Model UN “Cheat Sheet” 

 
Vocabulary Terms 
 
Abstain​: During a vote on a substantive matter, delegates may abstain rather than vote 
yes or no. This generally signals that a country does not support the resolution being 
voted on, but does not oppose it enough to vote no. 
 
Adjourn​: All UN or Model UN sessions end with a vote to adjourn. This means that the 
debate is suspended until the next meeting. This can be a short time (e.g., overnight) or 
a long time (until next year's conference). 
 
Agenda​:​ The order in which the issues before a committee will be discussed. The first 
duty of a committee following the roll call is usually to set the agenda. 
 
Amendment​:​ A change to a draft resolution on the floor. Can be of two types: a 
"friendly amendment" is supported by the original draft resolution's sponsors, and is 
passed automatically, while an "unfriendly amendment" is not supported by the original 
sponsors and must be voted on by the committee as a whole. 
 
Background guide​:​ A guide to a topic being discussed in a Model UN committee 
usually written by conference organizers and distributed to delegates before the 
conference. The starting point for any research before a Model UN conference. 
 
Binding​:​ Having legal force in UN member states. Security Council resolutions are 
binding, as are decisions of the International Court of Justice; resolutions of the General 
Assembly and Economic and Social Council are not. 
 
Bloc​:​ A group of countries in a similar geographical region or with a similar opinion on a 
particular topic. Blocs typically vote together. 
 
Caucus​:​ A break in formal debate in which countries can more easily and informally 
discuss a topic. There are two types: moderated caucus and unmoderated caucus. 
 
Chair​:​ A member of the dais that moderates debate, keeps time, rules on points and 
motions, and enforces the rules of procedure. Also known as a Moderator. 
 
Dais​:​ The group of people, usually high school or college students, in charge of a Model 
UN committee. It generally consists of a Chair, a Director, and a Rapporteur. The dais is 
also the raised platform on which the chair traditionally sits. 
 
Decorum​:​ The order and respect for others that all delegates at a Model UN 
conference must exhibit. The Chair will call for decorum when he or she feels that the 
committee is not being respectful of a speaker, of the dais, or of their roles as 
ambassadors. 
 
Delegate​:​ A student acting as a representative of a member state or observer in a 
Model UN committee. 
 
Delegation​:​ The entire group of people representing a member state or observer in all 
committees at a particular Model UN conference. They are usually all from the same 
school. 
 
Director​:​ 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. 
 
Division of the Question​:​ 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. This is known as division of the question. 
 
Draft resolution​:​ A document that seeks to fix the problems addressed by a Model UN 
committee. If passed by the committee, the draft resolution will become into a 
resolution. 
 
Faculty Advisor​:​ The faculty member in charge of a Model UN team, class or club. 
 
Flow of debate​:​ The order in which events proceed during a Model UN conference. This 
usually indicates the movement between formal and informal debate and the process 
of drafting, debating and voting on resolutions. 
 
Gavel​:​ The tool, shaped like a small wooden hammer, which the Chair uses to keep 
order within a Model UN committee. Many conferences give the gavel used in a 
committee to the delegate recognized by the dais as the best in that committee; 
therefore, the term is frequently used to refer to the award given to the best delegate, 
even in cases where no actual gavel is given. 
 
Formal debate​:​ 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. 
 
Head Delegate​:​ The student leader of a Model UN club or team. 
 
Member State​:​ 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. 
Currently, there are 193 member states. 
 
Moderated Caucus​:​ A type of caucus in which 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. 
 
Moderator​:​ see Chair. 
 
Motion​:​ A request made by a delegate that the committee as a whole do something. 
Some motions might be to go into a caucus, to adjourn, to introduce a draft resolution, 
or to move into voting procedure. 
 
Observer​:​ A state, national organization, regional organization, or non-governmental 
organization that is not a member of the UN but participates in its debates. Observers 
can vote on procedural matters but not substantive matters. An example is the Holy 
See. 
 
On the floor​:​ At a Model UN conference, when a working paper or draft resolution is first 
written, it may not be discussed in debate. After it is approved by the Director and 
introduced by the committee, it is put "on the floor" and may be discussed. 
 
Operative clause​:​ The part of a resolution which describes how the UN will address a 
problem. It begins with an action verb (decides, establishes, recommends, etc.). 
 
Page​:​ A delegate in a Model UN committee that has volunteered to pass notes from 
one delegate to another, or from a delegate to the dais, for a short period of time. 
 
Placard​:​ 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. 
 
Point​:​ A request raised by a delegate for information or for an action relating to that 
delegate. Examples include a point of order, a point of inquiry, and a point of personal 
privilege 
 
Position paper​:​ A summary of a country's position on a topic, written by a delegate 
before a Model UN conference. 
 
Preambulatory Clause​:​ The part of a resolution that describes previous actions taken on 
the topic and reasons why the resolution is necessary. It begins with a participle or 
adjective (noting, concerned, regretting, aware of, recalling, etc.). 
 
Procedural​:​ Having to do with the way a committee is run, as opposed to the topic 
being discussed. All delegates present must vote on procedural matters and may not 
abstain. 
 
Quorum​:​ The minimum number of delegates needed to be present for a committee to 
meet. In the General Assembly, a quorum consists of one third of the members to begin 
debate, and a majority of members to pass a resolution. In the Security Council, no 
quorum exists for the body to debate, but nine members must be present to pass a 
resolution. 
 
Rapporteur​:​ 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. 
 
Resolution​:​ A document that has been passed by an organ of the UN that aims to 
address a particular problem or issue. 
 
Right of Reply​:​ A right to speak in reply to a previous speaker's comment, invoked when 
a delegate feels personally insulted by another's speech. Generally requires a written 
note to the Chair to be invoked. 
 
Roll Call​:​ 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. When a 
delegate's country's name is called, he or she may respond "present" or "present and 
voting." A delegate responding "present and voting" may not abstain on a substantive 
vote. 
 
Rules of Procedure​:​ The rules by which a Model UN committee is run. 
 
Second​:​ To agree with a motion being proposed. Many motions must be seconded 
before they can be brought to a vote. 
 
Secretariat​:​ The staff of a Model UN conference. 
 
Secretary-General​:​ The leader of a Model UN conference. 
 
Signatory​:​ A country that wishes a draft resolution to be put on the floor and signs the 
draft resolution to accomplish this. A signatory need not support a resolution; it only 
wants it to be discussed. Usually, Model UN conferences require some minimum number 
of sponsors and signatories for a draft resolution to be approved. 
 
Simple majority​:​ 50% plus one vote of the number of delegates in a committee. The 
amount needed to pass most votes. 
 
Speakers' List​:​ A list that determines the order in which delegates will speak. Whenever 
a new topic is opened for discussion, the Chair will create a speakers' list by asking all 
delegates wishing to speak to raise their placards and calling on them one at a time. 
During debate, a delegate may indicate that he or she wishes to be added to the 
speakers' list by sending a note to the dais. 
 
Sponsor​:​ One of the writers of a draft resolution. A friendly amendment can only be 
created if all sponsors agree. 
 
Substantive​:​ Having to do with the topic being discussed. A substantive vote is a vote 
on a draft resolution or amendment already on the floor during voting bloc. Only 
member states (not observer states or non-governmental organizations) may vote on 
substantive issues. 
 
Unmoderated Caucus​:​ A type of caucus in which delegates leave their seats to mingle 
and speak freely. Enables the free sharing of ideas to an extent not possible in formal 
debate or even a moderated caucus. Frequently used to sort countries into blocs and 
to write working papers and draft resolutions. 
 
Working Paper​:​ A document in which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve an 
issue are proposed. Frequently the precursor to a draft resolution. 
 
Vet​:​ The ability, held by China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and 
the United States to prevent any draft resolution in the Security Council from passing by 
voting no. 
 
Vote​:​ A time at which delegates indicate whether they do or do not support a 
proposed action for the committee. There are two types: procedural and substantive. 
 
Voting Procedure​:​ The period at the end of a committee session during which 
delegates vote on proposed amendments and draft resolutions. Nobody may ent  
 
Research 
The first step in preparing for a rewarding Model UN experience is to gather information. 
Give yourself plenty of time before a conference to research, read and then formulate 
your arguments. Since most delegat​es use the Internet for about majority of their 
research, UNA-USA has compiled a list of​ web resources​ t​o help you get started. 
However, you should not overlook the resources available in books and periodicals at 
your local library. 
 
While conducting research, try to keep in mind that your primary goal is to represent 
your country as realistically as possible. To do so, you will need to research three 
different areas. Follow these links for tips on researching each of the three components: 
 
• Your​ country​ and its positions; 
• The​ issues​ to be debated at the conference; and 
• The​ UN system​. 
 

Additional Resources: UN Cyberschoolbus 

The United Nations runs a website designed especially to help students and teachers 
learn about the United Nations and prepare for Model UN conferences called the UN 
Cyberschoolbus​. Besides information about Model UN, the Cyberschoolbus includes 
curricula for teachers to use to educate their students on various aspects of 
international affairs and the programs of the UN, a forum for Model UNers and much 
more. To help you navigate the website, UNA-USA has written a guide pointing out 
some of the most useful resources available at the Cyberschoolbus and giving you 
direct links to each. 
 

How to Write a Position Paper 

Writing a position paper might appear to be a daunting task, especially for new 
delegates. But with enough research, you will find that writing a position paper will be 
easy and useful. 
 
Position papers are usually one to one-and-a-half pages in length. Your position paper 
should include a brief introduction followed by a comprehensive breakdown of your 
country's position on the topics that are being discussed by the committee. A good 
position paper will not only provide facts but also make proposals for resolutions. 
 
Many conferences will ask for specific details in a position paper, so be sure to include 
all the required information. Most conferences will provide delegates a background 
guide to the issue. Usually, the background guide will contain questions to consider. 
Make sure that your position paper answers these questions. 
 
A good position paper will include: 
● A brief introduction to your country and its history concerning the topic and 
committee; 
● How the issue affects your country; 
● Your country's policies with respect to the issue and your country's justification 
for these policies; 
● Quotes from your country's leaders about the issue; 
● Statistics to back up your country's position on the issue; 
● Actions taken by your government with regard to the issue; 
● Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified; 
● UN actions that your country supported or opposed; 
● What your country believes should be done to address the issue; 
● What your country would like to accomplish in the committee's resolution; and 
● How the positions of other countries affect your country's position. 

Position Paper Tips 

 ● Keep it simple​. To communicate strongly and effectively, avoid flowery 
wording and stick to uncomplicated language and sentence structure. 
● Make it official​. Try to use the seal of your country or create an "official" 
letterhead for your position paper. The more realistic it looks, the more others 
will want to read it. 
● Get organized​. Give each separate idea or proposal its own paragraph. 
Make sure each paragraph starts with a topic sentence. 
● Cite your sources​. Use footnotes or endnotes to show where you found your 
facts and statistics. If you are unfamiliar with bibliographic form, look up the 
Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines at your school's library. 
● Read and reread​. Leave time to edit your position paper. Ask yourself if the 
organization of the paper makes sense and double-check your spelling and 
grammar. 
● Speech! Speech​!​ Do you plan to make an opening statement at your 
conference? A good position paper makes a great introductory speech. 
During debate, a good position paper will also help you to stick to your 
country's policies. 
● Let the bullets fly​. Try not to let your proposals become lost in a sea of 
information. For speechmaking, create a bulleted list of your proposals along 
with your most important facts and statistics so that you will not lose time 
looking for them during debate. 

Tips for Effective Caucusing 

● Enter the caucus with a plan in mind​:​ Formulate ideas on what your country 
would like to see included in a resolution. Decide which clauses you are willing 
to negotiate on and which you are not. 
● Find delegates in your regional bloc​:​ This is the easiest way to seek out allies. 
However, if you find that the group you are working with is not meeting your 
needs, do not be afraid to switch groups. 
● Provide ideas​:​ Tell others what your country is hoping to achieve. If you do not 
agree with an idea, do not hesitate to say that it is against your country's 
policy. 
● Negotiate​:​ While it is often necessary to give up something that you want, 
make sure that you are not giving up anything too important. 
● Listen​:​ By listening to what others are saying you will able to build on other 
people's ideas and add more to the discussion. Listening also shows respect 
for each delegate in your group. 
● Do not interrupt​:​ Allow other delegates to finish their thoughts rather than 
interrupting others in the middle of a sentence. It sometimes helps to write 
down your idea so that you can bring it up when the delegate is finished 
speaking. 
● Record ideas​:​ Start to formulate a resolution in writing. Rather than waiting 
until the last minute, begin recording fellow delegates' ideas right away. 
● Be resourceful​:​ By providing fellow delegates with resolution text, maps or 
information as they need it, you will show that you are valuable to the group. 
● Have one-on-one conversations​:​ Speaking with an individual or in a small 
group is the best way to find out a delegate's position on an issue. Larger 
groups are better suited to brainstorming. 
● Stay calm​:​ In caucuses, delegates can sometimes "lose their cool." Staying 
calm will not only help your group be more effective, but will be noticed by 
the conference staff. Always keep your voice at a normal level. If you see that 
you are becoming upset or raising your voice, excuse yourself from the group 
for a few minutes. 
● Use time effectively​:​ Make sure you have enough time to hear everyone's 
ideas so that you can discuss them during formal debate. Try not to waste 
time arguing over small details that do not seriously affect the draft resolution. 
● Show respect​:​ Never give orders or tell other delegates what they should or 
should not do. Be polite and treat all your fellow delegates with respect. 
● Provide constructive critique​:​ Rather than negatively criticizing another 
delegate, focus on providing constructive critique. If you dislike an idea, try to 
offer an alternative. Critique ideas, not people. 
 ● Establish connections with other delegates​:​ Although it can be tempting to 
call a fellow delegate "Pakistan," "Brazil" or "Sweden", you can form a better 
connection with a delegate by learning his or her name and where he or she 
comes from. Ask the delegate about his or her ideas and impressions of the 
debate. Showing interest in your fellow delegates at the beginning of the 
conference will help you gain more support later on and can help you to form 
lasting friendships. 

Rules of Procedure 

Formal Debate​:​ During formal debate, the staff maintains a speakers list and delegates 
speak in the order they are listed. At this time,​ delegates have an opportunity to share 
their views with the entire committee. Delegates make​ speeches​, answer questions, 
and introduce and debate​ resolutions and amendments​. Formal debate is important to 
the committee's work. By not knowing the rules of procedure, delegates slow down the 
debate and hold back their committee's progress. 
 
Moderated Caucus​: During a caucus, which is a temporary recess, the rules of 
procedure are suspended. To go to a moderated caucus, a delegate makes a motion 
to suspend debate and the committee votes. Caucusing helps to facilitate discussion, 
especially when there is a long speakers list. A moderated caucus is a mixture of both 
formal and informal debate. Anyone may speak if they raise their placard and are 
called on by the Chair. 
 
Unmoderated Caucus​:​ In an unmoderated caucus, delegates meet informally with one 
another and the committee staff to discuss and negotiate draft resolutions, 
amendments and other issues​.

Resolutions 

The final results of discussion, writing and negotiation are resolutions—written suggestions 
for addressing a specific problem or issue. Resolutions, which are drafted by delegates 
and voted on by the committee, normally require a simple majority to pass (except in 
the Security Council). Only Security Council resolutions can compel nations to take 
action. All other UN bodies use resolutions to make recommendations or suggestions for 
future action. 

Draft Resolutions 

Draft resolutions are all resolutions that have not yet been voted on. Delegates write 
draft resolutions alone or with other countries. There are three main parts to a draft 
resolution: the heading, the preamble and the operative section. The heading shows 
the committee and topic along with the resolution number. It also lists the draft 
resolution's sponsors and signatories (see below). Each draft resolution is one long 
sentence with sections separated by commas and semicolons. The subject of the 
sentence is the body making the statement (e.g., the General Assembly, Economic and 
Social Council, or Security Council). The preamble and operative sections then describe 
the current situation and actions that the committee will take. 

Bringing a Resolution to the Floor for Debate 

A draft resolution must always gain the support of a certain number of member states in 
the committee before the sponsors (the delegates who created the resolution) may 
submit it to the committee staff. Many conferences require signatures from 20 percent 
of the countries present in order to submit a draft resolution. A staff member will read 
the draft resolution to ensure that it is relevant and in proper format. Only when a staff 
member formally accepts the document and assigns it a number can it be referred to 
in formal debate. 

In some cases a delegate must make a motion to introduce the draft resolution, while in 
other cases the sponsors are immediately called upon to read the document. Because 
these procedures can vary, it is essential to find out about the resolution process for the 
conference you plan to attend. 
 

Tips for Resolution Writing 

● Be sure to ​follow the format​ for resolutions provided by the conference 

organizers. Each conference may have a slightly different format. 
● Create a ​detailed resolution​. For example, if your resolution calls for a new 
program, think about how it will be funded and what body will manage it. 
● Try to ​cite facts​ whenever possible. 
● Be realistic​. Do not create objectives for your resolution that cannot be met. 
Make sure your body can take the action suggested. For example, the 
General Assembly can't sanction another country – only the Security Council 
can do so. 
● Try to find ​multiple sponsors​. Your committee will be more likely to approve the 
resolutions if many delegates contribute ideas. 
● Preambulatory clauses​ are historic justifications for action. Use them to cite 
past resolutions, precedents and statements about the purpose of action. 
● Operative clauses​ are policies that the resolution is designed to create. Use 
them to explain what the committee will do to address the issue. 

Preambulatory Clauses 

The preamble of a draft resolution states the reasons for which the committee is 
addressing the topic and highlights past international action on the issue. Each clause 
begins with a present participle (called a preambulatory phrase) and ends with a 
comma. Preambulatory clauses can include: 

● References to the UN Charter; 

● Citations of past UN resolutions or treaties on the topic under discussion; 
● Mentions of statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN 
body or agency; 
● Recognition of the efforts of regional or nongovernmental organizations in 
dealing with the issue; and 
● General statements on the topic, its significance and its impact. 
 

Sample Preambulatory Phrases 

  Expecting  Having examined 

Affirming  Emphasizing  Having received 
Alarmed by  Expecting  Keeping in mind 
Approving  Expressing it’s appreciation  Noting with deep concern 
Bearing in mind  Fulfilling  Nothing with satisfaction 
Believing  Fully aware  Noting further 
Confident  Emphasizing  Observing 
Contemplating  Expecting  Reaffirming 
Convinced  Expressing it’s appreciation  Realizing 
Declaring  Fulfilling  Recalling 
Deeply concerned  Fully aware  Recognizing 
Deeply conscious  Further deploring  Referring 
Deeply convinced  Further recalling  Seeking 
Deeply Disturbed  Guided by  Taking into consideration 
Deeply Regretting  Having adopted  Taking note 
Desiring  Having considered  Viewing with appreciation 
Emphasizing    Welcoming 
   
 
Operative Clauses 

Operative clauses offer solutions to issues addressed earlier in a resolution through the 
perambulatory section. These clauses are action oriented and should include both an 
underlined verb at the beginning of your sentence followed by the proposed solution. 
Each clause should follow the following principles: 
 
● Clause should be numbered; 
● Each clause should support one another and continue to build your solution; 
● Add details to your clauses in order to have a complete solution; 
 ● Operative clauses are punctuated by a semicolon, with the exception of your 
last operative clause which should end with a period. 

  

Sample Operative Phrases 

Accepts  Encourages  Further recommends 

Affirms  Endorses  Further requests 
Approves  Expresses its appreciation  Further resolves 
Authorizes  Expresses its hope  Has resolved 
Calls  Further invites  Notes 
Calls upon  Deplores  Proclaims 
Condemns  Designates  Reaffirms 
Confirms  Draws the attention  Recommends 
Congratulates  Emphasizes  Regrets 
Considers  Encourages  Reminds 
Declares accordingly  Endorses  Requests 
Deplores  Expresses its appreciation  Solemnly affirms 
Designates  Expresses its hope  Strongly condemns 
Draws the attention  Further invites  Supports 
Emphasizes  Further proclaims  Takes note of 
Further reminds  Transmits 
Trusts 
 
Sample Resolution Paper 
Resolution GA/3/1.1
General Assembly Third Committee 

 
Sponsors: United States, Austria and Italy 
Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Japan, Canada, Mali, the Netherlands and Gabon 
Topic: "Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex 
emergencies" 
 
The General Assembly, 
Reminding​ all nations of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ​Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights​, which recognizes the inherent dignity, equality and 
inalienable rights of all global citizens,​ [use commas to separate preambulatory 
clauses] 
 
Reaffirming​ its Resolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages Governments 
to work with UN bodies aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of 
humanitarian assistance, 
 
Noting​ with satisfaction the past efforts of various relevant UN bodies and 
nongovernmental organizations, 
 
Stressing​ the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is 
in need of reform, particularly in the humanitarian realm, 
1. Encourages​ all relevant agencies of the United Nations to collaborate 
more closely with countries at the grassroots level to enhance the 
carrying out of relief efforts; ​[use semicolons to separate operative 
clauses] 
2. Urges​ member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of 
Humanitarian Affairs to streamline efforts of humanitarian aid; 
3. Requests​ that all nations develop rapid deployment forces to better 
enhance the coordination of relief efforts of humanitarian assistance in 
complex emergencies; 
 4. Calls​ for the development of a United Nations Trust Fund that encourages 
voluntary donations from the private transnational sector to aid in funding 
the implementation of rapid deployment forces; 
5. Stresses​ the continuing need for impartial and objective information on 
the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 
6. Calls​ upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidated 
appeals for humanitarian assistance; and 
7. ​Requests​ the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of 
post-conflict assistance through reconstruction and development. ​[end 
resolutions with a period] 

Crisis Committees 

Advice 

1. Learn your character inside and out.​ This may sound fairly obvious, but knowing 
the nuances of your character makes the committee more realistic, and 
therefore much more fun. If he/she has quirky catchphrases or quotes, don’t be 
afraid to occasionally use one (ala a classic Joe Biden “literally”). More 
importantly, make sure to research his/her portfolio powers so you don’t find 
yourself asking the Crisis team for something that your character clearly 
cannot/should not do. 
2. Remember that crises are dynamic.​ It can be difficult to balance, but 
maintaining an idea of the theme of the committee while still keeping your 
speeches relevant to the crisis in front of you is key to winning a crisis committee. 
By keeping both of these things in mind while speaking, you’ll have a better 
chance of being the delegate who guides the flow of debate because the 
Chair should recognize that you are focused on the big picture and what’s 
happening in the room. When speaking, try not to reference other people in the 
room; you want the chair to realize your capability of contributing new ideas to 
the committee even if they are similar or agree with something someone else 
said. 
 3. Work with the Crisis team; not against it. ​ Send a lot of notes at the beginning to 
feel out what direction they are looking to take the committee; don’t break 
character and ask, but keeping in character you can still ask questions. This will 
help you figure out the pacing with which the team responds to notes which will 
aid you in gauging the flow of committee. It’s very easy to get frustrated when 
the crisis team doesn’t pick up on your ideas in notes you send them, but do not 
get discouraged. An alternative option would be to ask more questions about 
what the Crisis team seemed to be hinting at and building a new story arch for 
the committee. 
4. Keep your writing focused.​ Resolutions in crisis committees are called directives, 
and are written just as operative clauses. No preambs are necessary. They’re 
usually short and have about 1/2 to 2/3 of the committee as signatories. They are 
much easier to pass than resolutions, so you will be writing a lot of them over the 
course of the weekend. This is the way that your committee will formally 
communicate with the fictional outside world. Another way is through the 
communique, which can be sent without a vote; all that’s usually necessary are 
2/3 of the committee as signatories. 
5. Be the ultimate multitasker​. It sounds impossible, but multitaskers always win in 
Model UN, especially in a crisis committee. You’ll immediately notice that the 
level of intensity and pace of the committee is much higher and faster than a 
General Assembly or Specialized committee. Don’t panic; you’ll get into a 
rhythm and pick things up quickly. An old head delegate of mine once told me 
to keep my left hand raised in the air with my placard and my right hand either 
writing a note to someone in the committee room, to crisis, or working on a 
directive. Because a committee like this is so small, it becomes very easy to 
determine who’s making moves and who has fallen behind. If you feel like 
you’re contributing substantively to debate, chances are other people think so 
too. 

What is a crisis committee? 

In the real world, situations arise that cannot be handled in the calm methodical setting 
of a committee. An international crises can flare up at any moment and they must be 
dealt with accordingly or things could get much worse. When this happens, emergency 
sessions take place at the highest level of government. These situation room situations 
are unpredictable. They force delegates and representatives to think quickly and 
decisively. Sometimes errors are made, or remedied, within a short time span. 
A Model UN Crisis simulates this. It brings an element of excitement to a conference, 
especially for the delegates who get to sit in the hot seat. Not every conference has a 
Crisis committee. Generally, they can be found at larger conferences that can handle 
the extra staffing requirements and can provide the classrooms and other elements 
needed to run a good crisis. 

The philosophy of a MUN crisis is as follows. A regular Model UN topic ends when a 
resolution is passed. You do not see the outcome of the resolution. You clap and move 
on to the next topic. In crisis, many smaller (or lager) decision are made which work like 
mini resolution except that you immediately see the outcome and have to deal with it. 
It is dealing with the consequences of your actions which makes crisis so unique and 
compelling. 
 
 
 
Types of Model UN Crisis Committees 
 

1. United Nations Crises​: Normally simulating the Security Council, these 

delegates represent countries as in normal Model UN format. They also 
sometimes use regular Model UN Rules of Procedure though often don’t 
complete full resolutions because of the constant updates. 
2. Single Cabinet Crises​:​ Delegates represent individual people and interests 
smaller than a country. Everyone is in one room and in one committee. This 
can be the United States National Security Council, the Nigerian National 
Security Council or the Chinese Politburo Standing Committee. They can also 
be NGO’s or corporations, like the board of directors at News Corp or even 
Disney. The key element is that it is one cabinet against the scenario planned 
by the crisis directors and backroom staff. 
3. Joint Cabinet Crisis (JCC)​:​ This is similar to the Single Cabinet Crisis but instead 
of just one cabinet there are two, or more, cabinets who are usually focused 
 on improving their position in relation to the others. This could be the United 
States against Russia or North Korea against South Korea. They can also be 
non political cabinets, for example Facebook against Google. 
Individual vs Collective Directives 
 

Collective Directive Crisis (CDC)​:​ Some cabinets will make decisions similar to a United 
Nations General Assembly, or Security Council. A vote is taken and when the desired 
majority is reached actions are taken. In these simulations decision are only taken 
together and are decided by majority unless the chair is a playing character and they 
choose to overrule the decision of the room. Sometimes specific delegates, or 
characters, will get unique information which can change their position but most of the 
action happens on the floor of the debate and the backroom adapts to the collective 
committee decisions. 
 
Individual Directive Crisis (IDC)​: M
​ ore common for Joint Cabinet Crisis simulations, the 
IDC also includes the elements of a CDC but the IDC MUN also includes an 
interpersonal element. In some IDC committees limit the personal directives to supplying 
information and instructions. In others, delegates can use their personal resources and 
abilities to influence the crisis through actions influencing the story on an individual and 
collective level. For example, a general in the committee can privately order 500 of his 
troops to storm the base and kill the committee chair, putting him in charge of the 
cabinet. If this directive is written well, and accepted by the backroom. 

In an IDC Model UN delegates play against the other cabinets and also against each 
other. Their characters can advance personally outside of the committee (someone 
builds a successful chair of bakeries) or within the committee (They were a colonel but 
thanks to a successful framing are not the commander of the entire army). In a CDC 
MUN characters can occasionally switch between cabinets. However in an IDC MUN 
switching between cabinets is very common. Also, even if a character dies the 
delegate does not sit out the rest of the crisis. In an IDC, after a character is killed, a 
delegate will get a new characters, often in a different committee. 
Contemporary vs Alternative / Historical Crisis 
 
 

While many crisis committees will start the same day as the conference starts in real 
time a Model UN crisis is not limited to that. Crisis committees can also be historical, 
future crisis and even simulat fictional settings. For example a Historical Model UN crisis 
could simulate Peter the Great's Advisory Council to the Tsar in 1710, the fall of the 
Roman Republic in 509 BCE or the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. A futuristic crisis could be 
the Russian invasion of the baltic states in 2024, a solar flare that knocks out all 
technology in the western United States in 2036 or a battle for the world's remaining oil 
reserves in 2055. A fictional crisis could be Elrond's Council in Rivendell from the Lord of 
the Rings series, the King’s Small Council from the HBO show Game of Thrones or a 
fictional 2022 in a world where the United States civil war ended in a split nation​.​ In 
short, there is much room for imagination with Model UN crisis. 
 
Paper Directives vs. Digital Directives 
 

Paper Directives​:​ the original crisis directives, are hand written on note paper and are 
read, and responded to, by the backroom. The plus side of paper directives is that it is 
old school and crisis committees that use it say it brings about a form of interpersonal 
debate lost to many Model UN conferences due to the lack of electronics. Some of the 
downsides of paper directives are that they are slower to move to and from the 
backroom, harder to keep track of and are sometimes difficult to read due to bad 
handwriting. 

Digital Directives:​ can be delivered via email, google forms or custom made software, 
such as​ DEUS crisis platform​. Electronic directives have a form where the delegates 
writes their request. In this age of Model UN innovation, with​ constantly improving 
software​, digital directives and crisis software are constantly improving in speed and 
effectiveness. It also avoids bad handwriting and has less of a change of directives 
getting lost. Some of the downsides of digital directives are that, without active 
engagement from the chairs, delegates can spend their entire conference on their 
computers and minimally engage with other delegates in the cabinet. In both cases, 
directives are what makes the crisis committees more fun and engaging and, 
depending on how effective the crisis staff are, are an important tool in making a crisis 
committee an enjoyable one. 
 
How a Crisis Works 
 

A JCC generally starts at the point where the study guide ends. News updates will be 
regularly delivered by the crisis staff, either electronically or by a staff member coming 
into the room. Sometimes the backroom makes up the scenarios. However, at an IDC 
JCC most of the news items are caused by the individual delegates. Depending on the 
strength, quality and clarity of the directives, actions will take place behind the scenes 
which will be discovered by the rest of the cabinets in the form of some shocking 
revelation which will often require them to change their plans. 

This process continues over the duration of the conferences as cabinets split or 
consolidate and treaties are signed or wars are declared. Sometimes entire cabinets 
are obliterated. Sometimes cabinets decide to go off script and do something never 
imagined by the Directors. Ideally, the backroom should facilitate whatever the 
delegates want to do, as long as it is plausible and within reason. The key is that, just like 
in a real-world emergency, things will change throughout the scenario. The delegates 
will need to continue to adapt, as the crisis staff will continually give new information. In 
the end, a victory in a Model United Nations crisis can be both for an individual 
character, or for the cabinet as a whole. While it is ideal for a cabinet to have a 
decisive win, a crisis delegate should remember that they are playing against the other 
cabinets and the backroom. For this reason, while staying alive is impressive, it is rising 
beyond your station, and having a large impact on the crisis as a whole, which is 
considered a success in MUN crisis. 
 
How to Write Committee Directives (Public Directives) 

While Crisis Notes are how you take individual action, Directives are how you take 
committee action, instead of long-form resolutions. Just like in any Model UN 
Committee, the goal is to sponsor (write) as many strong directives as possible. 
Main Components of a Solid Committee Directive 

■ Memorable Title (can be funny or serious, but needs a name) 

■ Specific orders or actions that you would like to see undertaken 
■ What you expect/hope will be the result (So the Crisis Staff can figure out 
what the result will be if they don’t understand your goal) 
■ Signatures, with portfolios of all signatories (Note: In different committees, the 
Chair may require different numbers of signatories, anywhere from three to 
half the committee) 

Goals 

■ Demonstrate innovative ideas that the rest of the committee isn’t thinking of 
■ Position yourself as the leader of the idea, and defend it against opposition 
■ Pass it as a committee to positively impact the crisis with your ideas