
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Moderator
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The Chair
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Motion
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A request made by a delegate that the committee as a whole do something.
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Observer
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A state, national organization, regional organization that is not a member of the UN but participates in its debates.
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On the floor
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At a Model UN conference, a working paper or draft resolution must be approved by the Director and introduced by the committee before it may be discussed
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Operative clause
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The part of a resolution which describes how the UN will address a problem.
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Page
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A delegate in a Model UN committee that has volunteered to pass notes from one delegate to another, or from one delegate to the dais, for a short period of time.
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Placard
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A piece of cardstock with a country's name on it that a delegate raises in the air to signal to the Chair that he or she wishes to speak
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Point
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A request raised by a delegate for information or for an action relating to that delegate.
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Position Paper
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A summary of a country's position on a topic, written by a delegate before a Model UN conference
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Preambulatory Clause
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The part of a resolution that describes previous actions taken on the topic and reasons why the resolution is necessary.
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Procedural
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Having to do with the way a committee is run, as opposed to the topic being discussed
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Quorum
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The minimum number of delegates needed to be present for a committee to meet.
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Rapporteur
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A member of the dais whose duties include keeping the speakers' list and taking the roll call, as well as assisting in and keeping track of administrative duties in the committee room
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Resolution
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A document that has been passed by an organ of the UN that aims to address a particular problem or issue
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Right of Reply
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A right to speak in reply to a previous speakers' comment, invoked when a delegate feels personally insulted by another's speech.
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Roll Call
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The first order of business in a Model UN committee, during which the Rapporteur reads aloud the names of each member state in the committee
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Rules of Procedure
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The rules by which a Model UN committee is run
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Second
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To agree with a motion being proposed
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Secretariat
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The staff of a Model UN conference
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Secretary-General
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The leader of a Model UN conference
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Signatory
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A country that wishes a draft resolution to be put on the floor and signs the draft resolution to accomplish this
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Simple majority
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50% plus one vote of the number of delegates in a committee. The amount needed to pass most votes
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Speakers' List
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Determines the order in which delegates will speak
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Sponsor
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One of the writers of a draft resolution
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Substantive
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Having to do with the topic being discussed
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Unmoderated Caucus
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Delegates leave their seats to mingle and speak freely
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Working Paper
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A document in which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve an issue are proposed
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Vet
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The ability to prevent any draft resolution in the Security Council from passing by voting no
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Vote
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A time at which delegates indicate whether they do or do not support a proposed action for the committee
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Voting Procedure
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The period at the end of a committee session during which delegates vote on proposed amendments and draft resolutions. Nobody may enter
