You're probably here because you are new to MUN or are interested in MUN. I'm here to give you an explanation of the fundamentals of MUN. I won't go to much detail about the Rules of Procedure (basically the Rules) but you can view my ROP decoded series for explanations.

MUN, or Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations where students simulate being different delegates/countries. Sometimes it is the General Assembly (with 193 member states) and its committees (with smaller number of countries) and it is mostly students (high school or university) that attend these sessions.

MUN is incredibly helpful if you're going to International Relations and Political Science in general, it could also support you in other majors such as:

• Medicine, particularly in WHO
• Economics, particularly in ECOSOC
• Environmental Sciences, in UNEP

Even if you're not aspiring for these majors, MUN still can help develop your debate, diplomacy, and negotiation skills in general.

Before the Conference

You generally are required to do a Position Paper (a document that summarizes your past actions and proposed actions.) With that, you will research using websites, books, research journals, etc. to back your actions and your proposed policies.

You will also be expected to prepare speeches before the conference. You are required to prepare a 60-second Opening Speech that summarizes your position to the topic(s). And if you'd like, you should also prepare 2-3 speeches on sub-topics that you want to motion for.

During the Conference

This diagram basically summarizes the flow in an MUN conference.

Opening speeches are a 60-second speech you make that summarizes your position.

Moderated Caucus are a series of speeches many delegates make on a specific topic.

GSL (General Speaker's List) is always open and anyone can make a speech on anything.

An unmoderated caucus is a period of time that delegates are "free" to lobby and work together towards a Resolution.

A Draft Resolution is a product of the Mods, GSL and Unmods. It is basically a document that states that these countries want to do this and this is how we are doing it. 

A Resolution Debate is a series of speeches where there are "For/Supporting" speeches that support the Draft Resolution and "Against" speeches that are against the Draft Resolution.

A vote is a vote to pass or not to pass a resolution. It generally requires two-thirds of the committee to agree.

A Resolution becomes one when a vote agrees to pass this resolution.