Crisis Committees

What are Crisis Committees

They are simulation committees, where delegates must react to various crises that arise throughout the weekend.

They Involve:Quick thinking

Spontaneous debate

Types of Crisis Committees

Single Committees

Joint Crisis Committees (JCCs)—Two or more committees interacting with each where the actions of one affect the other

Historical, Future, Present, ‘Alternative’

*Committees usually consist of approx. 10-30 people

Rules and Procedure

Normal MUN rules and procedure apply to crisis committees

However, most crisis committees abandon the ordering of speeches for moderated caucuses

Even though normal rules apply, be sure to read the background guide of you committee because each committee has its own unique rules

Ways to Communicate/Carry Out

Orders In SimulationsDirectives

Communiqués

Press Releases

Directives

Are used to direct the actions of one’s own country, organization or affiliated body

If you are representing a specific character (not a country), you must know what commands are reasonably within your character’s capabilities

Ex: DirectiveTo: The U.S. government

From: Barack Obama

-Send 2,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.

CommuniquésAre used for making inquiries and for discussions that do not involve giving direct orders

Use if you want to ask a delegate whether or not his/her country would look favorably upon a given policy or action

Can be used to determine if you country would be supportive of an action or policy

Example: Communiqué To: France

From: The United States

-Would France be willing to support Resolution 1.2? If not, what provisions would you like to see in the

resolution?

Press ReleaseUsed to make public statements

Use if you have information you feel needs to go public (i.e. signing of a treaty, denouncement/endorsement of an action, etc.)

You send press releases to the dais, and then the dais should read out your press release to the committee

Example: Press ReleaseFrom: North Korea

-We deny all accusations of human rights violations made by the UN. Our great and irresistibly attractive leader, Kim Jong Un, would like to warn everyone that foreign intervention will not be tolerated

Practice: What would you do?

You are representing President Obama on a Crisis Committee of the Presidential Cabinet. You have just been notified that a case of Mad Cows disease has been found in a major beef production plant in Idaho. This cattle company contributes to hundreds of thousands of beef products a year. The entire beef-eating population could be at risk of a Mad Cow outbreak. What would you do?

More Practice:

Your are the senior Military Advisor to Iran’s president. Israel has just mobilized forces into the Syrian Golan region, while simultaneously launching airstrikes on Syrian military compounds. It looks as though Israel is planning for a full invasion of Syria. What would you do?

Last One…

You are the press secretary for President Bill Clinton in 1994. You have just found out that the president may (or may not) have been involved in inappropriate relations with an intern in the White House. To make matters worse, this may not be the first case of infidelity involving the president. Also, there are rumors of possible impeachment. What do you do?