With or without previous MUN experience, you are welcome to join the weekly Monday Sessions. All you need to bring is a laptop, your voice and motivation.
If you have never done MUN before, you might want prepare yourself a little bit. Therefore we have collected some basic MUN-knowledge for you, which you are most welcome to read.
A typical MUN session has strict rules. In order to easily participate in discussions at MUN-conferences, it is important to learn these rules, to understand them and exercise them. For this purpose, the Monday Sessions are a marvellous opportunity!
United Nations, New York
There are two different roles to play in a MUN-Session: the Chairmen, shortly “Chairs”, who lead the session and decide who may speak at which time. Delegates represent the different countries which have the chance to debate within the committee.
Delegates can introduce various motions in order to structure the session. To introduce a motion, you will raise your hand/placard/flag, as soon as the chair calls on you, you may rise and say: “Motion to…” – a list of all the possible motions is available here.
Upon motions, the body votes through so-called “procedural votes”. No country may abstain during procedural votes. During a speech delegates should keep the „chorum“, remain polite, be quiet and listen to the speaker. NO points or motions, not even a „point of order“, may ever interrupt a speech. Even a veto (in the Security Council) would be „out of order“.
As a sign of politeness, at the beginning of a speech or any other statement you should first address the chairs and your colleagues. Mostly, this is done with the words “Honourable chair, honourable delegates”. One of the most important rules during debate: Never refer to yourself in first or second person singular! Thus, always use “We” or e.g.: “The delegation of Germany would like to thank the delegate of Serbia for her remarks…”
Moreover, you find useful material for download here:
– A cheat sheet inclusive of all the possible Motions
– The Rules of Procedure (RoP) of HamMUN
– A list of terms used in resolutions