Introduction

Before HabsMUN, you have the option to write a draft resolution on one of the topics. The issues of the resolutions can be found in the agenda of the conference at habsmun.com. The resolution is a document produced by delegates as a solution to an issue that is being debated; it is a formal statement of a proposal to a UN Council or Committee.

For HabsMUN, resolutions must be uploaded to the resolution portal my.habsmun.com in advance of the conference.

A resolution is made up of preambulatory and operative clauses.

The preambulatory clauses provide a background to the problem and are the introduction of the resolution. These are not debated. However, there are a variety of acknowledgements you need to make. You will need to write references to former UN resolutions, ratified conventions, and declarations. You may want to provide official figures and possibly congratulate countries and organisations which have worked on the issue. You might wish to explain any difficulties that have been encountered thus far on the issue.

The operative clauses are the basis for the debate. They set out what further action and measures need to be. These need to be researched and formed on the basis of viable solutions and the policy of the nation a delegate is representing. You must ensure that your proposals fully reflect the existing policies of the country that you represent. You may, for example, wish to encourage or invite countries to sign/ratify a convention. You may propose a new method of approaching an issue. You may support existing work or wish to supplement it. You may wish to implement new bodies or sub-bodies to specifically address the issue at hand.

Structure

As stated above, the resolution is split between preamble and operative clauses. At the beginning of each resolution the following must be stated:
COMMITTEE: You write down the name of your committee
QUESTION OF: You write the issue of the resolution
SUBMITTED BY: You write down the name of your country

The resolution is addressed to the General Assembly (apart from the Security Council, which is addressed to the Security Council) and each new clause begins with a verb, whilst each perambulatory clause begins with a present participle (see below). The following rules apply when writing a resolution:

• The opening verb of each clause is underlined.
• There is a line-space between each clause.
• Each operative clause is numbered.
• The sub-clauses begin with a), b), c), etc.; Acronyms are written out in full the first time they are used (bracketed).
• Each preambulatory clause is followed by a comma.
• Each operative clause is followed by a semicolon.
• There is only one full stop, that is, at the end of the resolution.
• Each line is numbered for easy reference.
• There is a clause limit of 15 operative clauses per resolution (20 for the Security Council), including sub-clauses. Please note that, when counting sub-clauses, the clause which they are subsidiary to should not be counted. For example, the following operative clause contains three (not four) clauses for counting purposes:

  2. Proposes that a UNBWS (United Nations Body for Water Sanitation), a subbody of the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) with additional funding from the UN, be created in order to:

  • Determine the most efficient method of medical prevention of waterborne diseases, whether by water-treatment or the provision of new water sources,
  • Research into cheaper technology for desalination, sand filtration, well recharging, and other water purification strategies as a short term goal,
  • Establish and assist educational programmes on the recognition of and the dangers of consuming unclean water;

Delegates will require a certain number of co-submitters before they can be selected for debate; this number will be up to the chairs' discretion at HABSMUN.

• There are a couple of regulations to which delegates must adhere.
  • First, a signature that has been obtained from a delegate of the same school as the main submitter is not valid.
  • Secondly, only two signatures from delegates of the same school are permitted.
• Apart from signatures, lobbying is also a time where one may wish to set-up yield chains and determine potential allies in the committee, as well get to know the other delegates with whom they will be debating.
• No resolutions may be signed at any time other than during designated lobbying sessions.
• If delegates sign a resolution, they must be willing to make a speech in time for the resolution.
• After the requisite number of signatures has been collected, the resolution and signature sheet should be given to a member of the Secretariat team who will complete the Approvals process.

Although the general model of debate is similar to other committees, there are significant differences as detailed below.

Presiding Officers

The General Assembly will be overseen by a President, with a rotating cast of chairs conducting the debate for each resolution.

Debate Procedure

Before each resolution, delegations will get a small amount of reading time for the resolution. To begin the debate, the submitter or co-submitters from the committee which the resolution has come from, will deliver an opening speech. After that the session will move into open debate, with speeches for and against the resolution encouraged. If a delegation wishes to make a speech, they should raise their placard and their chairs will select them. However, at the chairs discretion there may only be speeches for or against the resolution allowed, depending on how the session has played out. Towards the end of the session, the chairs will announce the penultimate and closing speeches. After the closing speech, the session will move into voting procedure.

Points of Information are allowed for all speeches, and the delegate will be asked how many they would like to take. However, the chairs remain with discretion to deny delegates POIs due to time constraints. If a delegation would like to make a POI, they should raise their placard, and will be selected by the chairs. There are no POIs for the closing speech, though.

There are no amendments of any degree allowed in GA.

Yield chains of one delegation are permitted, but only at the discretion of the chairs.

Voting Procedure

After the closing speech, the chairs will announce the session will move into voting. The secretariats will be asked to seal the doors and note passing will be suspended. Delegations must then decide whether to vote in favour, against or abstain from voting on the resolution. Delegations should raise their placard, for their respective choice, and at the end the chairs will announce the outcome. If more delegates vote in favour of the resolution, than against then the resolution shall pass. If more delegations abstain than vote in favour of the resolution though, then the resolution shall be declared void and not pass the General Assembly. Ater the announcement of the outcome, the session shall come to an end, and debate will move to the next resolution.

In the Security Council, debate is of more complex, detailed and rigorous style than other committees, so it traditionally comprises the most able and experienced delegates. It is therefore rare for novice delegates to be fielded in the Security Council.

All delegations which represent nations with Security Council membership must field a delegate to the Security Council.

The Security Council exists to address matters mainly of international peace and security. It comprises five permanent members, often colloquially referred to as “the P5” (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) and ten non-permanent members, elected by the real General Assembly on two year terms.

Although the general model of debate is similar to other committees, there are significant differences as detailed below.

Presiding Officers

The Security Council is not presided over by chairs, but by Presidents.

Debate Procedure

Like other committees, resolutions are debated, but rather than being debated as a whole, each clause contained within a resolution is debated individually. This means each clause has its own debate and its own voting procedure. Amendments can be made to clauses, and these can be submitted at any time during debate of the clause, and debated in time against.

The Security Council is the only institution within the United Nations that may “Condemn”, “Decide” or “Demand”. It is also the only institution that may authorise the use of economic sanctions, the use of military force or the deployment of United Nations peacekeepers.

Yield chains are limited to one yield (A → B → President).

Voting Procedure

Amendments require a simple majority to pass (8 votes in favour); abstentions are not in order.

Clauses require a 3/5 majority to pass (9 votes in favour), including no votes against by any of the five permanent members (a “veto”). If a permanent member intends to veto a clause, they should make this known to the Presidents before voting procedure begins; in these circumstances, a caucus between the permanent members and the Presidents will take place, where a compromise is attempted to be reached to assuage any concerns (this may result in amending the clause without consulting non-permanent members).

After debate for all clauses has elapsed, all passed clauses are amalgamated into a single resolution. This resolution as a whole will then be voted on, with the same criteria as above; if there is time, there may be debate on the resolution as a whole prior to voting procedure.

In the Special Commission, debate is intended to be of high standard, and delegates are expected to be constructive in debate.

Although the general model of debate is similar to other committees, there are significant differences as detailed below.

Presiding Officers

The Special Commission is not presided over by chairs, but by Commissioners.

Lobbying Procedure

Resolutions are not lobbied or debated. Instead, debate is conducted clause-by-clause, so delegates are advised to bring numerous draft clauses on (each of) the topic(s) to be discussed (as opposed to resolutions) to lobby during periods of caucus.

During caucus, delegates should attempt to garner support for their draft clauses, which they may submit to the Commissioners upon receiving enough support (signatures) from other delegates. Draft clauses may also be merged during this time. There is no limit to the number of clauses delegates may submit.

Debate Procedure

Each clause is debated individually, meaning each clause has its own debate and its own voting procedure. Debate is strictly open at all times, so delegates may make speeches in favour or against the clause at their own discretion (although the Commissioners reserve the right to set time for and time against if the interests of debate are compromised). Amendments can be made to clauses, and these can be submitted and debated at any time during debate of the clause (or, if applicable, in time against the clause).

Yield chains are limited to one yield (A → B → Commissioners).

Delegates may submit additional clauses (with sufficient support) during debate if they so wish. They may also request brief caucus periods during debate, at the discretion of the Commissioners.

Voting Procedure

All clauses and amendments require a simple majority (50% of votes in favour) to pass; when voting on amendments, abstentions are not in order.

After debate for all clauses has elapsed, all passed clauses are amalgamated into a single resolution. This resolution as a whole will then be voted on, with the same criteria as above; if there is time, there may be debate on the resolution as a whole prior to voting procedure.

In Crisis, debate is intended to be of high standard, and delegates are expected to be constructive in debate.

Although the general model of debate is similar to other committees, there are significant differences as detailed below.

Agenda

Unlike other committees, the Crisis Committee’s topic will be released on Friday prior to the Conference through a briefing paper that details the nature of the crisis situation.

Lobbying Procedure

Resolutions are not lobbied or debated. Instead, debate is conducted clause-by-clause, so delegates are advised to bring numerous draft clauses on (each of) the topic(s) to be discussed (as opposed to resolutions) to lobby during periods of caucus.

During caucus, delegates should attempt to garner support for their draft clauses, which they may submit to the Chairs upon receiving enough support (signatures) from other delegates. Draft clauses may also be merged during this time. There is no limit to the number of clauses delegates may submit.

Debate Procedure

Each clause is debated individually, meaning each clause has its own debate and its own voting procedure. Debate is strictly open at all times, so delegates may make speeches in favour or against the clause at their own discretion (although the Commissioners reserve the right to set time for and time against if the interests of debate are compromised). Amendments can be made to clauses, and these can be submitted and debated at any time during debate of the clause (or, if applicable, in time against the clause).

Yield chains are limited to one yield (A → B → Commissioners).

Delegates may submit additional clauses (with sufficient support) during debate if they so wish. They may also request brief caucus periods during debate, at the discretion of the Chairs.

Voting Procedure

All clauses and amendments require a simple majority (50% of votes in favour) to pass; when voting on amendments, abstentions are not in order.

After debate for all clauses has elapsed, all passed clauses are amalgamated into a single resolution. This resolution as a whole will then be voted on, with the same criteria as above; if there is time, there may be debate on the resolution as a whole prior to voting procedure.

At MUN conferences, delegates are able to pass notes to each other and to their Chairs. At HABSMUN there will be members of the Secretariat in each committee room and in the General Assembly to deliver notes.

Why are notes needed?

Notes form a crucial part of MUN. Delegates might want to use notes to:

• Ask the Chair a question about procedure or about the debate
• Ask a fellow delegate to yield on a certain topic
• Clarify their delegation’s views to another delegate
• Ask the Chair why they have or have not been recognised to speak recently
• Build diplomatic ties with another delegate

How do I send a note?

Unless note passing has been temporarily suspended, notes can be sent at any time during committee or GA debates, except during voting. Write clearly on the outside of the note the name of the delegation to which you want to send the note, or ‘Chair’ if you wish to send the note to the Chair. Hold the note up in the air, and a member of the Secretariat will take it and deliver it.

We ask that the content of notes remains respectable; notes passed in GA could be ‘censored’. The Press Team reserves the right to publish any notes in Le Munde, our daily newspaper. Please note that Chairs and Presidents are permitted to suspend note passing at any time if they feel it necessary.

Notes sent between committees are the bane of a Secretariat’s conference, and HabsMUN is spread across much of the large campus. Although we do allow the sending of inter-committee notes, we ask for a level of care and respect for the collective feet of the HabsMUN Secretariat. Inter-committee notes are sometimes essential; for example, an ambassador might need to learn the result of a vote on one of his delegate’s resolutions. Secretariat will not, however, pass ‘chat’ notes between committees. Ultimately the decision to send notes will be at the discretion of the Secretariat.

About notepaper

Each delegation is required to bring its own official notepaper to HabsMUN. Only official notepaper will be passed by Secretariat and all notes must be written in English. Official notepaper need not be ornate, or particularly formal, but it serves as the lens through which the initial image of a delegation is projected, and as a means of identifying who has sent which notes.

Typical MUN notepaper includes the name of the delegation, often accompanied by the nation’s flag and sometimes the UN flag, as well as the names and committees of each of the delegates in the delegation, noting the ambassador, and sometimes with a photo of each person. We ask that images and captions remain respectful to the nation being represented.

HabsMUN is a simulation of the United Nations and, as such, requires formal dress. Delegates will not be allowed to take the floor in military costume, national dress or inappropriate outfits. Delegates can choose between:

• Suits, or Blazers and smart trousers
• Shirts
• Ties
• Smart shoes

OR

• Trouser/skirt suits, or dresses (these must not be too short)
• Smart blouses or shirts
• Smart shoes

Delegates must follow debate procedure at all times, and behave in a manner befitting the spirit of the United Nations, as laid out in Chapter 1 of the United Nations Charter. Addressing the General Assembly is to be considered a privilege and honour and, as such, any offensive speech-making is prohibited. Whilst humour is encouraged, it must be kept relevant and appropriate.

Respect must be shown at all times to members of the Secretariat, Chairs, Security and fellow delegates. Any disrespectful behaviour to these individuals will be deemed as inappropriate behaviour, and appropriate sanctions will be taken (see below). Racism and intolerant or abusive language will not be tolerated. This includes during debate (i.e. in points of information and speeches), but also around the Habs campus during the conference.

Delegates are reminded that there is to be no smoking, consumption of alcohol, or possession of alcohol on the school campus. Delegates are also reminded that the wooded areas are out of bounds, while grassed areas are sacrosanct.

Please keep to the designated conference rooms, as other school buildings and rooms are out of bounds. Any acts of vandalism or theft will have severe consequences; kindly respect the provided facilities.

The school regrets that it can accept no responsibility for loss, theft or damage to personal property, including damage to any vehicles driven or parked on the campus. We ask that all participants follow and stick to the parking directions of our grounds staff. Inappropriate behaviour will result in warnings and, depending on the severity, temporary or permanent exclusion from committee at the discretion of the Chairs, as well as consideration for awards, and possible exclusion from the conference, at the discretion of the Presidents of the General Assembly, the Secretaries-General, and the conference director.

In the event of an alarm, the assembly point will be on the astroturfs (see map in welcome booklet).

In the event of a medical emergency, the school nurse can be contacted by any Head Chair, or staff member with a walkie talkie.

In the event of other urgent queries requiring immediate advice, the Secretaries-General and Conference Director can be contacted via any Head Chair, or HABSMUN staff member with a walkie-talkie.

Delegates at HABSMUN will be eligible for awards on the basis of their performance in committees. The following award categories will be used:

• Best Delegate
• Distinguished Delegate
• Highly Commended Delegate

Committee Chairs will be using the following criteria to decide the allocation of delegate awards:

Effectiveness in debate
Outstanding delegates will employ a number of different devices to be effective in their speeches and points of information. Knowledge of the issues, innovative methods of solving problems, rhetorical and persuasive speech-making and the ability to respond well to the comments and points made by other delegates will all provide evidence of debating skill.

Accurate representation of the country’s policies
Delegates should research the policy position of the country that they are representing on all the topics being discussed in committee. A broad understanding of their country’s history, international relations and so forth will also serve to strengthen a delegate’s ability to represent their country accurately.

Negotiation and consensus-building skills
Part of the idea behind MUN is to encourage delegates to develop skills in communicating with others, being persuasive and, ultimately, building collaborative solutions to global problems. Outstanding delegates will show their capabilities in this respect during both lobbying and debate.

Adherence to parliamentary procedure
A criterion that will form part of the decision for the allocation of awards is the extent to which delegates conduct themselves in a manner suited to Model United Nations debate. This will include a reasonable understanding of the rules of procedure, attendance and generally good behaviour.

The Secretaries-General will also be presenting awards to delegations as a whole that perform exceptionally well, with the categories being:

• Best Delegation
• Distinguished Delegation
• Highly Commended Delegation

The allocation of delegation awards will be based on:

Performance in committees
The performance of members of the delegation in their respective committees (according to the above criteria) will be considered. Delegate awards will form a good indication of delegates’ effectiveness in this respect.

Performance in the General Assembly
As well as being outstanding in committee, delegates will have to co-operate as a delegation when representing their country in the General Assembly. In addition to the above criteria for delegates, submitting successful resolutions or amendments will be an indicator of an exceptional delegation.