KOMUN

Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. Simulating international organizations began even before the birth of the United Nations, when students held a series of Model League of Nations in the 1920s. The Model U.N. Program is a successor to a student-directed simulation of what preceded the U.N. itself, but it is not documented exactly how the Model U.N. began. The popularity of Model U.N. continues to grow, and today more than 400,000 middle school, high school and college/university students worldwide participate every year. Many of today’s leaders in law, government, business and the arts participated in Model U.N. during their academic careers – from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to actor Samuel L. Jackson to former first daughter Chelsea Clinton.

A Model U.N. delegate is a student who assumes the role of an ambassador to the United Nations at a Model U.N. event. A Model U.N. delegate does not have to have experience in international relations. Anyone can participate in Model U.N., so long as they have the ambition to learn something new, and to work with people to try and make a difference in the world. For over 50 years now, teachers and students have benefited from and enjoyed this interactive learning experience. It not only involves young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages the development of skills useful throughout their lives, such as research, writing, public speaking, problem-solving, consensus building, conflict resolution and compromise and cooperation. 

http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un

The delegates are the core of any Model United Nations conference. These are the envoys of each country, International Organization or NGO (nongovernmental organization) to a particular committee. They are there to defend their interests, and promote the ideas that would be most beneficial for themselves – all in a spirit of mutual respect and diplomacy. Delegates have the difficult role of juggling between their personal convictions, their home State’s needs and restrictions, and their heavy task of convincing other States of the pertinence of their position.

The purpose of a Model United Nations conference is to pass resolutions — the documents containing key policy recommendations. These resolutions must be efficient, effective, holistic in their approach to each issue, comprehensive of different cultures and points of view, and realistic enough to be implementable. Instructions on how to write resolutions can be found under the Procedures tab of this page.

Visit this link to read an overview of the UN for students.

The best way to prepare for KOMUN is to learn as much as possible about your assigned country and committee, and the UN generally. You should also keep abreast of current events by reading the newspaper and watching the news. You are not expected to know parliamentary procedure. Our chairs will teach you that at the first committee session.

Become familiar with your country’s history, culture, political structure, and current political affairs.
Learn about your country’s viewpoints on the issues that will be discussed in your committee
Know your allies and your opposition. In order to adequately represent your country during the conference, you will need to interact with delegates from other countries. Knowing their positions on your topic will help you predict their arguments during debate. This will be very useful in helping you decide in advance where it might be useful to seek cooperation or compromise.

Be familiar with current statistical data on your topic and country.

Research tips are here.

Where is your country on the map?
What are its neighbors?
Would your country be categorized as a developed, developing, or less developed country (“LDC”)?
What is the population?
What is the area?
What sort of government does your country have?
What types of ideological leanings influence your country’s government?
Which domestic issues in your country might influence your country’s foreign policy?
What are some major events in your country’s history?
Which ethnicities, religions and languages can be found in your country?
How does your country’s geography affect its political relationships?
Which countries are considered allies of your country?
Which countries are considered enemies of your country?
What are the characteristics of your country’s economy?
What is your country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
When did your country become a member of the UN?
Does your country belong to any intergovernmental organizations outside the UN system
(e.g., North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC), etc.)?
Does your country belong to any regional organizations (e.g., European Union (EU), AfricanUnion (AU), Organization of American States (OAS), etc.)?
Does your country belong to any trade organizations or agreements (e.g., North American
Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA], Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development [OECD], etc.)?
What are your country’s natural resources?
What is the literacy rate?
What is the nature of the economy?
What crops are grown?
Is your country’s government stable?
How much freedom do the citizens have?
Is there discrimination against women or minorities?
What is your country’s record on pollution?
What is your country’s birthrate?
What is your country’s population density?
How wired is your country?
How peaceful is your country?
What are the most pressing “hot button issues” your country faces today?

List of websites with country data:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
http://www.un.org/en/members/index.shtml
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
http://unbisnet.un.org/

Like real UN bodies, Model UN committees have lengthy agendas and many delegates who want to convey their country’s positions. To help maintain order, Model UN conferences adopt rules of procedure to establish when a delegate may speak and what he or she may address. The rules vary from conference to conference, and it is important to remember that rules exist to help the delegates move the agenda, rather than to confuse or intimidate them. With that in mind, KOMUN will use simplified rules of parliamentary procedure, which your committee chairs will go over with you at the first Committee Session. The basic structure at Model UN is formal debate as well as informal debate, called caucusing.

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.

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.

For a more detailed description of general Model UN Rules of Procedure, go to:

http://www.unausa.org/images/content/GC_Model_UN/Model_UN_Prep/ROP_Chart.pdf
http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/model-un-preparation/rules-of-procedure
http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/model-un-preparation/caucusing

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 SecurityCouncil resolutions can compel nations to take action. All other UN bodies use resolutions to make recommendations or suggestions for future action.

Resolutions have a particular format, made up of “preambulatory” and “operative clauses. For a detailed look at how to write and introduce resolutions, see: http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/model-un-preparation/resolutions

For a list of sample perambulatory and operative clauses:
http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/model-un-preparation/resolutions/preambulatory-and-operative-clauses

For a sample UN Resolution, see: http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-to-participate/model-un-preparation/resolutions/sample-resolution

Dressing professionally and appropriately is an important aspect of the Model UN experience. Just like being polite and having proper manners, dressing appropriately is an important way to show respect for the nation you are representing, for your fellow delegates and for the United Nations. The standard Model UNdress code is “western business attire.” At KOMUN, that means for boys, shirts and ties (jackets optional), and no blue jeans. For girls, that means pants, (no blue jeans), skirts or dresses, which are not too tight, too short or expose too much skin. The key is professionalism. You want to be noticed for what you say, not what you wear. Along with proper appearance, delegates are expected to maintain proper decorum at all times. Your committee chairs will go over decorum with you in greater detail, but the core mandate is to act respectfully toward each other, the committee chairs, and the buildings and grounds of KO.