Introduction to
THIMUN
Training by: Neesha Ng Sundram
Malaysian Youth Association
for Diplomacy and Policy
Malaysian Youth Association
Table of contents
for Diplomacy and Policy
01 Introduction 02 Basic Research
What is MUN?
for MUN
Simple guide to researching
for your conference
03 Position Paper 04 THIMUN RoP
Vital part of Lesser seen, but equally fun
pre-conference Rules of Procedure with the
preparation Malaysian MUN scene
Part 1:
Introduction to
MUN
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What is it?
Model United Nations (MUN), is an
educational simulation in which students can
learn about diplomacy, international
relations, and the United Nations.
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What is the UN?
The United Nations is an international organization
founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51
countries committed to maintaining international peace
and security, developing friendly relations among nations
and promoting social progress, better living standards
and human rights.
How does it
work?
Students play the role of ambassadors from
different countries and attempt to solve real
world issues with the policies and perspectives
of their assigned country
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What is in MUN?
Elements and factors
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Draft
Open Ended Resolution
Debate Writing
MUN
Negotiation Solution
and Brainstorming
Mediation
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Part 2:
Basic Research
for MUN
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Preparation
for a
Conference:
Research
How should you prepare for a
conference?
BREAKING DOWN A TOPIC
INTO ISSUES
2. CAUSE-BASED ISSUE
3. SOLUTION-BASED ISSUE
• What is causing the problem?
1. PROBLEM BASED ISSUE • What solutions can you provide to the
• Why is this the main cause?
• What is the problem? - Read this from news mitigation or resolution of an issue
• What other alternative perspectives has been
articles • Mitigationary policies deal with
discussed
• Symptoms of the problem problems, and resolutions deal with
• Areas of contention
• Who are the stakeholders that are affected? the causes
• Consider past-precedents
The cause is what is known as a deadlock
A good illustration of the problem can lead to ⚬ What are the policies that exist?
• If we could solve the cause - we would not
the development of a sense of necessity and How can we improve upon them
have the problem → inevitable disagreement
urgency to resolve it ⚬ Are there any organisations or
between two blocs
subcommittees working on it?
• Clearly illustrate which bloc you have to be
part of
EXAMPLE
CLIMATE CHANGE & RISING SEA LEVELS
PROBLEM BASED CAUSED BASED SOLUTION BASED
What are the problems that arise from What are the causes of the
What are the solutions to the main issue?
the topic? main issue?
Excessive CO2 release from
The use of a carbon tax on carbon
The rising sea levels is a problem that factories causes climate
emissions would be a solution for climate
arise from climate change change and can become an
change
issue for discussion
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WHERE DO WE START?
Where do we start?
for Diplomacy and Policy
Google is your best friend in research
(or if you use Bing, DuckDuckGo or Baidu)
• To search for reading materials on your topic:
⚬ You can copy paste your topic or use relevant
keywords
⚬ You can include your country's name as well in the
search, to give more specific search result.
• Search example for topic of "Addressing the Presence
of Extremism and Racism in Social Media
⚬ Search "Extremism and Racism on Social Media"
⚬ For country specific (i.e. China), search "Extremism
and Racism on Social Media China"
COUNTRY PROFILES
• To note down what does your country look like in aspects such as:
⚬ Political
⚬ Economic
⚬ Social
• Know your Allies and Neighbours
• Must know any notable country policies on the issue
Country Profile Template
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RESEARCH - COUNCIL
• Search up your UN organisation
website
⚬ Read the about us or what we do
section
• Look for the mandate and structure
of your council
⚬ Is it part of the general assembly
⚬ What countries are currently in
the council
⚬ What structural sub-committees
exist in your council? Malaysian Youth Association
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RESEARCH JOURNALS
Lists of FREE Data Bases:
• Semantic scholar [Link]
• IEEE Xplore [Link]
• [Link] [Link]
• Microsoft Academics [Link]
• DOAJ [Link]
• PubMed [Link]
• ERIC [Link]
• EconBiz [Link]
• Proquest [Link]
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OATD [Link] for Diplomacy and Policy
Part 3:
Position Paper
Writing
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Preparation
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for a
Conference:
Position Paper
A document regarding your country's stance on a
specific topic or issue.
Important writing to do pre-conference!
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POSITION PAPER
Background of the issue
a. The significance of the topic/issue
b. The current condition/status of the issue
Country stances
c. What has your country done before?
d. What agreements or actions has your country done?
Possible solutions
e. What possible solutions would you or your country propose?
f. What is the end goal of your country in this council
Bibliography
Note: This is a general structure and depends on the requirements given by the your chair.
BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE
1. How is this relevant to the world/other
countries?
2. What has your country done in the past?
3. Ask yourself about the topic with the 5W1H
Framework
a. What is the current situation?
b. Why did it happen?
c. Who is involved?
d. When did it start?
e. Where did it start from?
f. How did the thing develop into an issue?
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COUNTRY STANCES
1. What does your country think about the topic
now?
2. Why does it matter? How has this been proven?
3. You may search for your country stances
through reading up on:
• Local news sources
• Government Official Press Releases
• National laws of the country related to the topic
• Ideology of your country’s government
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POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
You should include at least 2-3 solutions according to your country’s stance.
Specific What specific thing do you want to affect?
Note!
Measurable How do you prove that it works? Using what metrics? Be as creative as you
want for your proposed
solutions!
Actionable What will your policy do?
It can be a framework or
even an initiative
Does your council/country/ have the resources and power/mandate to do it? However, do be careful as
Realistic
some countries are not
supportive of certain
When will you do it and how long will it take? initiatives or policies.
Timely
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EXAMPLE OF A POSITION PAPER
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SOURCES OF INFORMATION
There are a few sources of information you can look into when you research about the topic
and your country's stance:
• Your Council's Research Report (A must read):
⚬ Written by the Chairs to inform delegates on the basic general knowledge of the council
topic.
• News Articles
⚬ To understand the actual situation on the ground, in regards to the topic.
⚬ Be Wary of Biases
• Commentaries/Editorials/Opinions
• Reports
⚬ Often more detailed with possible solution recommendations
⚬ Usually written by a credible source
• Research Journals Malaysian Youth Association
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CITATION 101
• Important to cite and reference your sources when writing your position
paper! (A way to credit the author of the information you referred)
• Main citation methods
⚬ In text citations
⚬ Footnotes
• Ways to cite
⚬ Cite manually (Refer to the referencing style guides for Harvard, APA,
MLA, Chicago etc.)
⚬ Use an autocitation app, such as MyBib
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Part 4:
THIMUN RoP
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Rules of Protocol in MUN
1) Pre-Debate
2) Flow of Debate
3) Points and Motions
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Pre-debate
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“Motion to open debate”
The first motion entertained and will be voted on procedurally and if passed, will
begin the debate.
Roll call
Present: Permitted to vote for, against and abstain from voting on all substantive
votes.
Present and Voting: Only permitted to vote for and against when voting on all
substantive votes- no abstaintions.
General Rule:
Delegates should always refer to
themselves, the Chair and other
delegates in third person during
formal committee sessions
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Flow of Debate
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Opening Speeches
● Short and brief statement of the delegate’s position on the issue and future solutions
● Delegates will be called upon alphabetically = all delegates must speak
● Duration: 60s - 120s (at Chairs discretion)
● Yield back to the chair.
○ Any POIs and motions will not be permitted or entertained during Opening
Speeches
What has your country Why is this topic important What are some possible
done? to be addressed? solutions?
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Ac t i v i t y !
Let’s hear from you!
Task: Draft 1 Opening Speech for a
Country of your choice (Time: 5 mins)
Topic: North Korea is the Best Country
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Lobbying
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● Key Element of THIMUN councils
● Total duration: Between 5-8 hours
● Purpose:
○ Build blocs and write resolutions
○ Delegates will tend to form small working groups to work on
whichever issue they choose to tackle first.
● The purpose for lobbying is to allow delegates to interact in a
non-structured format: delegates are permitted to walk around, as
well as work and speak freely
Draft Resolutions
● Seen as the final goal of the committee and contain the actions that the council
will take in order to combat the issue at hand.
● There can only be maximum of 3 sponsors, but an unlimited number of
signatories.
○ At least ⅓ of the council needs to be a part of the sports and signatories list.
○ Sponsors should be those who contributed most to the draft resolution and
therefore also be the one that agrees with it the most.
○ Signatories do not need to show support for the resolution, but merely an
interest to debate about it.
● After a draft resolution is introduced, a reading time set by chair’s discretion will
be set for the draft resolution.
● Until a draft resolution is voted upon, delegates are allowed to submit
amendments to the resolution.
Introduction to Draft Resolutions
Clarification on
Main Submitter reads wording/ concepts
that cannot be
operative clauses understood/unclear/
need further
explanation.
Points of Clarification
Delegates should
not be asking POIs
Main Submitter: 120s speech on in any way.
the Resolution
Yieldings: POI/Chair/another delegate
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General Debate
● Delegates enter open debate after presentation of the draft
resolution.
● Delegates are free to debate on the resolution and propose
motions, points and amendments.
● Delegates should have 60 to 90 seconds speaking time and
should be asked how they wish to yield.
● All delegates are permitted to yield to the chair, to POIs or to
another delegate.
● When asked by the Chair, delegates who wish to speak
should raise their placard and the chair will pick according to
their discretion.
● There are no speakers list for THIMUN debate, and each new
speaker is picked immediately after the last one by the Chair,
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Yielding
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Yielding Back to The Yielding to Points of
Chair Inquiry (POI)
“I would like to yield my time back “I would like to yield myself to POIs/
to the chair.” (any number) of POIs.”
Yielding to another
delegate
“I would like to yield my remaining
time to the delegate of…“
Amendments
“Motion to introduce Amendment to Draft
Resolution”
● To change operative clauses in the draft resolution
after it has been introduced.
○ To add, strike, or amend a clause
■ Strike Clause 2.3
■ Amend Clause 2 to ….
■ Add… to Clause 1 sub clause a
● Friendly Amendments:
○ These amendments are agreed upon
unanimously by the sponsors and signatories
and automatically passes.
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Unfriendly Amendments
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1. Dias approves the amendment.
2. Delegate can call for motion to introduce the amendment during General Debate: “This
delegate believes they have submitted an amendment.”
3. Council will then move into debate time for the amendment within a set closed debate
time: speaking for and against the amendment.
4. Delegates will move into voting procedure for certain amendment.
5. Pass = Change; Fail= No change
6. “Motion to move into the previous question” motion will require no objections
7. Move to the next phase
Amendment to the second degree: alters the wording or adds working to the original
amendment.
Voting
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Procedural Voting Substantial Voting
● Require simple majority to ● Require simple majority to pass
pass ● Abstentions are allowed
● No abstentions allowed ● In the UNSC, substantial votes
● Used for procedural matters, would require a ⅔ majority to
such as passing motions, pass.
opening debate and so on. ● Used in passing amendments
and draft resolutions.
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Cont. Voting
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● The delegate should motion to “vote on the resolution as a whole”
● Seconds vs Objections passing with simple majority of ½
○ The resolution will no longer be able to be debated on
● Delegates may vote for or against (or abstain depending on the roll call answer)
for the resolution
● Fail = debate continues
● Pass = the Chair is recommended to suspend debate to allow delegates to
prepare themselves for the next topic
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Amendment & Voting Procedures
Points
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● Point of clarification:
○ Asking for clarification of certain words or phrases that delegates do not
understand.
○ Used after the main submitter of a resolution has finished their speech
● Point of parliamentary inquiry
○ Used when you are confused or unsure about the rules of procedure and
wish clarifications from the chair
● Point of personal privilege
○ Issues that are disrupting the delegate’s ability to debate
○ E.g. temperature, volume that is too low.
○ Only point that can interrupt a speaker
● Point of order
○ Raised when either chair or delegate have made a mistake
Cont. Points Malaysian Youth Association
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● Point of information
○ Points of information are raised to ask about certain aspects and details
regarding the speech that the delegate made. If the delegate that asked
the POI feels the response was not thorough, they have the right to ask
for a follow up to ask the delegate another question.
● Right to reply
○ Used if a delegate feels that another delegate has personally insulted
his/her country
○ Delegates are required to produce a brief justification to the chairs on
why before the Chair decides to entertain the right.
○ The duration of the right of reply speech is determined based on the
severity of the insult.
○ Delegates should use this time to clarify the situation rather than
retaliate.
○ There can be no right of reply to a right of reply.
Motions
● This delegate believes they have submitted an amendment:
○ It is not a strict motion, this is said when a delegate wishes for
their amendments to be debated, see the section on
amendments.
● Motion to move to the previous question
○ Used when delegates wish to conduct a vote on any or
amendment that has been introduced in order to pass it when in
against time.
○ The motion to move into previous question can also be used if
delegates wish to jump to the ‘against’ section of amendment
debate, it should have no objections.
● Motion to move to vote on the resolution as a whole
○ Used when delegates wish to conduct a vote on any draft
resolution that has been introduced in order to pass it.
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Cont. Motions for Diplomacy and Policy
● Motion to vote clause-by-clause (or divide the question)
○ After passing procedural voting, the resolution would be voted on in order, with
individual votes on each clause.
○ If any clause fails to receive the majority vote, it would be removed from the
resolution.
○ After all clauses are voted on, the ‘updated’ resolution is voted on in full and
passed or failed as usual.
● Motion to divide the house.
○ Done after a vote where, if all abstainers were to vote for one side or another, the
outcome of the vote would change.
○ This would force the house (if passing procedurally) to waive the right to abstain
and the vote would occur again but with no abstentions.
● Motion for a roll call vote.
○ Usually involved at the discretion of the chair.
○ Reading out the countries according to the alphabetical list
○ Each country would indicate their for, against or absentions.
Cont. Motions
● Motion to suspend/adjourn debate:
○ This motion is evoked at the final council session of the day or before a
break.
○ The suspension of debate pauses debate temporarily for a break, however,
the adjournment of debate stops it indefinitely.
○ The adjournment of debate should be done at the end of the conference
only.
● Motion to resume debate
○ Raised when delegates wish to return to formal debate a the start of the
committee session on the second and third day of conference.
○ First motion that should be raised after raising motion to suspend debate.
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Other general
rules
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● English is the recommended official working language
● Each member nation will be represented by one or two delegates (joint delegation)
● Each member nation nation has one vote.
● For delegates whose countries are given observer, status at the UN, delegates are given the
same rights as full members. The only exception, however, is that they are not allowed to
vote.
● Always strived to be respectful, diplomatic and cooperative with other members of the
committee, your chairs, admin staff and all other individuals who are within your committee.
● Be reminded that you are a diplomat serving the highest honour of your country,
representing both its foreign policy and its people.
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● The chair is the ultimate arbiter of the debate, any issues are decided finally by the
chair and their decision is always final generally unless the secretariat are involved.
● The chair can, at any time, intervene by asking a POI (through the deus/dais) to the
delegate speaking, delegates do not have the right to deny the chair this right.
● The chair can, at any time, intervene and speak at any point regardless of any current
situation and the delegate must cease speaking.