Model United Nations Glossary

    When you begin participating in Model United Nations (MUN), you’ll encounter many terms that may be unfamiliar. These words and phrases are specific to MUN and may not be part of everyday conversation. However, they are easy to understand over time, and once you know their meanings and where they apply, they will become second nature. Here are some of the most common MUN terms you’ll come across:

    Basic MUN Terms

    • Delegate: An individual representing a country in a MUN committee. The number of delegates in a committee can range from a few to several hundred. Delegates aim to propose policies through written documents, called draft resolutions, and work to get them passed by a majority vote. They advance their ideas by speaking, lobbying, negotiating, and writing to influence the committee’s outcome.
    • Double Delegate: Two delegates representing the same country together.
    • Delegation: A group of delegates from the same MUN club or institution who attend a conference together.
    • Head Delegate: The leader of a delegation, typically a student responsible for guiding the team’s participation. The head delegate may also lead the MUN club, though this is not always the case.
    • Delegate Pack: A collection of items given to delegates at a conference, often including a handbook, maps, writing materials, and other conference-related materials.
    • Delegate Handbook: A booklet provided by the conference containing helpful information, such as a welcome letter from the Secretary-General, a list of topics, committee rooms, the conference schedule, a map of the venue, city details, and emergency contact numbers.
    • Placard: A sign with the name of the country a delegate represents, used to indicate presence, vote, and signal to the chair.
    • Chair: The person responsible for managing the flow of debate in a committee. They ensure that the Rules of Procedure are followed, call on delegates to speak, manage motions, and facilitate votes. Chairs also select delegates for diplomacy awards and provide feedback.
    • Director: Another term for the chair.
    • Dias: Refers to the collective group of chairs leading the committee.
    • Out of Order: Any action or behavior that violates the Rules of Procedure.
    • Gavel: A small wooden hammer used by the chair to maintain order in the committee room.
    • Position Paper: A written document summarizing a country’s stance on the issues being discussed, its connection to the topic, and its proposed solutions. Position papers should be submitted to the chairs before the conference.
    • Study Guide: A background guide that provides information on the topics to be debated at the MUN conference.
    • Rules of Procedure (RoP): The set of guidelines that dictate how a Model United Nations committee operates.
    • Decorum: A request for order in the committee. The chair calls for decorum when delegates become too loud or disruptive. When “decorum” is called, delegates should quiet down and return to their seats.
    • Motion: A formal request made by a delegate to propose an action in the committee. Motions are used to guide debate and can include requests for caucuses, voting, or ending the session.
    • Second: When a delegate agrees with a proposed motion and supports it. Most motions need a second in order to be considered by the committee. If no second is given, the motion fails automatically.
    • Objection: After a motion is seconded, the chair asks if there are any objections. For the motion to proceed to a vote, at least one delegate must object. If no objections are raised, the motion automatically passes.

    Simple Majority: A vote that requires more than 50% of delegates to be in favor for it to pass. Most procedural votes require a simple majority.

    On the Floor: When a motion, working paper, or draft resolution is open for discussion and voting. The term “floor” comes from legislative settings, referring to the area where debate and other activities take place.

    Blocs: Groups of delegates who share similar viewpoints and work together to draft resolutions. Blocs can form around regional, cultural, or ideological interests, but the basis for a bloc can vary depending on the topic. Deciding which bloc to join is typically based on the issue at hand.

    Flow: The shorthand or notes that delegates take to track ideas, policies, and arguments raised in other delegates’ speeches. Flow can be written on paper or electronically and is used by both delegates and chairs.

    “Honorable Chair, Distinguished Delegates”: This is a common way to begin speeches in MUN. While it’s customary to use this phrase, it’s not mandatory, and omitting it won’t cause any issues.

    Conference Terms

    MUN Conference: A Model United Nations conference where delegates from different schools or clubs come together to debate and negotiate. MUN conferences can be organized by universities, high schools, teachers, or third-party providers, and may have participants numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. They can be national or international in scope and cater to various experience levels.

    Secretariat: The team responsible for organizing and running the MUN conference.

    Secretary-General: The head of the Secretariat, usually responsible for recruiting and managing the other members of the Secretariat.

    Director-General: A senior role, typically on par with the Secretary-General, overseeing either logistics or academics within the conference.

    Under-Secretary-General: The heads of different departments within the conference. These roles can include managing chairs, academics, logistics, delegate services, marketing, fundraising, finance, social events, media, press, and guest speakers.

    Page: A volunteer responsible for delivering notes between delegates during the conference.

    Admin: A volunteer who performs the duties of a page but also assists with other committee tasks.

    Points & Inquiries

    Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: Also called a ‘Point of Inquiry’. A delegate asks the chair a question regarding the Rules of Procedure (RoP) or any aspect of the committee they don’t understand.

    Point of Information: A question posed by a delegate to another delegate, typically after they have given a speech on the Speaker’s List. Some conferences may not allow Points of Information, so check the conference rules.

    Follow-Ups: A request for a second question after already asking one during a Point of Information.

    Point of Personal Privilege: A request made by a delegate when something outside the debate is affecting their ability to participate (e.g., needing to go to the bathroom, room temperature issues, or difficulty hearing another speaker).

    Point of Order: A request for correction when a delegate believes the Rules of Procedure are not being followed. The specifics may vary between conferences, so consult the RoP for details.

    Right of Reply: A delegate’s opportunity to respond if they feel their country was insulted in another delegate’s speech. If approved by the chair, the delegate can reply for a set period. There is no Right of Reply to a Right of Reply.

    Point of Entertainment: A lighthearted, informal point used at some conferences to suggest a break for a mood-lifting activity. Points of Entertainment are typically used at the beginning or end of sessions, depending on the chair’s discretion.

    For more details on points and motions, check out our full guide.

    Start of Session

    Member State: A country that has ratified the charter of an international organization, such as the United Nations. Member states have voting rights in committee.

    Observer: A delegate from a country or organization that is not a member of the committee but participates as an observer. Observers can only vote on procedural matters. Check the conference’s Rules of Procedure for more details.

    Roll Call: A procedure at the start of each committee session to determine which delegates are present. It helps establish the quorum and whether the committee is able to vote.

    Quorum: The minimum number of delegates required to be present for a debate to begin. Check your RoP for quorum specifics for your committee.

    Present: The response a delegate gives during roll call when they are attending the session but wish to reserve the right to abstain from the final vote.

    Present and Voting: A response during roll call when a delegate chooses not to abstain, meaning they will vote either for or against the draft resolution.

    Agenda Setting: The process in which delegates decide which agenda topics they will address first during the session.

    Debate

    Speaker’s List: The default order of speakers in a committee. It is a list of delegates who are recognized to speak in the order in which they were added. The list is suspended when a motion, such as for a moderated caucus or voting procedure, is passed.

    Yield: At the end of a speech, the delegate has the option to “yield” their remaining time in one of the following ways:

    • To the Chair: The delegate gives up the rest of their speaking time.
    • To Another Delegate: Another delegate is allowed to use the remaining time.
    • To Questions: The speaker opens the floor to questions, which they will answer with their remaining time.

    Informal Debate: A motion that allows delegates to temporarily leave the Speaker’s List to engage in specific activities, such as discussing a subtopic or working on draft resolutions. This is done through motions like a moderated caucus, unmoderated caucus, or consultation of the whole.

    Moderated Caucus: A less formal debate focused on a subtopic. A delegate motions for a moderated caucus, specifying the duration, individual speaker time, and the topic for discussion. For example: “Venezuela motions for a 10-minute moderated caucus, 45-second speaking time on ‘Where should we place plastic waste removed from the oceans?’”

    Unmoderated Caucus: Time allocated for delegates to leave their seats and move freely around the room to lobby, negotiate, and write draft resolutions. No topic is required for this type of caucus, just the overall duration.

    Consultation of the Whole: An informal discussion format where the delegate who motions for it speaks first and chooses the next speaker. This continues until the allotted time is up.

    Table: To suspend discussion on a topic or motion until a later time.

    Resolution Writing

    • Clause: A clause in MUN is a detailed instruction outlining the specific policy you want to see implemented if the resolution is approved.
    • Working Paper: The initial draft of ideas compiled by different blocs. Working papers aren’t in resolution format yet, but usually contain complete clauses.
    • Draft Resolution: The final version of a working paper where the combined ideas of the blocs are properly formatted. After chair approval, it can be debated and, once debate ends, voted on.
    • Sponsors: Delegates who played a key role in drafting the resolution. They typically write most of the document, though not always. There’s usually a limit on the number of sponsors.
    • Signatories: Delegates who support a draft resolution or want it to be discussed. There’s no limit on the number of signatories.
    • Submitter: The delegate who submits a clause or resolution. (Submitters and co-submitters differ from sponsors and signatories, depending on the conference’s Rules of Procedure).
    • Co-submitter: A delegate who signs another delegate’s clause to receive credit for the joint submission.
    • Preambulatory Clause: These clauses provide context for the policies in the Operative Clauses, explaining the reason behind them, offering background on the issue, legal precedent, or other supporting information. Preambulatory clauses are usually italicized and not numbered.
    • Operative Clause: Clauses that explain what the resolution will do or detail specific policies. They often have sub-clauses to further elaborate on ideas. The first words are italicized, and each clause is numbered.
    • Amendment: A change made to an operative clause. Amendments can modify, add, or remove content from a clause.
    • Friendly Amendment: A change to a clause that all sponsors agree on. Friendly amendments are automatically added to the resolution.
    • Unfriendly Amendment: A change to a clause that at least one sponsor disagrees with. These amendments go to a vote and can only be added if a majority approves.
    • Merging: When two or more draft resolutions are combined. This often leads to blocs joining forces to strengthen their voting power.
    • Panel of Authors: A motion where the main contributors to a draft resolution stand before the committee to give an overview and answer questions.
    • Introduce Draft Resolution: A motion to formally discuss a draft resolution by name, such as “Working Paper 1.2” being introduced as a draft resolution.
    • Introduce Amendment: A motion to review and vote on submitted amendments. The rules for submitting and voting on amendments vary by conference.

    Voting

    • Close Debate: A motion to end debate and move into the voting procedure. If passed, no more speakers are added to the Speaker’s List, and only motions related to voting are allowed.
    • Voting Procedure: The phase at the end of a session when delegates vote on amendments and draft resolutions. No one may enter or leave the room during this time.
    • Reorder Draft Resolutions: A motion to change the order in which draft resolutions are voted on.
    • Vote Clause by Clause: A motion to vote on each clause individually, rather than as a whole. This is typically done to reject certain clauses.
    • Divide the Question: A motion to vote separately on selected operative clauses, which may be chosen from anywhere in the resolution. For example, voting on clauses 3, 6, and 11 separately while the others are voted on as one.
    • Divide the House: A motion that removes the option to abstain. If passed, everyone must vote either “For” or “Against.”
    • Vote by Acclamation: A motion where a draft resolution passes if no delegate objects. If one objection is raised, the vote moves to a simple majority.
    • Vote by Roll Call: A motion to have delegates declare their vote verbally as “For,” “Against,” “Pass,” or “Abstain.”
      • For: When a delegate votes in favor of a resolution.
      • Against: When a delegate votes against a resolution.
      • Abstain: When a delegate chooses not to vote “For” or “Against” a resolution.
      • Pass: A way to skip a vote and wait for the second round, after which the delegate must vote either “For” or “Against.”
    • Voting with Rights: When a delegate votes in an unexpected way (such as against their own resolution), they may speak after the vote is complete.
    • Suspend/Table Debate: A motion to pause the session, usually for breaks such as lunch or coffee.
    • Adjourn: A motion to end the committee session entirely until the next conference.

    Security Council Terms

    • P5: The five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US) who have veto power.
    • Veto: When a P5 member votes against a resolution or motion, causing it to fail automatically.
    • Procedural Voting: Voting on non-substantive matters that do not have real-world consequences. For example, voting on a motion for a moderated caucus.
    • Substantive Voting: Voting on resolutions that have real-world impact. This includes draft resolutions, which, if passed, could become binding actions.
    • Binding: A resolution that legally requires countries to comply. Only Security Council resolutions are binding; others are non-binding.

    Crisis Terms

    • Crisis: A fast-paced simulation where the situation evolves rapidly, and delegates can directly influence the outcome.
    • Historical Crisis: A crisis set in the past.
    • Futuristic Crisis: A crisis set in the future, which may have a more speculative basis.
    • Crisis Director (CD): The person in charge of the crisis, typically responsible for setting the topic and overseeing the study guide and character bios.
    • Crisis Staff: The team supporting the Crisis Director, which can include Deputy Crisis Directors, Backroom Directors, and Frontroom Chairs.
    • Single Cabinet Crisis: A crisis held in one room with participants.
    • Joint Cabinet Crisis (JCC): A crisis involving multiple rooms where delegates may form alliances or face off against each other as the crisis unfolds.
    • Directive: A written request sent to the crisis staff (Backroom). These can be approved or denied, and help move the crisis forward.
    • Death: When a delegate’s character dies, requiring them to take on a new role. In some JCCs, characters may be resurrected in different committees.
    • Cabinet Director: A staff member who manages a specific cabinet. They approve smaller requests and bring larger ones to the Crisis Director.
    • Backroom Staff: The team that handles individual directives and supports the crisis.
    • Frontroom Chair: The chair of the committee who works with the backroom to manage the crisis.
    • Character Bio: A document that outlines the details of the character a delegate represents in the crisis.
    • Crisis Update: New information provided by the backroom to the frontroom during a crisis.
    • Character Knowledge: The information available to your character during the crisis. This may differ from what you, as a delegate, know about the crisis.
    • Defection/Betrayal: When a delegate switches cabinets while maintaining their character’s persona.
    • NPC (Non-Playable Character): A character played by the crisis staff, not a delegate or chair.

    MUN Abbreviations

    • DSG – Deputy Secretary-General
    • EU – European Union
    • GA – General Assembly
    • GDP – Gross Domestic Product
    • IGO – Inter-Governmental Organization
    • MDGs – Millennium Development Goals
    • Mod – Moderated Caucus
    • NGO – Non-Governmental Organization
    • JCC – Joint Crisis Committee
    • PGA – President of the General Assembly
    • PHRC – President of the Human Rights Council
    • PICJ – President of the International Court of Justice
    • PoA – Panel of Authors
    • PSC – President of the Security Council
    • SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals
    • SC – UN Security Council
    • SG – Secretary-General
    • UN – United Nations
    • Unmod – Unmoderated Caucus
    • USG – Under-Secretary-General

    MUN Acronyms

    • CIA: Clash, Information, and Action – key components of a strong MUN speech.
    • WAK: A country’s claim to relevance in a topic. They “Want,” are “Afraid of,” or “Know” the topic.
    • OLaF: A research-based connection to a topic. It’s either Obvious, Likely, or Flexible, depending on your position.
    • SEEC: A framework for building strong arguments: Statement, Explanation, Example, Conclusion.
    • CAR: The three options for amendments: Change, Add, or Remove.
    • Orientation 180: The five key things to know about your country: size, population, neighboring relations, GDP rank, and political structure.

    MUN Terms to Avoid

    • Teacher: Don’t call the chair “teacher.” It’s incorrect and often disliked.
    • I: Avoid using “I” in speeches. Instead, refer to your country, using “we” or the country’s name. For example, “We believe the best policy is…”
    • Other terms to avoid: Yo, Dude, Buddy, Bossman, The Big C, Your Honor, “Oh Captain, My Captain.”

    We hope you found our guide to MUN terminology helpful!