UN Meeting Background

The following procedures apply to all student delegates, advisors, and staff attending JAMUN, to ensure a competitive, friendly and respectful environment for all involved. The subsequent rules must be obeyed throughout the duration of the conference, unless otherwise noted by the Chair.

  1. Respect - Everyone, including delegates, chairs, staff, and advisors, must be treated with dignity and respect at all times. Exhibitions of harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate behavior are unacceptable at any time. Respect for differences in culture, identity, and opinion is admired.
  2. Participation - Student delegates should listen to peers; interruptions or speaking over others are not permitted. Staying engaged in committee activities and making meaningful contributions during the session, in addition to avoiding distractions such as side conversations, phone use, or unrelated tasks, will lead to an enhanced conference experience.
  3. Instruction - Following all directions given by committee chairs, staff members, advisors and conference organizers is vital in order to run a successful conference.
  4. Attire - We politely ask students to wear formal attire, and steer away from clothes with distracting logos, messages, or images. JAMUN staff understand that “formal attire” means a variety of things in different cultures and for students from different backgrounds.
  5. Movement - Throughout the conference, delegates should act in accordance with the Chair’s directions and stay in committee while it is in session. Additionally, they may ask the Chair about bathroom privileges, and unless specified, delegates may leave during unmoderated caucuses without permission to use the bathroom, and outside of unmoderated caucuses, ask for a “Point of Personal Privilege” (see Rule 12 for more info). Entering the crisis backroom, walking behind the dais, or approaching other committees or private spaces is prohibited.
  6. Integrity - Student delegates should represent their assigned country or position faithfully and respectfully. Delegates may not plagiarize position papers, speeches, and draft resolutions. Behaving diplomatically–and in the spirit of cooperation–even during disagreements is much appreciated. There is a zero tolerance policy for bullying or badgering.
  7. Credentials - All delegates, advisors, and staff are required to wear documentation throughout all of the conference. If a delegate loses their name tag or does not receive one, find the nearest staff member and a replacement will be provided.
  8. Roll Call - Delegates should raise placards and announce their presence upon being called during roll call, either with “present” or “present and voting.” Voting on all matters is required after announcing “present and voting.”
  9. Agenda - At the beginning of committee, it will be necessary to set the agenda if there is more than one topic present. This may be done with a motion to set the agenda.
  10. Speaker’s List - A list of speakers will be compiled to debate the considered topic when no motions, amendments, or caucuses are on the floor.
  11. Speeches - Delegates may give speeches and address the committee during different caucuses. Delegates may not address the committee without being recognized by the Chair, and the Chair may call the speaker to order if the speaker is off topic. If a speaker has finished their speech before their allotted time has elapsed, they may yield their remaining time to the Chair.
  12. Points - If a delegate experiences personal discomfort (e.g. has to go to the bathroom), or needs to interrupt a speech (e.g. has an emergency, can not hear speaker), they may ask for a Point of Personal Privilege. If a delegate feels that parliamentary procedure is not being followed correctly, they may make a Point of Order, in which case the Chair will review the Point and follow with a decision. Both a Point of Personal Privilege and a Point of Order may be called for at any time during committee–including speeches–but delegates are urged to use this ability with caution.
  13. Moderated Caucus - To propose a moderated caucus, delegates should raise their placards while the Chair is collecting motions. Once addressed, they should motion for a moderated caucus with a total time, a speaking time, and a relevant topic. Moderated caucuses require a majority vote to pass, and the delegate that proposes the caucus will be granted either the first or last speaking position. The Chair will choose other speakers, and then give the floor to the first speaker.
  14. Unmoderated Caucus - To propose an unmoderated caucus, delegates should raise their placards while the Chair is collecting motions. Once addressed, they should motion for an unmoderated caucus with a total time. They may include a brief topic, but are not required to. Unmoderated caucuses require a majority vote to pass, and begin immediately after receiving the vote until the time elapses.
  15. Communication - Advisors and other non-delegate readers: please do not share this rule with any student delegates. This rule constitutes the second clue for Ad-Hoc I and II. Student delegates reading this rule may send an email with the subject line “Communication Rule” to their Ad-Hoc committee chair. In the next day, they will receive a response with the second clue.
  16. Voting - Only delegates who are recorded as present in the most recent roll call may vote. A motion requiring a “simple majority” passes only if there are more votes for than against. If there is an equal number of votes for and against, the motion fails. A motion requiring a “two-thirds majority” passes only if there are at least twice as many votes for as against. Any abstentions will not be taken into account when determining the results of a vote. All delegations have one, equal vote.