Student Resources
Model UN

Model UN | Resolution Guide | Country Research | Issues Research | United Nations Research  Research Step-by-Step | Code of Ethical Conduct

Model UN

Most students will be in the General Assembly and its committees. They form delegations of three people. A delegation represents a selected member nation of the United Nations. Students must learn the culture, geography, history, and current political and economic conditions of their country so that they may represent their country's position in the character and viewpoint of that country while debating resolutions which propose solutions to world problems.

This is an academic activity and participants must be able to meet the following requirements:

  • Write a position paper (also called country briefing) about their country and present it as an oral report in a Sunday practice session.
  • Write a resolution (also called a proposal) which they will present in a Sunday practice debate and also at the Model UN, with the goal being to have that resolution passed, following debate.
  • To attend a training workshop, a library research session, and three Sunday practice meetings.
  • Be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about world affairs so that they may contribute to the committee and General Assembly debates throughout the conference. The speeches you make contributing to the debate on other delegations' resolutions are more important than having your own resolution passed.
  • Be responsible in meeting deadlines for forms and written work.
  • Be willing to follow proper conduct at Memphis-area practice sessions and the Model UN Conference in the Nashville area.

Check out the Model UN website for more information.

Resolution Guide

The United Nations is a community of its member states. It exists for two general purposes:

  • To maintain peace and security, and prevent aggression, amongst nations. The Security Council is the only UN body with the authority to pressure or punish countries through military or economic means.
  • To improve the quality of life for the people of the world. This is carried out through one of the dozens of UN organizations and committees.

The United Nations is NOT a world government. It cannot violate the “national sovereignty” of a member nation; that is, the right of a nation to control its own internal affairs. Hence, UN.

Resolutions are merely suggestions, requests, or statements of  “world opinion.” (The exception to this is the “peace and security” function of the Security Council).

The General Assembly and its committees are the bodies in which all member nations discuss world problems and propose solutions. The purposes of GA resolutions are to define and describe problems and propose solutions.

  • A resolution may propose that specific nations alter their behavior in order to be in line with principles and guidelines stated in one of the dozens of agreements, treaties, declarations, reports, or protocols which most nations have previously signed. Examples range from the UN Declaration of Human Rights to the Kyoto Protocol on Global Warming to the UN Charter itself, and many, many others. Specific punishments may be suggested, if desired, for nations who are in violation.
  • A resolution may call on member nations to adopt by their vote a new position or viewpoint regarding a more specific international issue (for instance to “request action to solve” this or “condemn or oppose” that).
  • A resolution may seek to develop and gain approval for a specific program or course of action to be carried out by one of the UN organs (Examples of such organs are the UN Commission on Human Rights, the UN Children’s Emergency Fund, The UN Development Programme, the UN Environment Programme, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the UN Disarmament Commission, the UN International Drug Control Programme, and many, many more).
  • A resolution can create a new organization or committee, but be careful because an organ already exists for practically every matter of world concern. (The UN needs creative solutions and will power, not more bureaucracy). 

So, to write a quality resolution, you must know:

  • Your country’s outlook and priorities. Aside from having a general knowledge of your country’s geography, culture, economy, government and recent history, there are UN-based sources, such as the book, A Global Agenda: Issues Before the General Assembly of the UN, published annually by the UN Association of the USA (called UNA-USA).
  • Another very possible “short-cut” would be to go to the web site your country’s Permanent Mission to the UN. Here your country issues position statements, as press releases, regarding the selected issues currently before the General Assembly.  Go to http://www.un.int/, click "welcome" and find your country's website under Member States: Web Sites of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations.  
  • The pressing issues or needs confronting the UN today, and which would concern your nation directly (as a national or regional need) or indirectly (as a concerned “world citizen”).
  • What UN declarations, statements, reports, or protocols now exist concerning your issue or topic. If none exist, then you may propose that a new statement of opinion/goals be adopted. But again, make sure none already exist before doing this.
  • What UN organizations or commissions already exist to deal with your issue or topic.

REMINDERS:

Here are topics or problems of general concern, aside from those suggested in your delegate manual: improving health and education, fighting crime or terrorism, promoting economic development (agricultural and industrial or high technology), debt relief for poor nations, reforming the UN system or its finance, protecting the environment, eliminating or limiting weapons of mass destruction, improving the lives or protecting the rights of women and children, assisting refugees fleeing economic or military disasters, and so on.

With these problems of general concern, remember that long-term complex problems require long-term detailed solutions. Hence, in many cases, your resolution alone is probably not going to entirely solve those problems. Think of it as the first, even if limited, step toward a later, more comprehensive solution.  Or, your resolution may identify a small, but important, problem that exists with a UN program. In this case, you could propose a specific reform which “fine tunes” that UN program. 

Remember that unless a problem is totally unique to your nation or region, or a dire emergency exists, it is not a good idea to personalize an assistance effort (for instance, to improve literacy in my country only).  With most problems, such as those related to health, education, or economic development, a large number of country’s face those problems in common. So, think in terms of general programs and solutions.

Keep in mind the UN financial resources involved with your plan or solution. You will probably be asked this question in debate. This would be decided by the magnitude or severity of the problem. How extensive is the problem? How many nations and people are affected by it? One idea would be to go to the UN budget and see what the UN organization or commission in question spends on comparable problems. Where does your topic fit in that organization’s, or the world’s, priorities?

Country Research

Databases

Print Resources

  • Encyclopedia of World Cultures  REF 305.8 E56 and 2002 Supplement

  • Encyclopedia of World Geography REF 910.3 E56h 2002

  • Geo-Data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia REF 910.3 G342

  • Lands and Peoples REF 910 L263 2001

  • The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World  REF 320.03 O98

  • Statesman's Yearbook REF 320 S797 2000

  • The Third World 909.09724 T445 2000

  • World Conflicts and Confrontations REF 909.82 W927b 2000

  • World Geography REF 910.3 W919s 2001

  • Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations REF 903.21 W927 2004

Internet Links

  • Background notes  US Dept of State. Facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations of independent states, some dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty

  • CIA World Factbook 2007 US Central Intelligence Agency. Country information has been updated as of 23 January 2007.

  • Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members  See World Leaders.  CIA listings of countries updated in August 2007.

  • Consular Information Sheet Travel Warnings  US Dept of State. Includes Avian Flu updates and International Adoption

  • Countries and Regions  US Dept of State

  • Export Portal  US Dept of State & US Dept of Commerce. Country exports, information, economics, trade agreements, tariffs, and more

  • Country Profiles  BBC

  • Country Profiles  The Economist's articles, profiles, forecasts, statistics, and news

  • GEOHIVE Global Statistics  Geopolitical data: population statistics of regions, countries, provinces and cities. Also, economic factors like wealth, infrastructure; statistics on natural phenomena, and more

  • Portals to the World  Country links selected by the US Library of Congress

  • U.S. Consular Information Sheets  US Dept of State. Travel reports and health warnings for people going abroad.  Check out the left menu for 'post reports' written for U.S. Government employees and family members assigned to diplomatic missions abroad to provide information about living, housing, and health conditions, as well as recreational, cultural, and employment opportunities for family members in the host country.

  • United Nations Permanent Missions  Member country's UN Delegation links.

  • WashLaw Web Washburn University School of Law's free service.  Includes country listing and information

  • World Leaders  Formerly Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members.  CIA page with alphabetical listings of countries and their leaders.  Updated 13 August 2007.

Issues Research

Databases

  • EBSCOHost  Ten databases with 4000+ full-text journals & newspapers, images, primary sources, and links to JStor
  • Facts on File News from the last two weeks
  • Countrywatch Information provider for corporations, government agencies, universities, schools, libraries and individuals needing up-to-date news and information on each of the recognized countries of the world

Print Resources

Reference

  • Religions of the World : A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices 4 vols. REF 291 R382m

  • Atlas of the World's Religions REF 291.0223 A881

  • Encyclopedia of World Terrorism 5 vols REF 303.625 E56.

  • Encyclopedia of World Environmental History 3 vols. REF 304.203 E56k

  • Statistical Abstract of the World  3rd. ed. REF 304.6021 S797s

  • Women in the Third World: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Issues REF 305.42091

  • The Encyclopedia of the Peoples of the World REF 305.8003 E56

  • Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life 3 vols. REF 305.8003 W927

  • Culturgrams: The Nations Around Us  2 vols. REF 306 C968

  • Macmillan Encyclopedia of World Slavery  2 vols. REF 306.36203 M167

  • Time Almanac  2005 REF 317.3 T583

  • World Almanac and Book of Facts  2005 REF 317.3 W927

  • Statistical Abstract of the United States REF 317.3 U58 2004-2005

  • The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World REF 320.03 O98

  • The Greenwood Encyclopedia of International Relations 4 vols. REF 327.03 N787g

  • Atlas of the World Economy REF 330.904 F855a

  • The Value of a Dollar - 1860-1999 REF 338.528 V215

  • Legal Systems of the World 4 vols. REF 340.03 L496 

  • Information Plus Series (U.S. Information) REF 361.1 I43 Various

  • Encyclopedia of World Trade  4 vols REF 382.03 E56 .

  • Nations of the World: A Political, Economic, and Business Handbook REF 903.21 N277

  • Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations with World Leaders 6 vols. REF 903.23 W927 2004

  • Crises in the Twentieth Century REF 909.82 B829c

  • World at Risk: a Global Issues Sourcebook REF 300 W927 2002

  • World Conflicts and Confrontations REF 909.82 W927

  • Environmental Encyclopedia REF 363.7003 E61 1998

  • The Human Rights Encyclopedia REF 323.03 H918

Circulation

  • Terrorism : The History of Issues 303.625 T328h

  • Migration and Immigration: A Global View 304.82 M636

  • Invasion of Privacy : Contemporary World Issues 323.448 K26i

  • State of the World 2005 The World Watch Institute 327.116 S797

  • Global Warming : Contemporary Issues Companion 362.73874 G562

  • Opposing Viewpoints : The War on Drugs 363.45097 W253

  • Drugs and Crime 364.2 H776d

  • Central Asia: A Global Studies Handbook 958 H241c

  • Issues in the Spanish Speaking World 909.09756 R191i

  • Human Rights Watch 2006 World Report 323.49 H918 2006

Internet Links

  • Cyber School Bus Model UN Headquarters  Information on researchng for Model UN, guides on researching the culture and background of any country, and contacts with Model UN Experts

  • Background notes U.S. Department of State

  • CIA World Factbook 2007 US Central Intelligence Agency

  • Global Issues on the United Nations Agenda Alphabetical listing.

  • Government Gazettes  University of Michigan School of Information

  • WWW Virtual Library International Affairs Resources  Department of Politcal Science Elizabethtown College. Internet directory of over 2600 annotated links to high-quality sources of information and analysis in a wide range of international affairs, international studies, and international relations topics

  • International Issues and Topics US Department of State. Has A-Z index and press transcripts

  • International Governments  Librarian's Index to the Internet. Click on International Governments

  • United Nations Permanent Missions  Selected links and pages chosen on the basis of their particular interest for daily activities of the diplomatic community in NY

  • Human Rights Watch.org  Challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law

  • Cato Institute  Broaden public policy and debate on  ideals of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace

  • International Monetary Fund  Organization of 185 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty. Use Country Info tab

  • Center for Strategic and International Studies Provides strategic insights and policy solutions. Includes links to International Policy and Terrorism & Transnational Threats 
  • United Nations Scholars Workstation  Collection of texts, finding aids, data sets, maps, and pointers to print and electronic information. Subject coverage includes disarmament, economic and social development, environment, human rights, international relations, international trade, peacekeeping, and population and demography. Use the Research Approaches to UN Information
  • UNA-USA - United Nations Association for the United States of America. Includes a Model UN link on the left-hand side
  • BBC News: International Edition  Quick Guides feature provides short overviews of many countries and concepts
  • World Trade Organization  Global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations
  • World Bank Group  Vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world

 

United Nations Research

Online Resources

Print Resources

  • Basic Facts About the United Nations Reserves 341.23 B311 2004  This source chronicles the work of the UN and its organizations.
  • Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements  (Includes the UN Charter and other important documents) - Reference/Reserves 341.2303 O83e 2003 4 volumes.
  • Global Agenda: Issues before the General Assembly of the UN  Reserves 341.23 G562 2005-06
  • A Guide to Delegate Preparation Reserves 341.23 G946 2004  This excellent UN-based resource includes voting records, the charter, and many other documents. Websites are listed for more information. Use the index and the table of contents.
  • Human Development Report  Reserves 306.305 H918 2002
  • The Human Rights Encyclopedia  Reference 323.03 H918 2001
  • An Insider's Guide to the UN  341.23 F251I 2004
  • The Least Developed Countries Report 2002: Escaping the Poverty Trap  Reserves 338.91 L438
  • The United Nations and the United States  Reserves 327.73 O85u 1998 (most current edition)
  • The United Nations System  Reserves 341.23 U58 1995
  • World Economic and Social Survey  Reserves 330.9005 W927 1998

Internet Resources

 

Research Step-by-Step

Learn about the Country: Government, Geography, Economy, and Culture

  • Read country overview information
  • Use several resources to understand the character of the country.
  • Take notes and keep them. Notes support opinions at the conference. Source information necessary to create bibliography.
  • Evaluate sources.  Use authoritative resources exclusively.

Develop Position Papers

  • Select topics. Consider suggestions. Choose one topic from each standing UN committee. 
    • A reader with no previous knowledge of the topic should understand the paper.
    • Support views with a bibliography of sources used.
  • Follow TN YMCA Position Paper guidelines.
  • Develop country position
    • Address each issue from your country's point of view. Use a variety of sources.
    • The best sources are direct statements in government documents, speeches, etc.
    • Viewpoints may discovered by understanding the country's geography, government, economy, and culture.

Develop Resolution

 

Code of Ethical Conduct

We, the members of the Memphis University School Government Club, in accordance with our school and club charter:

Recognize that our behavior at public competitions reflects on the entire MUS community. For this reason we will always strive to conduct ourselves in the spirit of integrity, professionalism, and fairness.

Agree to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards which are appropriate to our social position as gentleman and future business and community leaders.

Recognize that public debates should be based on substance and facts rather than the use of insults, personal attacks, excessive rhetoric, and the intentional distortion of the truth. It is clear to us that these derogatory and manipulative techniques only cloud debate and lead to the corruption of the political process.

Recognize that the criteria for the passage of bills and resolutions should be form, content, and consistency with the individuals ideals (at Youth Legislature) or the nation he is role-playing (at Model UN), rather than merely the school the author attends.

Recognize that victories attained in the passage of bills and resolutions through unfair voting practices, such as school bloc voting, are essentially meaningless and not fitting to the spirit of scholastic competition. 

And agree not to utilize practices which undermine either the integrity or efficiency of government but rather incorporate methods which are virtuous and honorable.