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Conference Handbook Podar Summit

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Secretary General’s address 3 The UNITED NATIONS 4 What is a MUN? 5 Secretariat 6

Conference Preparation 7

Position Papers

The Chair

COMMITTEE-Rules and Procedure 8 Points and Motions 10

Committee Dynamics 11 Working Papers Resolution

Preambulary and Operative clauses

APPENDIX 15 Sample Working Paper Sample Resolution Glossary 18

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Dear Delegates,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural version of the Podar Summit.

The Podar Summit 2012 will be held at R.N Podar School from the 18th-20th of October, and will be its

own version of the much popular and fashionable Model United Nations Conferences’ organized by

reputed institutions across the world.

Though the United Nations (UN) has often been perceived by many as a simple means of providing

fodder for debate, it is important to note that the workings of the organization have been

misinterpreted by the world on countless occasions. Critics fail to understand that the UN is perhaps the

only umbrella organization in the world that does a lot on a daily basis that is out of the limelight and at

the same time is crucially important: peacekeeping missions around the world, refugee resettlement

and care, health issues, food issues, water issues consist of only a handful of the plethora of welfare

activities that the UN carries out.

The Model United Nations (MUN) conference is a unique simulation that allows young minds to explore

global issues and present their perspectives about problems that have puzzled some of the the world’s

most intellectual diplomats.

In 1992, a 12 year old Canadian girl - Severn Cullis-Suzuki had silenced the world for 5 minutes at the UN

Earth Summit in Brazil through her speech. She had said that“I am here to speak on behalf of starving

children around the world whose cries go unheard.” Her words “If you don’t know how to fix it, stop

breaking it” started a wave around the world and caused the youth to think and actively participate in

helping solve global problems in their own capacity.

You as the youth of one of the fastest growing economies of world must consider it as a responsibility to use platforms like the Podar Summit to increase your understanding about world politics and the spirit of the UN, and at the same time appreciate the hopes and aspirations of those who drafted its charter. I would once again welcome you all to the Summit and urge you to make this experience a knowledgeable one. With a committed Secretariat that has made the Podar Summit possible, I hope that the conference lives up to its expectations. I look forward to seeing you at the Summit this October. Yours Truly, Ishaan Kapoor Secretary General Podar Summit 2012

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The UN

The United Nations was created in 1945 post World War II in order to avert international crises in the future. It was formed by the victorious members of the World War II who hoped that the UN could be an effective mechanism to foster international relations and cooperation and maintain international security. The UN has been quite successful as of now and it just gives us hope that it is possible to prevent a third World War. Its principal purposes, as found in Article I of its Charter, are as follows: 1) To maintain international peace and security; 2) To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples; 3) To cooperate in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; and 4) To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these common ends. The UN believes that all nations are sovereign and equal, that members are to fulfil in good faith the obligations that they have assumed under the Charter, that international disputes are to be resolved by peaceful means, and that the organization is not to intervene in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. The UN has its headquarters in New York and is composed of five organs (not including the Secretariat). At the centre is the 192-member General Assembly, comprised of seven main committees. The GA serves primarily as a forum for discussing general issues including international peace and security; the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; international collaboration in economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields. Although the decisions of the Assembly have no binding legal force upon members, they carry the weight of the moral authority of the world community. The Economic and Social Council is composed of 54 member states and serves as the central forum for the discussion of international economic and social issues. EcoSoc can conduct studies, make policy recommendations, call international conferences, consult with non-governmental organizations, and prepare draft conventions for submission to the General Assembly. International disputes of pressing concern may be referred to the Security Council, the third organ of the UN, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security. Capable of directing the use of economic sanctions and military force, the Security Council is composed of fifteen members and its decisions are binding. The International Court of Justice, the fourth UN organ, considers disputes of a purely legal nature. The Court is made up of fifteen members and usually hears cases concerning the interpretation of treaties and the UN Charter.

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What is a MUN?

Now that we have seen what the UN is and how it functions, let’s see what a Model UN is! A Model UN is essentially an academic simulation of the UN on a much smaller level. In a MUN, each student assumes the role of a delegate of a particular country and discusses problems of global importance and attempts to find solutions to these problems that have left even the world’s greatest diplomats baffled.

"Let us acknowledge and celebrate what youth can do to build a safer, more just world. Let us strengthen our efforts to include young people in policies, programmes and decision-making processes that benefit their futures and ours."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon message on International Youth Day, 12 August 2010

It is a unique opportunity for students to discover and cultivate interests in international diplomacy and negotiation. Delegates have the opportunity to learn first-hand about the strengths and weaknesses of the UN and gain an appreciation for the value of compromise. Gruelling committee sessions challenge the delegates and hone skills of communication, all the while discovering the art of diplomacy. "You have to work and think about how we can make this world a better place for all. This is what I'd really like to ask our young leaders. We will try as leaders of today to minimise the problems which we will hand over to you. But it is to you. You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen."

Secretary-General's remarks to the 2010 Young Atlanticist Summit

Lisbon, Portugal, 20 November 2010

In such a conference, what the delegates must keep in mind is that each country has some policies and adhering to the policies is of utmost important. Delegates also have to remember that they are not allowed to form their own policies and any such inaccuracies can be objected to if questioned.

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SECRETARIAT

CORE SECRETARIAT

Secretary General: Ishaan Kapoor

Director General: Prakhar Mody

Deputy Secretary General: Anmol Sahoo

Charge D’ Affairs: Nikhil Tadikonda

COMMITTEES

Security Council

Director: Rohan Gajendragadkar Assistant Director: Sheen Dhar UN Office On Drugs and Crime

Director: Sakshina Bhatt Assistant Director: Nikhil Tadikonda

Special Political and Decolonisation Committee

Director: Anmol Sahoo Assistant Director: Prakhar Mody Human Rights Commission

Director: Simran Arora Assistant Director: Akash Megh Sharma

ADMINISTRATION

Logistics

Head: Jamila Merchant Assistant Head: Nikhil Mathur

Press Corps

Director: Namitha Sadanand Chief Editor: Shana Shwetangi

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CONFERENCE PREPARATIONS

Study Guides: The Director and Assistant Director of each committee prepare a document called a

study guide. The study guide outlines the scope of the topic. Delegates are expected to know their study guides well. Although the study guide is detailed, additional research is a must.

Position Papers: The position paper is a document that states the country’s specific stance on the

topic area. The questions answered in the position paper must be relevant and in correspondence with the allocated country’s policies. We would request all delegates to submit their position papers to your respective committee email ids which will be intimated to you by your directors, before 15th October, 2012. Every delegate will have to prepare one ‘placard’ per delegation. A placard should be a laminated piece of paper with the delegation name typed horizontally (landscape) on it in BLACK INK and in a readable and non-fancy font (we suggest CALIBRI).

IN COMMITTEE

Director: The Director is the substantive expert on the topic areas. The Director has chosen the topic

areas and written the comprehensive Study Guide to aid and focus your research. He or she approves all working papers, resolutions, and amendments that are introduced in the committee. The Director will also serve as a committee Assistant Director and is the procedural expert. He or she is empowered to chair the committee when it is in formal debate. His or her primary responsibility is to facilitate debate by ensuring a smooth running committee session.

Assistant Director: The Assistant Directors serve as liaisons between the delegates and the

Director. Since they prepare updates to the Director’s Study Guide, they are substantive experts in certain aspects of the topic area. In addition, they assist in the logistics of the committee by keeping track of the Speakers list, votes, and other procedural motions.

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COMMITTEE-RULES AND PROCEDURE

Language: English will be the official and working language of the conference.

Statement by the Secretariat: At any time any member of the Secretariat may make an oral or

written statement or announcement to the committee regarding an update of their topic. Such an

announcement is not questionable.

Starting committee proceedings: Opening debate The debate has to be commenced by opening the debate by passing a motion to this effect. After debate has been initiated one continuously open speakers list will be established for the duration

of the Topic Area, except as interrupted by procedural points or motions. Speakers may speak generally

on the Topic Area being considered and may address any working paper or any draft resolution currently

on the floor. The GSL is a form of formal debate.

Delegates can motion to open moderated caucuses to narrow down the area of discussion. Moderated

caucuses generally are faster paced debates in which any delegates wishing to speak can do so by raising

their placards. After the termination of the caucus, GSL continues with the next speaker.

Recognition To Speak: Before speaking the delegate must raise his/her placard and the Director of

the committee should approve him (recognize him) and thus give him permission to speak. When any

delegate is speaking he is said to be ‘on the floor’. A delegate can only speak when he is on the floor and

may even be barred from committee if he speaks without recognition of the Director.

General Speaker’s List: The General Speakers List is a form of formal debate. The general

speakers list will remain open throughout the course of the debate. Opening any other form will debate

will just overlap it. Any country wishing to add their name on the GSL (if it already is not) can do so at

any point of time by handing a chit to this effect to a logistic member.

Each speaker will get one and a half minutes for his/her GSL speech. If the speaker finishes his speech

within this time and has some time left on the clock, he may choose to yield his time. There are 3 types

of yields which are permitted:

Yield to Questions- With this yield, the Director selects two delegates who wish to ask you

questions. Each delegate is allowed one question, and only answer time is subtracted from your

remaining time. No follow-up questions are allowed.

Yield to Chair-It implies that the remaining time for that speaker elapses. After you make this

yield, the Chair proceeds to the next speaker, unless there are any motions. This can be used

when you state a very controversial fact and do not want further debate on that topic.

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Yield to another delegate- When you yield to another delegate, he or she is given your

remaining time to speak. You usually opt for this yield when an ally knows a particular idea

especially well and would be better able to express it.

If the delegate does not yield to any one of the above, the Director authorises two 30 second

comments. Delegates wishing to comment will be asked to raise their placards and two speakers

will be chosen from the same.

Special Speaker’s List: This is nothing but a special form of a GSL wherein it is opened (by passing

a motion to this effect) to discuss a special topic under the agenda set for the debate. The rules and

procedures governing it are same as that of the GSL except that one has to speak only on the topic

decided for this list. This list is terminated once the topic has been completely discussed.

Moderated Caucus: The purpose of the moderated caucus is to facilitate substantive debate at

critical junctures in the discussion. A motion for a moderated caucus is in order at any time when the

floor is open, prior to closure of debate. The delegate making the motion must briefly specify a topic, a

speaking time, and an overall time limit, not to exceed twenty minutes, for the caucus. Once raised, the

motion will be voted on immediately, with a simple majority required for passage. If no delegates wish

to speak, the moderated caucus will immediately conclude, even if time remains in the caucus. The

Assistant Director may also decide to suspend the caucus early.

Unmoderated Caucus: An unmoderated caucus temporarily suspends formal debate and allows

members to discuss ideas informally in the committee room. The delegate making the motion may

briefly explain the purpose of the motion and specify a time limit for the caucus, not to exceed twenty

minutes. The motion will be put to a vote immediately, and a simple majority is required for passage.

The Assistant Director may prematurely end an unmoderated caucus if the caucus has ceased to be

productive. Delegates are requested not to leave their committee rooms during an unmoderated

caucus.

Emergencies: At any point during the conference there may be an emergency that may be

introduced into committee. An emergency, to be simplified, is an international crisis within the scope of

the topic area that demands immediate and complete attention. At this point of time, all discussions are

laid aside and the Emergency needs to be debated upon the floor. In a restricted time frame, the

committee has to come up with an emergency resolution that solves the crisis put forward. In this

resolution pre-ambulatory clauses are not mandatory; and operatives need to solve the issue in a

concise and to-the-point format. We, at Podar Summit, are highly goal-oriented and need delegates to

think quickly on the spot in order to ensure an enriching experience, A guest delegate may be

introduced into the committee at any point of time. With permission of the Director, he has permission

to speak.

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POINTS AND MOTIONS

Point of Personal Privilege: Whenever a delegate experiences personal discomfort which impairs

his or her ability to participate in the proceedings, he or she may rise to a Point of Personal Privilege to

request that the discomfort be corrected. While a Point of Personal Privilege may interrupt a speaker,

delegates should use this power with the utmost discretion. This is raised in this manner: “Point of

personal privilege, the delegate of _________ is not audible / is not clear / may the delegate of

_________ please repeat”.

Point of Order: This point can be raised only if the delegate speaking has made a factual error in his

speech. You must state the error and the true fact. The Director has the authority to decide is the point

is in order or not. This point cannot interrupt a speaker.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: When the floor is open (i.e. when no delegate is speaking), a

delegate may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to ask the Director a question regarding the Rules

of Procedure. A Point of Parliamentary Inquiry may never interrupt a speaker. Please use this only for

short questions; please leave the longer ones for the unmoderated caucuses or if they are urgent you

can send them in writing to the chair.(We would request you to thoroughly refer to this Conference

Handbook and refer to it first before raising this point).

Right to Reply: A delegate whose personal or national integrity has been called into question by

another delegate may request in writing a Right of Reply. The Reply, if granted, may take the form of an

oral or written apology. The Director’s decision whether to grant the Right of Reply cannot be appealed,

and a delegate granted a Right of Reply will not address the committee until requested to do so by the

Director. This motion cannot interrupt a speaker.

ONLY THE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVELAGE CAN INTERRUPT ANOTHER SPEAKER. ALL OTHER POINTS

AND MATIONS CAN BE RAISED ONLY AFTER THE SPEAKER HAS COMPLETED HIS SPEECH.

Motion to Approach the Chair: Delegates can motion to approach the chair to ask the Chair any

question which he/she will answer personally regarding the debate or procedure. However, we strongly

advise delegates to refrain from raising this motion and sending chits instead.

Suspension or Adjournment of Session: When the floor is open, a delegate may move to

suspend or adjourn the meeting. If such a motion is in order, it requires a majority to pass. It shall only

be introduced after the Director asks for it.

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COMMITTEE DYNAMICS

WORKING PAPERS A document in which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve an issue are proposed. It is an

informal document and unlike resolutions, it has no particular format except for the fact that it has to be

titled. Each working paper needs to be reviewed and signed by the director before it is introduced in the

committee. These are essential as they help in resolution writing.

RESOLUTIONS A draft resolution may be introduced when it has the required number of signatures as well as the

signature of the committee Director. Signatories actually sign to see resolution on the floor in debate,

and being a signatory in no way express support for a resolution.

Introducing Resolutions: Once a resolution has the required signatories and is also approved by

the Director of that committee, it is copied, distributed and read out to the committee in an

unmoderated caucus. Any two authors of the resolution will read out the resolution, and this reading is

restricted to the operative clauses of the resolution. The minimum number of signatories required is

1/5th of the total strength of the committee.

Emendments: Following the reading, a moderated caucus may be held where delegates clarify the

syntax (and syntax only) of the proposed resolution. This process of emending must take place before

the vote. This includes basically changes to the language of the resolution.

Amendments: Delegates may amend any resolution that has been introduced to committee. An

amendment needs to be approved by the Director before presented to committee. A change to a resolution can be of two types: a "friendly amendment" is supported by the resolution’s authors, and is passed automatically, while an "unfriendly amendment" is not supported by the original authors and must be voted on by the committee as a whole.

Voting: Each country will have one vote. Each vote can be a “Yes”, “No”, “Yes with Rights”, “No with

Rights”, “Abstain” or “Pass”. Should a member not be present and voting during a substantive vote, that member shall have not voted (technically equivalent to “Abstain”). All votes on substantive issues will be conducted by roll call. No outside observers may be present during a vote, and the Director shall ensure that the room is sealed before proceeding with the vote. Voting may be interrupted only by a point of personal Privilege. During a Roll Call Vote, the Assistant Director will assume control of the committee.

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• During the first round of voting, delegates may vote for their member nations in alphabetical order, choosing to vote a “Yes”, “No”, “Yes with Rights”, No with Rights”, “Abstain” or “Pass”. A delegate from a member nation, which does not pass, may request the right to explain his\ her vote. • A member nation that passes in the first sequence must vote during the second sequence. The rights to explain that member nation’s vote re suspended in this second round. • Member nation who requested the right to explain their votes may do so, with a time limit a set by the Director. • A third sequence will ensue in which members may change their votes by raising their placards and expressing their change in vote. • After allowing a pause in committee session for those who wish to change their votes, the Assistant

Director will tabulate and announce the final result. Following which the door of the hall will reopen.

The Secretariat will shortly release the official result of the vote.

On Resolution Writing: Before it is formally introduced to the committee, a resolution is referred to as a Draft Resolution. The

Director of your committee would like all drafts to deal with ideas and opinions presented in working

papers and existing resolutions, as well as new ideas and innovations. Remember, a final resolution has

to present a well thought out, feasible and comprehensive solution that will solve the crisis at hand.

Your draft resolution should present the same logical flow that will be present in the final resolution. A

sample resolution is presented later in this conference handbook. A draft resolution needs three things

before it can be introduced to the floor. First, it needs the signatures (but not approval) of at least 1/5th

of the total members to that committee. A word about signing – being a signatory in no way signifies

approval for that resolution, you are not bound to vote for or against a resolution just by being a

signatory. Being a signatory merely implies that you feel that this resolution should be introduced to

formal debate. You are signing to introduce a resolution to debate – no more, no less. Secondly, a

resolution needs to present a logical, simple and above all feasible solution to the situation at hand.

Working papers may contain the most imaginative and creative ideas, but in a resolution these ideas

have to stand up against the real world. If your Director or Assistant Director feels that the solution

presented in the resolution is unworkable, he/she will refuse to introduce it to committee. Thirdly, a

resolution needs authors and who are willing to amend and emend the resolution until it suits

everybody else, without compromising the meaning or original premises of the resolution. Amending a

resolution is just like writing the resolution itself. Your amendment has to be presented in resolution

format, and along with it you should submit a short note specifying which parts of the resolution you

wish to amend, and emendments as a cause of your amendment (renumbering, change of tense, etc.)

Since, at Podar Summit, there is only one final resolution, it has to be comprehensive enought to cover

the entire topic area completely and if a resolution passes, all others will have failed automatically.

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Resolution Format Headings: The title should be centred, and can be as simple as “Draft Resolution”. Other headings include Committee and Topic Area, both of which should be left aligned and presented below the title. Body: The resolution is technically a long sentence, with the following rules: • The resolution begins with your committee name (look to example). • The next section consists of Pre-ambulatory Clauses that describe the problem being addressed. Pre-ambulatory clauses should include references to past action taken, history of the problem and should offer support to the purpose of the resolution. Each clause should begin with an italicized phrase and end with a comma (,). • Operative clauses are numbered and state action to be taken by the committee. These clauses begin

with present tense active verbs, which are generally stronger words than those used in the preamble.

Each operative clause is followed by a semicolon (;), except for the last which ends with a period/full

stop (.).

Pre-ambulatory Phrases: Affirming Guided by

Alarmed by Having adopted

Approving Having considered

Aware of Having considered further

Believing Having devoted attention

Bearing in mind Having examined

Cognizant of Having heard

Confident Having received

Contemplating Having studied

Convinced Keeping in mind

Declaring Noting further

Deeply concerned Noting with regret

Deeply conscious Noting with satisfaction

Deeply convinced Noting with deep concern

Deeply disturbed Noting with approval

Deeply regretting Observing

Desiring Emphasizing Realizing

Expecting Reaffirming

Expressing its appreciation Recalling

Expressing its satisfaction Recognizing

Fulfilling Referring

Fully aware Seeking

Fully alarmed Taking into account

Fully believing Taking note

Further deploring Viewing with appreciation

Further recalling Welcoming

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Operative Phrases:

Accepts Affirms *

Approves Authorizes*

Calls for Calls upon

Condemns* Congratulates

Confirms Considers

Declares accordingly Deplores*

Draws attention Designates

Emphasizes Encourages

Endorses Expresses its appreciation

Expresses its hope Further invites

Further proclaims Further reminds

Further recommends Further requests

Further resolves Has resolved to

Notes Proclaims

Reaffirms * Recommends

Reminds Regrets

Requests Resolves

Solemnly affirms* Strongly condemns*

Supports Takes note of

Trusts Urges

*Can be used only in Security Council Resolutions

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APPENDIX

SAMPLE WORKING PAPER Committee: Commission on Trade and Development Topic: Generalized System of Preferences Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador believe that a General System of Preferences (GSP) should be set up so

that Less-Developed Countries (LDCs) receive preferential treatment from Developed Countries (DCs). To that end we propose:

1. Each DC reduce their tariffs to the lowest level possible. This level will be determined by the below created subcommittee,

2. Bilateral trade agreements should be pursued for further reductions in tariffs. 3. Trade preferences should be granted in the following areas: Agriculture Manufactures Semi-manufactures Raw materials 4. Decisions on product coverage by preference giving nations be made in consultation with the

affected LDC. Annual reevaluation of coverage shall take place with the LDC with disputed going to the below-created subcommittee.

5. A subcommittee of UNCTAD should be created with equal membership of developed and developing countries. This subcommittee would have the following powers:

a. To mediate disputes between preference givers and receivers b. Make recommendations which all countries should follow c. Serve as a forum for airing grievances relating to the GSP d. Report regularly to the Secretary General Membership should be as follows: a. Five permanent nations from the DCs b. Five permanent nations from the LDCs and LLDCs c. Ten members elected annually by UNCTAD

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SAMPLE DRAFT RESOLUTION

Commission on Information Regulation International Newsflow Imbalance The Economic and Social Council, Recalling its Resolution A/36/89 of 16 December 1981, “The Declaration on Fundamental Principles

Concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding,”

Recalling also Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone has the right to...receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,”

Recognizing that the problem of newsflow imbalance is that two-way information among countries of a region is either nonexistent or insufficient and information exchanged between regions of the world is inadequate,

Realizing the need for all Sovereign Nations to maintain their integrity and still play an active role in the international system,

1) Recommends that a three-level information interchange system be established on the National,

Regional, and International levels to ameliorate the current problems of newsflow imbalance, which is to operate as follows: a) Each region's member nations will report their national information and receive the information of

other nations in their region from the regional level of this interchange system; b) Nations will decide the character of the newsflow media best suited to the need of their sovereign

territory, be this printed, audio, or audiovisual; c) Regional News Gathering Agencies will serve to gather information from the nations in their

region, and these boards will have no editorial discretion and will serve to forward all information to the International Board;

d) Each regional agency will be composed of representatives from every member nation of the region;

e) The primary function of the International Board will be to translate information accumulated from the regional news gathering agencies;

f) The secondary purpose will be to transmit all information gathered back to the member nations via the regional news gathering agencies;

g) In order to expedite the transfer of information from the international to regional level the international board will utilize a UN frequency on a European Economic Community (EEC) satellite;

2) Proposes that the following be designated as regional areas:

a) Africa; b) Middle East; c) Asia and the Pacific; d) Latin America; e) Eastern Europe; f) Western Europe and North America;

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3) Urges the establishment of the University of International Communications, whose main branch will be in Geneva, Switzerland with additional branches located in each of the aforementioned regions, with the following aims: a) The University and branches will be established with the express purpose of bringing together

world views and facilitating the transfer of technology; b) All member nations of the United Nations will be equally represented at the University; c) Incentives will be offered to students of journalism and communications at the University to return

to their countries to teach upon completion of instruction; d) The instructors of the regional education centers will be comprised of a multi-partisan coalition of

educators from throughout the world; e) The number of students admitted to the University will be contingent upon the amount of funding

provided by the United Nations; 4) Calls for the continued use of funds from the International Program for the Development of

Communications, Special Account, UNESCO, the UN Development Program, and other sources of funding including national governments and private donors;

5) Recommends that the distribution of funds be decided by the IPDC.

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GLOSSARY

Model UN can be confusing to a beginner, not only because of the complexity of the issues and the pace of debate, but because of the strangeness of the language. At your first Model UN conference, you may not think that some of the delegates are speaking English, because of the weird terms they are using! To save you some confusion, we have provided this cheat sheet of Model UN terminology. Look it over, and soon you'll be able to discuss quorums, preambulatory clauses, division of the question, and unmoderated caucuses with the best of them.

Note that several of the terms below, including Secretariat and Secretary-General, have different meanings in Model UN than they do in the real UN; you should familiarize yourself with both meanings.

Abstain - During a vote on a substantive matter, delegates may abstain rather than vote yes or no. This generally signals that a state 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. 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. 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. 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. Dais - The group of people in charge of a Model UN committee. It generally consists of a Director, a Moderator and Assistant Director. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 191 member states. The only internationally recognized state that is not a member state is the Holy See. 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 bloc.

Conference Handbook Podar Summit

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Observer – An organisation or entity that is not a member of the UN but participates in its debates. Observers can vote on procedural matters but not substantive matters. 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.). 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. 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.). Quorum - The minimum number of delegates needed to be present for a committee to meet. A quorum consists of one third of the members to begin debate, and a majority of members to pass a resolution. Resolution - A document that has been passed by an organ of the UN that aims to address a particular problem or issue. The UN equivalent of a law. Roll Call - The first order of business in a Model UN committee, during which the Assistant Director 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. Second - To agree with a motion being proposed. Many motions must be seconded before they can be brought to a vote. Secretariat - The most senior staff of a Model UN conference. Secretary-General - The leader of a Model UN conference. Simple majority - 50% plus one of the number of delegates in a committee. The amount needed to pass most votes. 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. Veto - 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 bloc - The period at the end of a committee session during which delegates vote on proposed

amendments and draft resolutions. Nobody may enter or leave the room during voting bloc.