High Tech High

How to be a Good Delegate Guide

By

Eric Wu and Zac Sheffer

Summer 2006

Research

When researching it is best to find information from multiple sources so that you can get all the information on a particular subject. In other terms, use the web, library, and people that have already done the topic that you need information on. One way to receive the best information is to ask people that have done the committee that you are going to be in because they will most likely have specific tips and hints. If you are primarily going to use the web then diversify your search terms and search engines. For example, you are on Google and are trying to find information on HIV so you search for “HIV problem areas.” Because that was a very general search you are most likely going to fin millions of pages and most will not help you. Because you are looking for HIV a WHO topic you can start at the WHO website and search there for HIV or during your Google search you can do file specific web pages to find only PDFs for example or domain specific searches to find government web pages only. By searching for domain specific pages you can eliminate unreliable web pages and focus on those that are absolutely reliable. After researching be sure to have prints of important resources and highlight the important sections for quotes during committee. Be sure that you have the website for sources in case any delegates during committee want to know your source, this is where having government web pages is important.

WebPages to use while researching

http://www.un.org/english/ (Official webpage of the UN)

www.Google.com (Use advanced search features)

http://mun.hightechhigh.org/research_database.php (HTHMUNs research database)

http://mundocuments.com/ (MUN related document database)

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ (CIA Fact book on all nations)

www.nationmaster.com (Contains facts on everything for every country)

In Committee

Speeches

Speeches are one of the most important things for MUN for a variety of reasons. Firstly, speeches allow you to speak to the entire committee at one time instead of a small group like caucuses. Because of this reason speeches must be planned out and practiced to make them effective. When writing speeches it is important to have facts, quotes, and analysis to make your speech stand out more and to receive more points. While doing speeches it is important to be loud so that everyone can hear you, keep your eyes up, use hand gestures, and if you’d like move around slowly. While speaking it is also important to not use filler words like ‘err’ and ‘umm’, do not read from a piece of paper, and do not stand in one place and switch weight from left to right. Also try to do as many speeches, by sending a note to the chairs asking to be added to the speakers list, as many times as possible because they are easy points.

Caucuses

Caucuses are extremely important in convincing others of what your nation believes. Caucuses can be done every half-dozen or so speeches and are basically free discussion. People then move into groups called caucuses where they talk and solve try to solve the current issue. During caucuses it is important to speak often and try to control the caucus. If you can control the caucus group you can rack up points. Caucuses are also very helpful in creating resolutions because you can get them to co-write and vote for all of your resolutions. Caucuses also allow you to get an idea of other nation’s ideas and problems in more detail then speeches, they also give you the chance to question delegates face to face. While in caucuses it is important to not only try to create a strong caucus group to vote fore resolutions but you can also go to other caucus groups and ask for votes or learn about their resolutions and amendments.

Comments/Questions

After every speech there are either comments or questions depending on the committee and conference. These are important because they allow you to instill doubt or confidence in a delegate’s ideas directly after they have spoken and in front of the entire committee. Questions and comments are also the easiest way to earn points because they are usually only thirty seconds and the information for them is found in the delegate’s speech. When raising placard to do a comment or question it is often not to raise your placard every time because the chairs will not call on you every time, perhaps less to allow others to get points, but you will also not have a strong question to get full points.

Award System

Every committee has three types of awards that can be won for the best delegates: commendation, outstanding, and gavel or best delegate. In most committees the top 15-20% or so wins an award. To win a commendation you must be with the top 20% and 8% or so, to win an outstanding you must be between 8% and 1%, and the to win the entire committee you must be the best delegate, the top 1%. To win any of these awards you must first be professional, well spoken, well researched, and have demonstrated the ideals that make an MUN delegate.

Dress Code

There are two things to consider when determining what to wear for MUN. The first is professionalism; if it is not professional do not wear it. The second thing to consider is comfort, on long conferences if you are not comfortable it will completely throw you off your game. So as long as it is comfortable and professional wear it. If you think that it might not be professional do not war it. Basically use common sense about what to wear and what not to wear because if you wear inappropriate attire you will lose points in committee.

	Males	Females
Do	Collared Shirt Ties Dress shoes Suit (if possible)	Button-up blouses Sandals with backs Knee-length skirts Light make-up Dress pants Hair up and out of face Nylons
DON’T	Street clothes Stupid ties Tennis shoes White socks Baggy clothes Hat Sweater DON’T SAG	Short skirts Sheer blouses Heavy make-up Distracting jewelry Chipped nail polish Flip-flops

Materials Needed

One day conference

Research *

MUN Delegate Guide (Will come in handy)*

Folder & Notebook(s) *

Pens *

Highlighters (Helpful)

Paper for Note Passing *

Resolutions & Speeches *

Briefs *

Briefcase *

Overhead Pens & Transparencies (Can be helpful)

Mints (Important)

Kleenex

Laptop & Other Personal Electronics (Do not abuse)

Wallet w/ Personal Identification

Snacks (Do not be disruptive)

Cash (For Snacks)

Water (Trust me, you will need it)

Cell Phone (Do not use in committee, keep on silent)

Note: Asterisk* signifies that the item is very important and you need for committee.

Overnight conferences

Clothing

- Dress Shirts and matching ties*

- Dress pants/dress skirts*

- Dress shoes*

- Dress socks (Stockings/Nylons)*

- Underwear*

- Casual clothes (Jeans, T-Shirt, Tennis Shoes)*

- Sleep Wear*

Toiletries

- Toothbrush *

- Toothpaste *

- Floss

- Mouth Wash

- Hair Brush/Comb *

- Body Wash & Shampoo *

- Feminine Products

- Make Up

Briefcase

- Folder & Paper & Notebook(s)*

- Pens*

- Highlighters

- Paper for Note Passing

- Cash (For Meals & Snacks)*

- Research*

- Room Key

- MUN Delegate Guide*

- Resolutions & Speeches*

- Briefs*

- Overhead Pens & Transparencies

- Mints*

- Kleenex

Other

- Laptop & Other Personal Electronics

- Wallet w/ Personal Identification

- Snacks

- Reading Material

- Prescribed Medication & Pain Reliever/Ibuprofen*

- Cell Phone

- Glasses*

- Contact cleaner*

Note: Asterisk means it is important

What Not to Do

- Do not make any rude noises in committee

- Do not pass irrelevant notes because the chairs will read them

- Do not dress inappropriately

- Do not personally attack anyone in committee

- Do not leave the room during a speech/comment or when someone is speaking

- Do not speak in the first person unless referring to your country as a whole

- Do not sleep during committee

- Do not ask to use the restroom or to leave the room unless your chair specifies that you must

- Do not throw notes across the room

- Do not talk about personal issues during caucus

- Do not groom yourself during committee

- Do not talk while others are speaking

- Do not talk unless the chair has called on you

- Do not listen to music, play games, or watch movies while in committee

- Do not take pictures during committee

- Do not play with toys

- Do not curse

- Do not take medicine during committee

- Do not draw or doodle on your papers

- Do not use the phone or text message during committee

- Do not bring personal items to committee

- Do not read books in committee

- Do not pray or partake in religious activities in committee

- Do not steal

- Do not discuss television shows during caucus

Note: Use common sense during committee, if you shouldn’t do it then don’t.

Parliamentary Procedure

Point of Personal Privilege- Used when a delegate is unable to participate in committee business.

Point of Order- Used to establish order if a delegate(s) are deemed to be out of order.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry- In order when the floor is open; used for questions about points of parliamentary procedure.

Motion for Right of Reply- Used to recognize the slandering of one delegate towards another; granted only at chair’s specific discretion.

Motion to adjourn debate- In order only if the chair deems it to be appropriate. (50% + 1)

Motion to suspend debate- Used to suspend debate until the next meeting; in order only if the chair deems it appropriate. (50% + 1)

Motion to caucus- Needs to specify length and reason for; deemed appropriate by the chair. (50% + 1)

Motion for moderated caucus- Needs to specify length and reason for; deemed appropriate by chair. (50% + 1)

Motion to close debate- Ending debate on a topic or resolution (2/3 majority; 1 speaker for, 1 against)

Motion to postpone debate- Postponing debate on a topic or resolution (2/3 majority; 1 speaker for, 1 against)

Motion to divide the question- Used when it is necessary to vote on certain parts of a resolution separately; a three tiered vote: 1) on individual motions to divide, 2) on inclusion of amendments, 3) and on the final resolution. (50% + 1; 2 speakers for, 2 against)

Motion to reorder agenda- Used to reorder the topics being discussed or the order for which resolutions are to be voted upon. (50% + 1)

Motion for a roll call vote- In order only on procedural matters. (50% + 1)

Motion to question competence- Used only if competence of a committee is in question pertaining to a topic. (50% + 1; 2 speaker for, 2 against)

Motion to submit an amendment to a resolution.

Motion to submit a resolution.

Motion of resumption of debate- Resumes debate on a previously postponed resolution or topic. (50% + 1; 1 speaker for, 1 against)

Motion for reconsideration- Made only by a delegate that voted with the majority. (2/3 majority; 2 speakers for, 2 against)

Resolutions and Amendments

Resolution Format

Committee: [what committee you are in]
Topic: [the topic your resolution is about]
Sponsors: [your official country name and any other countries that are sponsoring the resolution]

Title (title cannot be changed by amendment)

The General Assembly, (or other UN organ)

      Recalling that (5) spaces should be indented before each preambulatory phrase,

      Recognizing that (1) line should be skipped before each title and before and after every phrase,

      Gravely concerned that delegates may forget to use a comma at the end of preambulatory phrases,

      Understanding that preambulatory phrases outline the issue at hand,

      Noting that every resolution begins with the name of the organ, not with the name of the committee,

      Taking note of the requirement that three or more documents be cited with their titles, dates, and numbers,

      Recalling that preambulatory phrases cannot be amended,

      Aware that the format of a resolution is one long sentence,

      1. Nevertheless recognizes that this format is used at most conferences;

      2. Urges that operatives pose a solution to the problem at hand;

      3. Welcomes clear and simple wording, and splitting complex ideas into sub-operatives:
            (a) With a colon introducing the first sub-operative;

            (b) With one (1) line between each sub-operative;

            (c) With no underling with the sub-operative;

            (d) With a semi-colon at the end of each sub-operative and operative;

      4. Observes that a resolution, being only one sentence, always ends with a period.

Note: Some conferences require pre-written resolutions while other conferences require them to be written in committee.

Amendment Format

Committee: [what committee you are in]
Sponsors: [your official country name and any other countries that are sponsoring the resolution]

Amendment to Resolution [Resolution #]

1. Amends Operative Clause 1 to read:
[Write new text of operative here];

2. Deletes Operative Clause 2;

3. Adds Operative Clause 3 to read:
[Write new operative here];

4. Renumbers accordingly.

Note: The sections are numbered and an amendment can amend, delete or add operatives. Finish each amendment with a note to “renumber accordingly.” Like resolutions, amendments are one sentence and each clause is finished with a semi-colon except for the final one which ends with a period. Also amendments can amend an entire resolution as long as one operative is left unchanged.

Resolution Vocabulary
Preambulatory Phrases
Acknowledging Affirming Alarmed Anxious Appreciating Approving Aware Bearing in mind Being convinced Believing Cognizant Concerned Condemning Confident	Conscious Considering Contemplating Convinced Declaring Deploring Desiring Determined Distressed Disturbed Emphasizing Encouraged Endorsing Examining	Expecting Expressing Having Adopted Approved Considered Decided Devoted attention to Examined Heard Received Recognized Regard for	Resolved Reviewed Studied Hearing Keeping in mind Mindful Noting Reaffirming Realizing Recalling Recognizing Regretting Reiterating	Seeking Shocked Stressing Supporting Taking into account Taking into consideration Taking note Underlining Urging Welcoming
Operative Phrases
Accepts Adopts Affirms Appeals Appreciates Approves Authorizes Calls upon Commends Concurs Condemns Confirms Congratulates	Considers Considers it desirable Decides Declares Demands Deplores Designates Determines Directs Draws attention to Emphasizes Encourages	Endorses Expresses Instructs Invites Notes Proclaims Reaffirms Recognizes Regrets Reiterates Rejects Reminds Renews	Repeats Requests Resolves Stresses Suggests Supports Takes not of Transmits Urges Welcomes

Policy Papers

Some conferences require delegates to write policy papers before committee instead of resolutions. A policy paper is pretty self explanatory it is your nation’s policy about a specific topic. Policy papers discuss the basic topic, what the UN has done on the topic, and what your nation has done on the topic. Be sure to put effort into these because they are graded and often conferences do not allow delegates who did not submit policy papers to win more difficult awards. These also help you with your research about your nation for committee.

Policy Paper Format

TITLE:

1. Full Country Name

2. Committee

3. School

4. Topic

PART 1: BACKGROUND OF TOPIC

1. Historical background and causes of the topic

2. Who is directly involved with or affected by this problem?

3. Why is this problem of international concern?

PART 2: UNITED NATIONS INVOLVEMENT

1. How did the UN get involved? How did the UN originally become involved and what actions has the UN taken on this issue?

2. Organs, committees, agencies or NGOs of the UN that are involved.

PART 3: YOUR COUNTRY’S POLICY AND ACTIONS

1. Your country’s involvement (if any) with the topic.

2. Your country’s position on the topic and opinion on the UN’s actions regarding the topic

3. Your country’s past actions regarding the topic (i.e. voting records, resolutions sponsored, conferences attended, conventions signed, peacekeeping forces sent, etc.)

4. Possible solutions that your country plans to propose

Note: Policy paper format can be found on the conference’s webpage. If you can not find it there then the format is approx. one page, single spaced, 12 font, times new roman.

Block Positions

African: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Liberia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Arab: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Asian: Armenia, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Eastern: Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine

Latin American: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, Granada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

Western: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Samoa, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States