Model United Nations Flashcards
A country does not support the resolution being voted on, but does not oppose it enough to vote no.
Abstain
The debate is suspended until the next meeting.
Adjourn
The order in which the issues before a committee will be discussed.
Agenda
A change to a draft resolution on the floor.
Amendment
A guide to a topic being discussed in a Model UN committee usually written by conference organizers and distributed to delegates before the conference.
Background Guide
Having legal force in UN member states.
Binding
A group of countries in a similar geographical region or with a similar opinion on a particular topic.
Bloc
A break in formal debate in which countries can more easily and informally discuss a topic.
Caucus
A member of the dais that moderates debate, keeps time, rules on points and motions, and enforces the rules of procedure.
Chair
The group of people, usually high school or college students, in charge of a Model UN committee.
Dais
The order and respect for others that all delegates at a Model UN conference must exhibit.
Decorum
A student acting as a representative of a member state or observer in a Model UN committee.
Delegate
The entire group of people representing a member state or observer in all committees at a particular Model UN conference.
Delegation
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.
Director
During voting bloc, delegates may motion to vote on certain clauses of a resolution separately, so that only the clauses that are passed become part of the final resolution.
Division of the Question
A document that seeks to fix the problems addressed by a Model UN committee.
Draft Resolution
The faculty member in charge of a Model UN team, class or club.
Faculty Advisor
The order in which events proceed during a Model UN conference.
Flow of Debate
Supported by the original draft resolution’s sponsors, and is passed automatically.
Friendly Amendment
The tool, shaped like a small wooden hammer, which the Chair uses to keep order within a Model UN committee.
Gavel
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.
Formal Debate
The student leader of a Model UN club or team.
Head Delegate
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.
Member State
A type of caucus in which delegates remain seated and the Chair calls on them one at a time to speak for a short period of time, enabling a freer exchange of opinions than would be possible in formal debate.
Moderated Caucus
A request made by a delegate that the committee as a whole do something.
Motion
A state, national organization, regional organization, or non-governmental organization that is not a member of the UN but participates in its debates.
Observer
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 “_________” and may be discussed.
On the Floor
The part of a resolution which describes how the UN will address a problem.
Operative Clause
A delegate in a Model UN committee that has volunteered to pass notes from one delegate to another, or from a delegate to the dais, for a short period of time.
Page
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.
Placard
A request raised by a delegate for information or for an action relating to that delegate.
Point
A summary of a country’s position on a topic, written by a delegate before a Model UN conference.
Position Paper
The part of a resolution that describes previous actions taken on the topic and reasons why the resolution is necessary.
Preambulatory Clause
Having to do with the way a committee is run, as opposed to the topic being discussed.
Procedural
The minimum number of delegates needed to be present for a committee to meet.
Quorum
A member of the dais whose duties include keeping the speakers’ list and taking the roll call, as well as assisting in and keeping track of administrative duties in the committee room.
Rapporteur
A document that has been passed by an organ of the UN that aims to address a particular problem or issue.
Resolution
A right to speak in reply to a previous speaker’s comment, invoked when a delegate feels personally insulted by another’s speech.
Right of Reply
The first order of business in a Model UN committee, during which the Rapporteur reads aloud the names of each member state in the committee.
Roll Call
The rules by which a Model UN committee is run.
Rules of Procedure
To agree with a motion being proposed.
Second
The staff of a Model UN conference.
Secretariat
The leader of a Model UN conference.
Secretary-General
A country that wishes a draft resolution to be put on the floor and signs the draft resolution to accomplish this.
Signatory
50% plus one vote of the number of delegates in a committee.
Simple Majority
A list that determines the order in which delegates will speak.
Speakers’ List
One of the writers of a draft resolution.
Sponsor
Having to do with the topic being discussed.
Substantive
A type of caucus in which delegates leave their seats to mingle and speak freely.
Unmoderated Caucus
A document in which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve an issue are proposed.
Working Paper
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.
Veto
A time at which delegates indicate whether they do or do not support a proposed action for the committee.
Vote
The period at the end of a committee session during which delegates vote on proposed amendments and draft resolutions.
Voting Procedure
Not supported by the original sponsors and must be voted on by the committee as a whole.
Unfriendly Amendment
