Conference Preparation Guide

Conference Procedures

CSIAMUN procedures are based primarily on UNA-USA procedures of debate, which allows for dynamic and flexible debate. However, a few key differences exist, which are detailed below. Furthermore, pre-written resolutions are not allowed; we encourage delegates to focus on diplomatic negotiations, critical thinking, and creative solutions during the actual session. (Please consult the official CSIAMUN XVII Rules of Parliamentary Procedures for extensive information on general rules and proceedings.)

The committee sessions may officially begin when the Quorum is met. The Quorum is the minimum number of delegates required, 1⁄3 of each committee, to be present for the committee to proceed with the formal debate. The chairs will first proceed to take attendance before beginning the session. Delegates should raise their placards placed on their desks and follow the chair’s instructions. Delegates should raise their placards high when their country’s name is called and respond with either ‘present’ or ‘present and voting.’ If a delegate chooses to say ‘present and voting,’ they will not be able to abstain from any substantive voting on resolutions and amendments.

Once completed, delegates may raise a motion to set an agenda item. Remember, all committees except for the Security Council and Journalism have two agendas. Either select agenda item A and agenda item B to raise a motion to set the agenda. For each committee, respective Chairs will call all those for and all those against the motion to vote. A majority vote is required for each procedural motion to pass. If a Motion to Set the Agenda fails, the committee automatically adopts the other agenda item as the first topic of debate.

After the first agenda item is set, delegates will deliver their opening speeches for the first agenda in 90 seconds. Delegates should be reminded that opening speeches are mandatory and they should print them out before the conference, as we cannot do so for delegates. Opening speeches should contain your country’s status quo, policy position, and ideas for solutions. Focus on the aspects of major concern and deliver a clear and concise message of the actions you will be supporting. Utilize note-passing to induce pre-open debate conversations with other delegates; this can be helpful for future bloc-formations. Remember to strategically utilize your voice: the way you use your voice can shape your narrative and persuade others of the solutions proposed.

Once all the opening speeches end, the floor is open for all delegates to raise points or motions. During this time, delegates are highly encouraged to conduct debate and resolution writing in the form of Moderated Debates and Unmoderated Caucuses. Moderated Debate allows delegates to discuss specific sub-issues of the agenda in a formal manner, while Unmoderated Caucus is the designated time to freely form blocs and draft resolutions. Blocs are working groups of member nations with shared stances on specific issues. Once a bloc is formed, delegates should create a shared Google Doc and invite the chairs to the document. A Resolution refers to the set of solutions that delegates have come up with to solve the agenda. It should not contain unrealistic solutions or solutions that have already been executed in the past. In CSIAMUNXVIII, while working papers exist, they cannot be introduced nor debated upon in any substantive manner.

Resolutions must consist of a preamble and an operative section. The preambulatory clauses explains the background to the conflicts inherited in the agendas set. It should serve as an argumentation and reasoning behind the actions in the operative section. The operative clauses contains the calls of action delegates in the committee to resolve the problem mentioned in the agenda. Operative clauses should only deal with the powers the body has clear authority to.

Furthermore, resolutions should consist of one main submitter and a minimum of five co-submitters. A co-submitter of a resolution may submit another draft resolution. Sponsors refer to all submitters, main and co-. There are no limits to the number of signatories, who are delegates that wish to see this resolution debated upon, regardless of whether they support it or not.

The draft resolution as a whole should start with the name of the forum responsible for the enactment. Please note that in all resolutions:

the introductory phrase is to be underlined
operative clauses, sub-clauses and sub-sub-clauses are indented
each operative clause is numbered
sub-clauses are lettered: a), b), c) etc.
sub-sub-clauses are numbered in Roman numerals: i), ii), iii), iv) etc.

The main submitter of the resolution will be asked to prepare an authorship speech for a maximum of 3 minutes to introduce the delegates’ draft resolution and urge other delegates to actively support the resolution. The main submitters must send their speeches to the chairs should they want the speech printed as the lobbying session is the only session where electronic devices are allowed. Other written works required during the debate will be printed and sent to the chairs under their discretion.

Please note our conference limits in-committee usage of electronic devices, including but not limited to: laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and wearables. Device usage is only permitted during the lobbying session for the purpose of drafting the resolution on a shared google doc. The use of generative AI, including Chat-GPT, will not be allowed.

Once the draft resolution is written, submitted, approved by the chairs and the approval panel, the resolution will be printed and official debate on the resolutions begins. After a silent reading time, the main submitter will read out the operative clauses and deliver the authorship speech the main submitter has already prepared. After the authorship speech is delivered, the speaker will take up to two Points of Clarifications and two Points of Information each. When this is completed, the floor will be open, and an open debate is held for any delegates wishing to make a speech on the resolution as a whole. During this open debate time, all delegates are encouraged to:

Elaborately support/oppose to the resolution
Voice thoughts on particular clauses
Discuss potential outcomes of the resolution
Work on amendments

Amendments are requests made by delegates to make changes to the draft resolution. These can be written and submitted during the open debate session. There are three types of amendments: strike, change, and add. Delegates should legibly write which clause to amend and how on the provided amendment sheet. Every amendment will have to be approved by the Chair to be introduced. Delegates should submit the amendment sheet to the chairs through the staff members. Once approved, chairs will either verbally recognise your submission of amendment or send you a note that details such.
Amendment submitters can raise a “Motion to Introduce an Amendment” when approved by the chair. After the amendments are introduced, the chair will set a closed debate and entertain speakers either for or against the amendment. When the debate time has elapsed, delegates are to vote either for or against the resolution under a supermajority.
The very final step of the debate on the first agenda item is the voting procedure on the resolution. The draft resolution requires a supermajority for it to pass, and once the resolution passes/fails, the identical debate procedure will be repeated for the other resolutions remaining on the agenda. The second agenda item, for committees excluding SC and Journalism, will also be discussed under the same measures as the first agenda item.

Please note that in CSIAMUNXVIII, we differentiate between friendly and unfriendly amendments.
Friendly amendments are supported by all sponsors of the original amendment. Hence, they require no debate and are immediately adopted to the resolution on the floor without a vote.
Unfriendly amendments are not supported by all sponsors of the original amendment. Hence, it will go through the debate procedures mentioned above. To do so, however, it still requires at least 20% of the committee as signatories.

Research and Preparation

1) Start with the topic background guide: The background guides will contain the essential background knowledge necessary to help you start your venture into this year’s agendas. For example, the historical context of relevant countries or organizations, and their stance may be included, providing crucial geopolitical context for delegates to consider. The Background Guides are available on our conference website under each committee.

2) Research the country: Take into consideration both primary and secondary sources to understand the agenda at hand. Before researching a country, delegates should note that no standalone website could provide all the information necessary to fully grasp the given delegation. For example, some countries on one source might have dated information, but another source could compensate for that with updated information. Delegates must not rely on a single source to provide all the necessary information.
The CIA World Fact Book and the U.S. Department of State websites are great places to start researching a delegation. They both provide an in-depth review of a country and will allow you to see accurate and frequently updated information on a country’s statistics.
The CIA World Fact Book gives you simple-to-read facts. As for the U.S. Department of State website, it provides a thorough elaboration on individual countries and their relations with the United States.

CIA WORLD Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/

US Department of State: https://www.state.gov/countries-and-areas-list/

BBC Country Profiles
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/country_profiles
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles

Additionally, a word of advice. Delegates might be tempted to research their designated countries without much care for the credibility of their sources. Delegates are advised to use documents or data from a trustworthy site. Questionable resources including Wikipedia should not be used. For example, for the HRC agenda, the Clean Clothes Campaign, International Labour Rights Forum, Fair Labor Association, and the MOM (Minutes of Meeting) from actual UN sessions would be an example. Accurate and specific documents enhance your stance.

3) Additional Information: Use the resources in the Agenda Guide bibliography and the precedents in official United Nations documents. Use the sources in the Agenda Guide as a starting point for your research. Previous United Nations Security Council resolutions and conference proceedings are also an important resource for delegates. Delegates can use previous conferences to substantiate their positions and use them as insights for a practical but effective approach to the agenda.
Researching on the past policies and practices of the delegates’ nation is also encouraged. Analyzing precedents of delegates’ nations on a similar issue will also be helpful when drafting resolutions and discussing the agenda.

Delegates of Security Council should refer to the Security Council guide for more committee-specific procedures. The right to ‘Veto’ is what distinguishes the conferences of the Security Council from those of others. The five permanent nations, the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia hold the Veto powers. When one of the five permanent members practices their right to veto, the resolution will not pass. If the delegate represents one of the permanent nations, please do not constantly wave one’s right to veto throughout the sessions. Instead, the delegates should try to get themselves recognized and participate in the process of drafting an agreeable resolution. Delegates representing the non-permanent nations are recommended to come to the conference with much research and knowledge on the agenda, and participate actively during the sessions. As the absence of veto power will ask for more effort to get one’s stance recognized during the conference.

If this is your first MUN, it helps to have a thorough understanding of your nation, from population to the current situation regarding the agenda.

Do research the status quo of other nations on the committee country list for a better grasp of the flow of the debate. Have fun and enjoy your stage, make new friends, and always be ready to learn. That’s the spirit of a true delegate and a true global leader.
Chairs of Commission on Science and Technology for Development