Delegate resources

1. Your committee and topic

Read your topic on the Committees page, and the background guide when it’s out. What is the problem, who does it affect, and what has the UN already tried?

2. Your country

You argue your country’s view, not your own. Find its region, allies and groups (e.g. African Union, SADC), and what it has said or voted on the topic. No stated view? Follow its allies.

3. The topic in depth

Read past UN resolutions and reports. Note the source of every fact. See Research resources.

4. Your position

Sum up your research on one page. See the Position paper guide.

5. Your opening speech

About one minute: your position and one or two solutions. See Speech and debate guidance.

6. Solutions and allies

List three or four solutions, likely allies and opponents, and what you could accept as a compromise.

7. On the day

• Say “the delegate of [country]”, not “I”.
• Address the chair as “Honourable Chair”.
• Raise your placard and wait to be called.
• Listen, and build on others’ ideas.

The common rules most Model UN conferences use.

Roll call

The chair calls each country. Answer:

• “Present”: you may abstain on resolutions.
• “Present and voting”: you must vote yes or no.

Speakers’ list

The default debate. Each delegate speaks for a set time (often 1–2 minutes). Time left over can be yielded: to the chair (it ends), to another delegate, or to questions.

Caucuses

A motion pauses the speakers’ list:

• Moderated caucus: short speeches on one sub-topic. State total time, speaking time and purpose, e.g. “Motion for a ten-minute moderated caucus, one minute per speaker, on protecting water supplies.”
• Unmoderated caucus: free discussion to form groups and draft resolutions. State the total time.

Motions usually pass by simple majority.

Points

Point	Use it when…	Interrupts a speaker?
Personal privilege	Something stops you taking part, e.g. you can’t hear	Yes, if urgent
Order	The rules weren’t followed	No
Parliamentary inquiry	You have a question about the rules	No
Information	You want to question a speaker who yielded to questions	No

Resolutions and amendments

• A draft resolution needs enough sponsors (authors) and signatories (who want it debated).
• Amendments change it. Friendly (all sponsors agree): added without a vote. Unfriendly: voted on.

Voting

A motion to close debate starts voting. Doors close. Vote yes, no or abstain; a simple majority usually passes. In the Security Council, nine votes are needed and any permanent member (China, France, Russia, UK, US) can veto.

Worth writing even if it isn’t required: it organises your research.

Heading

Committee, topic, country, your name, your school.

1. The problem

What it is, how big, who it affects. Mention key UN resolutions or treaties.

2. Your country’s position

How the topic affects your country, what it has done, and past votes or speeches.

3. Solutions

Two to four realistic solutions: who carries them out and who pays.

Tips

• Formal, third person: “The Republic of Zambia believes…”, not “I think…”.
• Use facts and note sources.
• Argue your country’s real view, even if you disagree.
• Short and clear beats long.

A resolution is the document a committee votes on: preambulatory clauses (reasons) then operative clauses (actions).

Heading

Committee, topic, sponsors (authors) and signatories (want it debated).

Preambulatory clauses

Start with an italic phrase, end with a comma: Recalling, Recognising, Noting with concern, Deeply alarmed by, Bearing in mind, Welcoming.

Operative clauses

Numbered, start with an italic verb, end with a semicolon (the last with a full stop): Calls upon, Encourages, Urges, Recommends, Requests, Supports, Establishes. Sub-clauses are (a), (b), (c).

Only the Security Council can bind countries, so Decides, Demands and Condemns belong there.

Example

Committee: World Health Organization Topic: Global pandemic preparedness

The World Health Organization,

Recognising that infectious diseases do not respect borders,

Noting with concern that many health systems lack outbreak early-warning systems,

1. Calls upon member states to share outbreak data within 24 hours of detection;
2. Encourages wealthier states to fund laboratory training and equipment in lower-income countries;
3. Requests a yearly progress report.

Tips

Be specific (who, what, by when, paid by whom), one idea per clause, and within your committee’s powers.

UN sources

• United Nations
• UN Digital Library: resolutions and voting records
• UN Meetings Coverage: what each country said
• UN News
• Security Council Report
• Sustainable Development Goals

Committee organisations

WHO · UNICEF · UNESCO · FAO · WFP · UNEP · UN Women · UN Human Rights · African Union

Country information

• Your country’s UN mission website (search “[country] mission to the United Nations”) and foreign ministry.
• The World Factbook
• BBC country profiles

Tips

Prefer recent, official sources. Check key facts in two places. Note every source.

Opening speech (about one minute)

1. Hook: a striking fact or statement.
2. Position: your country’s view and why.
3. Proposals: one or two solutions.
4. Close: e.g. “The delegate of Ghana looks forward to working with all who share this goal.”

Speaking

• Practise aloud and time yourself.
• Use bullet notes, not a script, and look up.
• Slow down; pauses are fine.
• Stay formal: “the delegate of…”, never “you”.

Questions

Hear the whole question. Keep answers short and polite. Don’t invent facts: give your country’s general position.

Negotiating

• Respond to what others said.
• Find allies in the first unmoderated caucus.
• Bring quieter delegates in.
• Compromise: a resolution that passes beats one that fails.
• Help write the resolution.

Chairs usually look for: knowledge, staying in character, taking part, diplomacy, and contributing to resolutions.