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2025 Handbook Simulations, Roles and Roleplaying
Topics
Simulations, Roles and Roleplaying Simulations, Roles and Roleplaying
The AMUN Conference is a simulation of the United Nations. By nature, the quality and tone of debate will be different from the United Nations in New York. AMUN’s policies, topics and rules of procedure are all designed to further the educational value of the simulation. Each person involved at AMUN, from representatives to faculty advisors to members of the Secretariat, has a role to play in a successful simulation. This chapter outlines the various roles and responsibilities of Conference participants.
One of the core principles of AMUN is to mirror the practice and dynamics of the United Nations as closely as possible within the confines of the simulation. For more information, see the AMUN Philosophy and Realism section in the preceding chapter, the AMUN Approach to Model United Nations.
The AMUN Secretariat The AMUN Secretariat
The AMUN Secretariat is made up of college students, graduate students and professionals from a variety of fields. All members of the Secretariat are highly trained and the vast majority are experienced in “Model UN”-ing, both as representatives and as staff members at previous AMUN Conferences and/or other Model UN conferences. Secretariat members chair AMUN’s committees, serve as simulation directors and rapporteurs, direct the International Press Delegation and the International Court of Justice, and run Home Government, Conference Services and the Executive Office. Secretariat members are able to answer any questions that representatives or faculty members have about AMUN or direct them to an appropriate Secretariat member who will answer their questions.
The Secretariat will also be present at after-hours functions. They will encourage all representatives to move all gatherings to designated areas and to minimize late-night noise levels out of respect for the hotel and its customers. When possible, they will intervene in disputes between the representatives and the hotel. In the interest of an orderly conference, and as a matter of respect for fellow hotel guests, please follow all directions given by Secretariat members.
Executive Office Executive Office
The AMUN Executive Office includes the Executive Director and other senior members of the AMUN Secretariat. The Executive Office is the primary point of contact for participating schools throughout the year. At the Conference, the Executive Office handles all financial and registration issues, makes changes to credentials as needed, is available at Faculty and Permanent Representative meetings, and conducts the lottery for country assignments for the next year’s Conference.
Home Government Home Government
AMUN Home Government is available to provide content support during the AMUN Conference. Home Government supports a realistic simulation by providing roleplayers for a variety of reasons, including: to address the simulations on the topics being covered, to enhance committees’ debate and educational experience, or to supplement Representatives’ pre-Conference research by fulfilling information requests and briefing requests submitted by representatives through the dais staff.
Conference Services Conference Services
Conference Services is the all-purpose information hub for both representatives and faculty. Conference Services can also print replacement credentials for representatives and faculty advisors.
Conferences Services is also the place to purchase AMUN memorabilia to commemorate your AMUN experience.
Those applying to join the AMUN Secretariat can submit their applications at Conference Services.
Dais Staff Dais Staff
Members of the AMUN Secretariat assigned to all simulations except the International Court of Justice, International Press Delegation and Home Government are referred to as “dais staff.” The specific makeup of a dais will vary depending on the type of committee as follows:
- Resolution-writing bodies will have chairs or presidents who facilitate debate using the AMUN Rules of Procedure and rapporteurs who facilitate the resolution process.
- Report-writing bodies will have presidents to facilitate debate and rapporteurs who will guide the body through the report writing process.
- The Security Council and Historical Security Council will have presidents and vice presidents will facilitate debate through the use of the AMUN Rules of Procedure and assist representatives with processing resolutions and presidential statements, while simulation staff will act as the primary source of information for the Councils, including acting as the home office for the Councils’ participants.
- The Commission of Inquiry, will have simulation staff act as the primary point of contact for the Commissioners, facilitating Commission processes and procedures, managing witness testimony and facilitating the Commission’s reports.
International Court of Justice Staff International Court of Justice Staff
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is conducted differently than other simulations. The Court is structured and directed by Justices, who are chosen by application prior to the Conference. Secretariat members include the ICJ Director-Registrar and ICJ Registrars, who assist Advocates in drafting memorials and preparing for oral arguments. The Registrars guide the simulation by providing advice about its structure and supplemental research support to the Justices.
International Press Delegation Staff International Press Delegation Staff
The International Press Delegation (IPD) is staffed by a Director, Publisher and editors who work to produce AMUN’s Conference newspaper, the AMUN Chronicle. The Director is responsible for making final content decisions, final corrections and passing articles to the Publisher for inclusion in the Chronicle.The Publisher is responsible for ensuring articles are included in the Chronicle, overseeing final edits and submitting the final version of the Chronicle to the Executive Committee and Executive Office for approval and for publishing the Chronicle. Editors are responsible for assisting reporters in reviewing articles and for suggesting any corrections to spelling, grammar or style for all articles.
Delegations Delegations
Delegations are, collectively, the group of people who represent a United Nations Member State or Observer State at the Conference. A school may represent more than one delegation. Delegations from the same school may share a faculty advisor and meet together after-hours, but their in-character actions during the simulation should be based on their countries’ respective policies. Delegations can range in size from 4 people to more than 20.
The latitude allowed by roleplaying and simulation does not give delegations license to act “out of character.” Representatives should research and generally follow the policies of their State, modifying these as new circumstances dictate. Successful roleplaying involves walking a careful line on policy, avoiding the extremes of either reading verbatim a State’s past statements or creating an ad hoc policy with no previous basis.
The Representative The Representative
Well-prepared representatives are critical to the success of any Model UN conference. A representative’s job is to research the positions of a United Nations Member State or Observer State, both on the specific topics that will be discussed at the Conference and for a general overview of that State’s policies.
With adequate preparation, representatives should be ready to discuss the issues with their counterparts and to prepare draft documents that, based on the specifics of each simulation, codify solutions to problems. These draft documents may be submitted for debate at the Conference, provided they meet the requirements for formatting and content as outlined in this handbook.
Representatives attend the AMUN Conference to represent their State in discussing the issues presented. When representatives enter the opening session of AMUN, they assume the role of Distinguished Representative from their country with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.
Unlike the United Nations in New York, at AMUN representatives will have only four days to assume the role of their State’s representative and simulate the actions of the United Nations. This consolidation of time leads to many challenges with which each delegation will have to contend. Among these challenges is the fact that representatives will rarely have the opportunity to give a pre‑written speech on a topic. Instead, they will often verbally react to circumstances as they arise, which may put them in a position to reinterpret their country’s position in light of new context. Representatives should not simply read from their country’s established record on the issues presented. They should be prepared to compromise with other States and adapt their policies when needed to meet the current circumstances of the world as simulated at the Conference.
At the Conference, representatives speak on behalf of their governments, debate the issues on the agenda to seek solutions to problems facing the world community and caucus with other States’ representatives to draft and discuss resolutions, reports and statements. Documents rarely maintain their original form between their first draft and the draft considered by the committee. Throughout the course of debate, draft documents may be amended or combined, or a body could engage in significant discussion of a particular issue, and still produce no final document. In the United Nations today, Member States and Observers often discuss an agenda item to reach a solution that can be agreed to by all, or at least by most, Member States.
Consensus-building is one of the most important goals for representatives in a Model United Nations simulation. At the United Nations in New York, more than seventy‑five percent of the United Nations General Assembly’s resolutions are adopted by consensus. Adoption by consensus shows solidarity and strong support within the body for a decision or course of action. Passing resolutions by consensus is not possible on every issue, but this statistic illustrates the importance of consensus-building in the international community. By aiming for universal agreement on written work, AMUN simulations strive to emulate this aspect of international diplomacy.
At the United Nations, representatives and their consular staff spend months in preparation, caucusing behind closed doors and interacting with other delegations before an issue is brought to a vote. A United Nations representative, or Head of State, rarely makes a prepared speech that would surprise the other representatives present.
The Permanent Representative The Permanent Representative
Each delegation must appoint one person to act as the primary representative who will assume the role of permanent representative when the delegation is on the floor for meetings. Schools representing more than one delegation must appoint one permanent representative per delegation.
The permanent representative has several responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following:
- Being responsible to the Secretariat for the delegation and its actions
- Acting as the leader of the delegation for substantive matters
- Coordinating the delegation across committees
- Coordinating and monitoring the delegation’s policy statements and submission of draft documents
- Representing the delegation at general meetings of permanent representatives called by the Conference
- Representing the delegation before the Security Council when requested
- Acting as liaison to the Secretariat for any administrative matters at the Conference.
The Permanent Representative may sit in any committee at AMUN on which that delegation is seated, supplementing the regular delegation size for that body. The permanent representative may be assigned to a specific committee or may float throughout the various simulations at the Conference, helping where needed. The permanent representative may not be assigned to a Historical Security Council or the Historical Commission of Inquiry. If they are assigned to the Security Council (Contemporary), they must have a partner. If the permanent representative is not assigned to a specific committee, this person may be in the best position to represent the country if it is called as a party to the dispute in the Security Council or the Historical Security Councils or as a witness in the Historical Commission of Inquiry.
Permanent representatives will be asked to provide their hotel room numbers, cell phone numbers and primary committee assignment (if applicable) to the Secretariat during registration at Conference.
As the leader of the delegation, the permanent representative should coordinate the delegation’s efforts across the various simulations. This person should facilitate a delegation’s ability to maintain coherence in policy and statements across simulations.
Permanent representatives should maintain close contact with all committees to ensure that representatives are acting consistently with their delegation’s positions. While the character of the delegation’s roleplaying should be thoroughly discussed in advance of the Conference, the permanent representative must also ensure that individuals remain within character at the Conference.
Permanent representatives can also provide support to the delegation by reviewing draft documents. Each draft document sponsored by representatives in the delegation should be considered carefully to ensure that it is within the State’s policies and is of sufficient content to not prove embarrassing to the State if submitted for consideration on the floor. Permanent representatives are encouraged to actively monitor draft documents to ensure they are not disruptive to the body.
Developing a Conference Strategy Developing a Conference Strategy
As part of its preparation, each delegation should determine its strategy and goals for the Conference. All delegations should be involved in working toward solutions to the problems placed before the United Nations. This requires a great deal of negotiation and compromise, often at the expense of an individual delegation’s positions. Therefore, each delegation’s representatives must decide which items are most important to their country and set their strategies accordingly. Strategic areas to consider include the following:
- What kind of role will your delegation play at the Conference (e.g., conciliatory, obstructive, aggressive, neutral or leading)?
- Will your delegation seek informal leadership positions in each committee?
- How can your delegation achieve the goals and interests identified in your research and delegation strategy?
- What other countries will your delegation attempt to work with? Note: These delegations may vary by committee or topic.
- Which countries may present adversarial positions to your delegation, and how will your delegation respond?
Remember, passing resolutions and reports is not the only or even truest measure of success at the Conference. While each delegation is encouraged to propose solutions to the various issues and to secure the passage of resolutions and reports that outline these solutions, representatives must stand ready to compromise to achieve any real solution to the problems being discussed.
The Faculty Advisor The Faculty Advisor
If a school has a faculty advisor, AMUN suggests that their main role be in working with and preparing the school’s delegation(s) before the Conference. Faculty advisors can assist the delegation in both logistical and substantive preparation for the Conference.
AMUN recognizes the important role faculty advisors have in a delegation’s preparation for, and negotiating the logistics of attending, the Conference. Faculty should model the level of professionalism expected of all attendees of the conference.
Faculty can act as a sounding board for their students during the Conference, but that advice and consultation should generally be given outside of official session times. If consultation during sessions is required, it should occur outside of committee rooms.
It is important to note that faculty are not delegates to the Conference. Therefore, it is inappropriate for faculty to participate in or interfere with the work of the body. Faculty will not engage in caucusing or resolution drafting and may not take a seat at the Member or Observer State’s placard. Faculty from one school should never engage representatives from another school in debate on issues relating to Conference participation. Faculty are welcome to observe formal debate from the gallery seating provided at the back of committee rooms.
Logistically, the faculty advisor may be the main contact with both the Conference and the school administration. This role could include working with finances and group organization, registering the school for the Conference, making hotel reservations, preparing travel arrangements and a host of other preparations. Alternatively, these roles could be delegated and assumed by the student delegation leaders or club officers at a school.
In helping delegations prepare for the content issues they will face at the Conference, faculty advisors could either run a full-curriculum class or serve as a resource for a Model UN club or other organization. They may use the well‑established, proven curriculum provided by the Model UN in a Box simulation guide, which contains resources to assist Model UN leaders in training delegations to participate at a Model United Nations conference. Also, the faculty advisor can coordinate and run preparatory sessions to better prepare students for the Conference.
Grading the Model UN Experience Grading the Model UN Experience
AMUN strongly recommends faculty advisors not grade students based on quantitative measures of performance at the Conference. This practice often leads to poor roleplaying, as the students involved are working for their grade and not necessarily for the accurate portrayal of their country’s positions. Grading or evaluating students on quantitative measures can undermine the collaboration and consensus-building that is at the core of the Model UN educational mission. Several areas where AMUN specifically discourages grading include the following:
- Students getting “their” draft resolution or amendment to the floor or passed
- Students speaking a certain number of times (stressing quantity over quality)
- Students making a certain number or type of motion
If grading is necessary, AMUN suggests the following as possible areas for appraisal:
- Pre‑Conference preparation, which may include papers or tests
- Quality of position papers, either internal or those submitted to the Conference
- Quality of resolutions drafted or participation in drafting
- Attendance at scheduled Conference simulations and being on time for each session
- Effectiveness of roleplaying based on direct observations
- Clearly stating and basing all actions upon the delegation’s position
- Effectively working in collaboration with other delegations, both on the floor and in caucusing
- Effectively working toward consensus, when appropriate
- A post‑Conference reflection paper about the student’s learning and experience
- A post-Conference paper analyzing the substantive discussion from the conference
- Peer and self evaluation
The interactive nature of the Model UN experience provides incredible learning opportunities for students who attend and become immersed in that experience. AMUN requests that faculty advisors not dilute their students’ experiences by linking grades to quantitative performance at the Conference.
Additional simulation considerations Additional simulation considerations
Roleplayers in Simulations Roleplayers in Simulations
Representatives and members of the AMUN Secretariat may request roleplayers to represent a country, organization or entity that is not represented at AMUN. All requests for roleplayers should be directed to the dais staff. Roleplayers may be brought in to provide the following: a substantive report from the Secretariat; an expert report from a relevant United Nations body; an informational source from a non-governmental organization; or the perspective of an unrepresented Member State, Observer State or other unrecognized group. Roleplayers may, for example, be used to clarify any points of confusion about the work or goals of a simulation or to provide additional technical information about the current status of United Nations efforts in a particular area. Based on the availability of the Home Government roleplayer and at the discretion of the dais staff, representatives may have the opportunity to raise points of inquiry to gain additional information about the subject.
Briefings and Information Requests Briefings and Information Requests
Home Government is a resource center where representatives can obtain information to supplement their pre-Conference research. AMUN’s Home Government has specialized knowledge and training about the United Nations in general and the issues being discussed at AMUN in particular. They are expert researchers who excel at finding information about unexpected aspects of the topics. Home Government staff can assist representatives with supplemental information through both briefings and information requests.
Briefings are delivered in person and cover country-specific information on a broader topic. Briefings are meant to help representatives become familiar with a specific topic and how their State may respond to discussion in the simulation. While Home Government is happy to provide expertise on a representative’s country, it will not advise a representative how to vote on any issue.
Information requests are conducted through a virtual system and cover specific, smaller-scope questions. If you find yourself wondering which states are party to a specific treaty or what decisions were made at the last Commission on the Status of Women, an information request is a great resource to provide those answers. Requests for both briefings and information requests are handled by your simulation’s rapporteurs, who liaise with Home Government on your behalf.
Purview Purview
Issues occasionally arise that are outside the scope of an AMUN simulation and the specific topics on the agenda. In these cases, representatives should consult their rapporteur to determine whether the issue may be discussed at the Conference. Representatives in Contemporary Security Councils, Historical Security Councils and the Commission of Inquiry should consult their simulation directors about such issues. Justices serving on the International Court of Justice should consult with the registrars. All decisions of the Secretariat are final.
Delegations that are “Out of Character” Delegations that are “Out of Character”
Because students attending the Conference are not career diplomats representing their country and, in most cases, will not have personal experience in the country they are representing, questions do sometimes arise at Conference as to whether the individual’s actions are “out of character” in relation to their delegation’s policies in the real world. AMUN has several specific suggestions to address this issue.
First, and most importantly, being “in character” is the responsibility of each delegation and ultimately falls to the permanent representative or the faculty advisor. There is no possible substitute for extensive preparation on your State and the issues to be discussed before attending the Conference. AMUN operates under the expectation and assumption that the members of each delegation will enter the Conference prepared and more knowledgeable about their individual country and their country’s stance on the issues than any other representative present.
If you or your delegation believe that a representative has not done sufficient research and is misinformed or acting “out of character” on a particular issue, AMUN recommends several steps: first, please revisit, internally, the actions taken by the representative in question. Is the representative “out of character” given the particular resolution and situation on the floor? Have circumstances (either in the real world or at the Conference) changed such that the representative could realistically modify their State’s stance on a particular issue? Are you certain that you know the actual stance of the State in question on the issue? Many cases of a representative appearing “out of character” stem from one party’s misinterpretations of what was said or of a State’s previously-stated policies.
If you still believe that a representative is “out of character,” AMUN asks that you talk to the representative about the issue before bringing the problem to the Secretariat. This can be easily done in a non-confrontational manner by stating something like, “I hadn’t realized that was your State’s position on the issue; where did you see that?” -or- “I thought I read something in [state your source] about your State having a different opinion on this issue; have you seen that information?” Directly confronting a representative to say, “You’re wrong on this,” will likely not succeed and could damage your diplomatic relations moving forward.
The representative will likely respond in one of two ways. The representative may respond with information to justify their position with a statement like, “I did the research, and this is my State’s view on the issue,” or they may express interest in the new information you have provided. If this response answers your question, the issue is resolved. If a representative is interested in more information, please suggest they visit the Rapporteurs or simulation directors in the simulation. If the representative is non-responsive or chooses not to answer your question, you can bring the issue to the attention of the dais staff who may assist representatives in seeking further assistance from Home Government or a simulation director.
AMUN Secretariat have different roles within the simulations, and chairs, rapporteurs and special rapporteurs are specifically instructed to not investigate or determine whether representatives are acting in or out of character. Chairs are specifically trained on the Rules of Procedure. Rapporteurs are trained to assist with issues related to drafting resolutions and reports and ensuring that documents fall within the purview of a specific simulation. Rapporteurs and simulation directors are trained to assist representatives in refining and managing the consistent and accurate representation of their country. If delegations or representatives are finding it difficult to remain in character, AMUN’s goal is to provide them with the information needed to correctly represent their State on a given issue. AMUN will work with the delegation’s permanent representative and committee representatives to resolve the situation.
Because all participants at AMUN are learning about the United Nations as they participate, these situations may occur. AMUN expects that all delegations will take the time necessary to prepare and correctly portray their State on each issue under consideration. AMUN also asks that representatives not jump to conclusions about other delegations’ roleplaying without having a detailed background on the other countries’ positions on the issues. Finally, AMUN asks that representatives on all sides handle potential “out of character” situations with the utmost diplomatic courtesy for all parties involved.
AMUN Rules of Procedure AMUN Rules of Procedure
While substantive discussions of the issues form the basis of any good simulation of the United Nations, the rules of procedure are essential to facilitating substantive debate. In general, these rules are intended to provide an even playing field, allowing each Member State to accomplish its individual goals in advocating their policies, while also maximizing opportunities for the group to reach agreement, or even consensus, on the issues. Several levels of preparation are possible on the rules. For new Model UN participants, AMUN recommends that each representative have a working knowledge of the principal motions that can be made during the simulation, encapsulated on the Rules Short Forms. The dais staff of each committee will assist representatives in using these rules and assist in bringing everyone onto an even playing field. For experienced representatives, especially those who have not attended AMUN in the past, we suggest reading AMUN’s rules in depth, both as a refresher on these rules of procedure and to note differences from other conferences a school might attend. Most Model UN conferences use slightly different rules of procedure, and in some cases, the contrasts are significant. To best facilitate everyone’s experience, it is incumbent upon every participant to learn and use the rules established for the AMUN Conference. All representatives are encouraged to attend a Rules and Roleplaying session on Saturday afternoon before Opening Plenary. These are led by senior AMUN Secretariat members and are designed to give representatives an overview of AMUN’s rules and procedures.
Topics
Simulations, Roles and Roleplaying Simulations, Roles and Roleplaying
The AMUN Conference is a simulation of the United Nations. By nature, the quality and tone of debate will be different from the United Nations in New York. AMUN’s policies, topics and rules of procedure are all designed to further the educational value of the simulation. Each person involved at AMUN, from representatives to faculty advisors to members of the Secretariat, has a role to play in a successful simulation. This chapter outlines the various roles and responsibilities of Conference participants.
One of the core principles of AMUN is to mirror the practice and dynamics of the United Nations as closely as possible within the confines of the simulation. For more information, see the AMUN Philosophy and Realism section in the preceding chapter, the AMUN Approach to Model United Nations.
The AMUN Secretariat The AMUN Secretariat
The AMUN Secretariat is made up of college students, graduate students and professionals from a variety of fields. All members of the Secretariat are highly trained and the vast majority are experienced in “Model UN”-ing, both as representatives and as staff members at previous AMUN Conferences and/or other Model UN conferences. Secretariat members chair AMUN’s committees, serve as simulation directors and rapporteurs, direct the International Press Delegation and the International Court of Justice, and run Home Government, Conference Services and the Executive Office. Secretariat members are able to answer any questions that representatives or faculty members have about AMUN or direct them to an appropriate Secretariat member who will answer their questions.
The Secretariat will also be present at after-hours functions. They will encourage all representatives to move all gatherings to designated areas and to minimize late-night noise levels out of respect for the hotel and its customers. When possible, they will intervene in disputes between the representatives and the hotel. In the interest of an orderly conference, and as a matter of respect for fellow hotel guests, please follow all directions given by Secretariat members.
Executive Office Executive Office
The AMUN Executive Office includes the Executive Director and other senior members of the AMUN Secretariat. The Executive Office is the primary point of contact for participating schools throughout the year. At the Conference, the Executive Office handles all financial and registration issues, makes changes to credentials as needed, is available at Faculty and Permanent Representative meetings, and conducts the lottery for country assignments for the next year’s Conference.
Home Government Home Government
AMUN Home Government is available to provide content support during the AMUN Conference. Home Government supports a realistic simulation by providing roleplayers for a variety of reasons, including: to address the simulations on the topics being covered, to enhance committees’ debate and educational experience, or to supplement Representatives’ pre-Conference research by fulfilling information requests and briefing requests submitted by representatives through the dais staff.
Conference Services Conference Services
Conference Services is the all-purpose information hub for both representatives and faculty. Conference Services can also print replacement credentials for representatives and faculty advisors.
Conferences Services is also the place to purchase AMUN memorabilia to commemorate your AMUN experience.
Those applying to join the AMUN Secretariat can submit their applications at Conference Services.
Dais Staff Dais Staff
Members of the AMUN Secretariat assigned to all simulations except the International Court of Justice, International Press Delegation and Home Government are referred to as “dais staff.” The specific makeup of a dais will vary depending on the type of committee as follows:
- Resolution-writing bodies will have chairs or presidents who facilitate debate using the AMUN Rules of Procedure and rapporteurs who facilitate the resolution process.
- Report-writing bodies will have presidents to facilitate debate and rapporteurs who will guide the body through the report writing process.
- The Security Council and Historical Security Council will have presidents and vice presidents will facilitate debate through the use of the AMUN Rules of Procedure and assist representatives with processing resolutions and presidential statements, while simulation staff will act as the primary source of information for the Councils, including acting as the home office for the Councils’ participants.
- The Commission of Inquiry, will have simulation staff act as the primary point of contact for the Commissioners, facilitating Commission processes and procedures, managing witness testimony and facilitating the Commission’s reports.
International Court of Justice Staff International Court of Justice Staff
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is conducted differently than other simulations. The Court is structured and directed by Justices, who are chosen by application prior to the Conference. Secretariat members include the ICJ Director-Registrar and ICJ Registrars, who assist Advocates in drafting memorials and preparing for oral arguments. The Registrars guide the simulation by providing advice about its structure and supplemental research support to the Justices.
International Press Delegation Staff International Press Delegation Staff
The International Press Delegation (IPD) is staffed by a Director, Publisher and editors who work to produce AMUN’s Conference newspaper, the AMUN Chronicle. The Director is responsible for making final content decisions, final corrections and passing articles to the Publisher for inclusion in the Chronicle.The Publisher is responsible for ensuring articles are included in the Chronicle, overseeing final edits and submitting the final version of the Chronicle to the Executive Committee and Executive Office for approval and for publishing the Chronicle. Editors are responsible for assisting reporters in reviewing articles and for suggesting any corrections to spelling, grammar or style for all articles.
Delegations Delegations
Delegations are, collectively, the group of people who represent a United Nations Member State or Observer State at the Conference. A school may represent more than one delegation. Delegations from the same school may share a faculty advisor and meet together after-hours, but their in-character actions during the simulation should be based on their countries’ respective policies. Delegations can range in size from 4 people to more than 20.
The latitude allowed by roleplaying and simulation does not give delegations license to act “out of character.” Representatives should research and generally follow the policies of their State, modifying these as new circumstances dictate. Successful roleplaying involves walking a careful line on policy, avoiding the extremes of either reading verbatim a State’s past statements or creating an ad hoc policy with no previous basis.
The Representative The Representative
Well-prepared representatives are critical to the success of any Model UN conference. A representative’s job is to research the positions of a United Nations Member State or Observer State, both on the specific topics that will be discussed at the Conference and for a general overview of that State’s policies.
With adequate preparation, representatives should be ready to discuss the issues with their counterparts and to prepare draft documents that, based on the specifics of each simulation, codify solutions to problems. These draft documents may be submitted for debate at the Conference, provided they meet the requirements for formatting and content as outlined in this handbook.
Representatives attend the AMUN Conference to represent their State in discussing the issues presented. When representatives enter the opening session of AMUN, they assume the role of Distinguished Representative from their country with all the rights and responsibilities that entails.
Unlike the United Nations in New York, at AMUN representatives will have only four days to assume the role of their State’s representative and simulate the actions of the United Nations. This consolidation of time leads to many challenges with which each delegation will have to contend. Among these challenges is the fact that representatives will rarely have the opportunity to give a pre‑written speech on a topic. Instead, they will often verbally react to circumstances as they arise, which may put them in a position to reinterpret their country’s position in light of new context. Representatives should not simply read from their country’s established record on the issues presented. They should be prepared to compromise with other States and adapt their policies when needed to meet the current circumstances of the world as simulated at the Conference.
At the Conference, representatives speak on behalf of their governments, debate the issues on the agenda to seek solutions to problems facing the world community and caucus with other States’ representatives to draft and discuss resolutions, reports and statements. Documents rarely maintain their original form between their first draft and the draft considered by the committee. Throughout the course of debate, draft documents may be amended or combined, or a body could engage in significant discussion of a particular issue, and still produce no final document. In the United Nations today, Member States and Observers often discuss an agenda item to reach a solution that can be agreed to by all, or at least by most, Member States.
Consensus-building is one of the most important goals for representatives in a Model United Nations simulation. At the United Nations in New York, more than seventy‑five percent of the United Nations General Assembly’s resolutions are adopted by consensus. Adoption by consensus shows solidarity and strong support within the body for a decision or course of action. Passing resolutions by consensus is not possible on every issue, but this statistic illustrates the importance of consensus-building in the international community. By aiming for universal agreement on written work, AMUN simulations strive to emulate this aspect of international diplomacy.
At the United Nations, representatives and their consular staff spend months in preparation, caucusing behind closed doors and interacting with other delegations before an issue is brought to a vote. A United Nations representative, or Head of State, rarely makes a prepared speech that would surprise the other representatives present.
The Permanent Representative The Permanent Representative
Each delegation must appoint one person to act as the primary representative who will assume the role of permanent representative when the delegation is on the floor for meetings. Schools representing more than one delegation must appoint one permanent representative per delegation.
The permanent representative has several responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following:
- Being responsible to the Secretariat for the delegation and its actions
- Acting as the leader of the delegation for substantive matters
- Coordinating the delegation across committees
- Coordinating and monitoring the delegation’s policy statements and submission of draft documents
- Representing the delegation at general meetings of permanent representatives called by the Conference
- Representing the delegation before the Security Council when requested
- Acting as liaison to the Secretariat for any administrative matters at the Conference.
The Permanent Representative may sit in any committee at AMUN on which that delegation is seated, supplementing the regular delegation size for that body. The permanent representative may be assigned to a specific committee or may float throughout the various simulations at the Conference, helping where needed. The permanent representative may not be assigned to a Historical Security Council or the Historical Commission of Inquiry. If they are assigned to the Security Council (Contemporary), they must have a partner. If the permanent representative is not assigned to a specific committee, this person may be in the best position to represent the country if it is called as a party to the dispute in the Security Council or the Historical Security Councils or as a witness in the Historical Commission of Inquiry.
Permanent representatives will be asked to provide their hotel room numbers, cell phone numbers and primary committee assignment (if applicable) to the Secretariat during registration at Conference.
As the leader of the delegation, the permanent representative should coordinate the delegation’s efforts across the various simulations. This person should facilitate a delegation’s ability to maintain coherence in policy and statements across simulations.
Permanent representatives should maintain close contact with all committees to ensure that representatives are acting consistently with their delegation’s positions. While the character of the delegation’s roleplaying should be thoroughly discussed in advance of the Conference, the permanent representative must also ensure that individuals remain within character at the Conference.
Permanent representatives can also provide support to the delegation by reviewing draft documents. Each draft document sponsored by representatives in the delegation should be considered carefully to ensure that it is within the State’s policies and is of sufficient content to not prove embarrassing to the State if submitted for consideration on the floor. Permanent representatives are encouraged to actively monitor draft documents to ensure they are not disruptive to the body.
Developing a Conference Strategy Developing a Conference Strategy
As part of its preparation, each delegation should determine its strategy and goals for the Conference. All delegations should be involved in working toward solutions to the problems placed before the United Nations. This requires a great deal of negotiation and compromise, often at the expense of an individual delegation’s positions. Therefore, each delegation’s representatives must decide which items are most important to their country and set their strategies accordingly. Strategic areas to consider include the following:
- What kind of role will your delegation play at the Conference (e.g., conciliatory, obstructive, aggressive, neutral or leading)?
- Will your delegation seek informal leadership positions in each committee?
- How can your delegation achieve the goals and interests identified in your research and delegation strategy?
- What other countries will your delegation attempt to work with? Note: These delegations may vary by committee or topic.
- Which countries may present adversarial positions to your delegation, and how will your delegation respond?
Remember, passing resolutions and reports is not the only or even truest measure of success at the Conference. While each delegation is encouraged to propose solutions to the various issues and to secure the passage of resolutions and reports that outline these solutions, representatives must stand ready to compromise to achieve any real solution to the problems being discussed.
The Faculty Advisor The Faculty Advisor
If a school has a faculty advisor, AMUN suggests that their main role be in working with and preparing the school’s delegation(s) before the Conference. Faculty advisors can assist the delegation in both logistical and substantive preparation for the Conference.
AMUN recognizes the important role faculty advisors have in a delegation’s preparation for, and negotiating the logistics of attending, the Conference. Faculty should model the level of professionalism expected of all attendees of the conference.
Faculty can act as a sounding board for their students during the Conference, but that advice and consultation should generally be given outside of official session times. If consultation during sessions is required, it should occur outside of committee rooms.
It is important to note that faculty are not delegates to the Conference. Therefore, it is inappropriate for faculty to participate in or interfere with the work of the body. Faculty will not engage in caucusing or resolution drafting and may not take a seat at the Member or Observer State’s placard. Faculty from one school should never engage representatives from another school in debate on issues relating to Conference participation. Faculty are welcome to observe formal debate from the gallery seating provided at the back of committee rooms.
Logistically, the faculty advisor may be the main contact with both the Conference and the school administration. This role could include working with finances and group organization, registering the school for the Conference, making hotel reservations, preparing travel arrangements and a host of other preparations. Alternatively, these roles could be delegated and assumed by the student delegation leaders or club officers at a school.
In helping delegations prepare for the content issues they will face at the Conference, faculty advisors could either run a full-curriculum class or serve as a resource for a Model UN club or other organization. They may use the well‑established, proven curriculum provided by the Model UN in a Box simulation guide, which contains resources to assist Model UN leaders in training delegations to participate at a Model United Nations conference. Also, the faculty advisor can coordinate and run preparatory sessions to better prepare students for the Conference.
Grading the Model UN Experience Grading the Model UN Experience
AMUN strongly recommends faculty advisors not grade students based on quantitative measures of performance at the Conference. This practice often leads to poor roleplaying, as the students involved are working for their grade and not necessarily for the accurate portrayal of their country’s positions. Grading or evaluating students on quantitative measures can undermine the collaboration and consensus-building that is at the core of the Model UN educational mission. Several areas where AMUN specifically discourages grading include the following:
- Students getting “their” draft resolution or amendment to the floor or passed
- Students speaking a certain number of times (stressing quantity over quality)
- Students making a certain number or type of motion
If grading is necessary, AMUN suggests the following as possible areas for appraisal:
- Pre‑Conference preparation, which may include papers or tests
- Quality of position papers, either internal or those submitted to the Conference
- Quality of resolutions drafted or participation in drafting
- Attendance at scheduled Conference simulations and being on time for each session
- Effectiveness of roleplaying based on direct observations
- Clearly stating and basing all actions upon the delegation’s position
- Effectively working in collaboration with other delegations, both on the floor and in caucusing
- Effectively working toward consensus, when appropriate
- A post‑Conference reflection paper about the student’s learning and experience
- A post-Conference paper analyzing the substantive discussion from the conference
- Peer and self evaluation
The interactive nature of the Model UN experience provides incredible learning opportunities for students who attend and become immersed in that experience. AMUN requests that faculty advisors not dilute their students’ experiences by linking grades to quantitative performance at the Conference.
Additional simulation considerations Additional simulation considerations
Roleplayers in Simulations Roleplayers in Simulations
Representatives and members of the AMUN Secretariat may request roleplayers to represent a country, organization or entity that is not represented at AMUN. All requests for roleplayers should be directed to the dais staff. Roleplayers may be brought in to provide the following: a substantive report from the Secretariat; an expert report from a relevant United Nations body; an informational source from a non-governmental organization; or the perspective of an unrepresented Member State, Observer State or other unrecognized group. Roleplayers may, for example, be used to clarify any points of confusion about the work or goals of a simulation or to provide additional technical information about the current status of United Nations efforts in a particular area. Based on the availability of the Home Government roleplayer and at the discretion of the dais staff, representatives may have the opportunity to raise points of inquiry to gain additional information about the subject.
Briefings and Information Requests Briefings and Information Requests
Home Government is a resource center where representatives can obtain information to supplement their pre-Conference research. AMUN’s Home Government has specialized knowledge and training about the United Nations in general and the issues being discussed at AMUN in particular. They are expert researchers who excel at finding information about unexpected aspects of the topics. Home Government staff can assist representatives with supplemental information through both briefings and information requests.
Briefings are delivered in person and cover country-specific information on a broader topic. Briefings are meant to help representatives become familiar with a specific topic and how their State may respond to discussion in the simulation. While Home Government is happy to provide expertise on a representative’s country, it will not advise a representative how to vote on any issue.
Information requests are conducted through a virtual system and cover specific, smaller-scope questions. If you find yourself wondering which states are party to a specific treaty or what decisions were made at the last Commission on the Status of Women, an information request is a great resource to provide those answers. Requests for both briefings and information requests are handled by your simulation’s rapporteurs, who liaise with Home Government on your behalf.
Purview Purview
Issues occasionally arise that are outside the scope of an AMUN simulation and the specific topics on the agenda. In these cases, representatives should consult their rapporteur to determine whether the issue may be discussed at the Conference. Representatives in Contemporary Security Councils, Historical Security Councils and the Commission of Inquiry should consult their simulation directors about such issues. Justices serving on the International Court of Justice should consult with the registrars. All decisions of the Secretariat are final.
Delegations that are “Out of Character” Delegations that are “Out of Character”
Because students attending the Conference are not career diplomats representing their country and, in most cases, will not have personal experience in the country they are representing, questions do sometimes arise at Conference as to whether the individual’s actions are “out of character” in relation to their delegation’s policies in the real world. AMUN has several specific suggestions to address this issue.
First, and most importantly, being “in character” is the responsibility of each delegation and ultimately falls to the permanent representative or the faculty advisor. There is no possible substitute for extensive preparation on your State and the issues to be discussed before attending the Conference. AMUN operates under the expectation and assumption that the members of each delegation will enter the Conference prepared and more knowledgeable about their individual country and their country’s stance on the issues than any other representative present.
If you or your delegation believe that a representative has not done sufficient research and is misinformed or acting “out of character” on a particular issue, AMUN recommends several steps: first, please revisit, internally, the actions taken by the representative in question. Is the representative “out of character” given the particular resolution and situation on the floor? Have circumstances (either in the real world or at the Conference) changed such that the representative could realistically modify their State’s stance on a particular issue? Are you certain that you know the actual stance of the State in question on the issue? Many cases of a representative appearing “out of character” stem from one party’s misinterpretations of what was said or of a State’s previously-stated policies.
If you still believe that a representative is “out of character,” AMUN asks that you talk to the representative about the issue before bringing the problem to the Secretariat. This can be easily done in a non-confrontational manner by stating something like, “I hadn’t realized that was your State’s position on the issue; where did you see that?” -or- “I thought I read something in [state your source] about your State having a different opinion on this issue; have you seen that information?” Directly confronting a representative to say, “You’re wrong on this,” will likely not succeed and could damage your diplomatic relations moving forward.
The representative will likely respond in one of two ways. The representative may respond with information to justify their position with a statement like, “I did the research, and this is my State’s view on the issue,” or they may express interest in the new information you have provided. If this response answers your question, the issue is resolved. If a representative is interested in more information, please suggest they visit the Rapporteurs or simulation directors in the simulation. If the representative is non-responsive or chooses not to answer your question, you can bring the issue to the attention of the dais staff who may assist representatives in seeking further assistance from Home Government or a simulation director.
AMUN Secretariat have different roles within the simulations, and chairs, rapporteurs and special rapporteurs are specifically instructed to not investigate or determine whether representatives are acting in or out of character. Chairs are specifically trained on the Rules of Procedure. Rapporteurs are trained to assist with issues related to drafting resolutions and reports and ensuring that documents fall within the purview of a specific simulation. Rapporteurs and simulation directors are trained to assist representatives in refining and managing the consistent and accurate representation of their country. If delegations or representatives are finding it difficult to remain in character, AMUN’s goal is to provide them with the information needed to correctly represent their State on a given issue. AMUN will work with the delegation’s permanent representative and committee representatives to resolve the situation.
Because all participants at AMUN are learning about the United Nations as they participate, these situations may occur. AMUN expects that all delegations will take the time necessary to prepare and correctly portray their State on each issue under consideration. AMUN also asks that representatives not jump to conclusions about other delegations’ roleplaying without having a detailed background on the other countries’ positions on the issues. Finally, AMUN asks that representatives on all sides handle potential “out of character” situations with the utmost diplomatic courtesy for all parties involved.
AMUN Rules of Procedure AMUN Rules of Procedure
While substantive discussions of the issues form the basis of any good simulation of the United Nations, the rules of procedure are essential to facilitating substantive debate. In general, these rules are intended to provide an even playing field, allowing each Member State to accomplish its individual goals in advocating their policies, while also maximizing opportunities for the group to reach agreement, or even consensus, on the issues. Several levels of preparation are possible on the rules. For new Model UN participants, AMUN recommends that each representative have a working knowledge of the principal motions that can be made during the simulation, encapsulated on the Rules Short Forms. The dais staff of each committee will assist representatives in using these rules and assist in bringing everyone onto an even playing field. For experienced representatives, especially those who have not attended AMUN in the past, we suggest reading AMUN’s rules in depth, both as a refresher on these rules of procedure and to note differences from other conferences a school might attend. Most Model UN conferences use slightly different rules of procedure, and in some cases, the contrasts are significant. To best facilitate everyone’s experience, it is incumbent upon every participant to learn and use the rules established for the AMUN Conference. All representatives are encouraged to attend a Rules and Roleplaying session on Saturday afternoon before Opening Plenary. These are led by senior AMUN Secretariat members and are designed to give representatives an overview of AMUN’s rules and procedures.