New to MUN? Here’s some background information about the club and organization!
What is Model United Nations?
Model United Nations, or more commonly known as MUN, is a program that simulates the international governing body, The United Nations. Every year, thousands of student delegates from universities, high schools, and middle schools come together during conferences to debate and collaborate over the the most pressing issues. Each student (or sometimes pairs of students) are assigned to a country they must represent. Delegates will research, give speeches, and work with others in their committee to find solutions to their assigned issue, just as it occurs in the real United Nations annually. Oftentimes, conferences will host a multitude of committees to choose from, including those from the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the World Health Organization, and the Security Council, just to name a few. Most conferences also include Historical, Fantasy, or Contemporary Crisis Committees. Regardless of which you choose, delegates can expect to actively learn research, adaptability, and problem-solving skills that will be applicable to any future career.
How Do I Know What a Committee is About?
Each committee in a MUN conference will have a specific topic or topics that are set to the agenda. However, you can expect committees in the same organs to have a similar flow of debate.
The General Assembly often consists of the largest gathering of delegates at any conference. The issues debated address fundamental challenges seen in the current day, such as addressing the state of sustainability, human rights, nuclear power, sub-regional conflicts, etc.
The Economic and Social Council is typically a moderate to large size committee. They specialize working with regional groups to achieve solutions to larger issues on—as their name suggests—economic and social issues.
The Security Council is a small, intimate committee that features more frequent debate on high-scale issues that relate directly to peace and security. While the five permanent members of the Security Council—the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China—can veto proposed resolutions in real life, these powers are not given to these delegations at MUN conferences for the sake of progressing substantive debate.
Crisis is a small, fast-paced committee that is not directly tied to the United Nations. Their topics can range from a fantasy TV show to a current-day conflict, where delegates are expected to respond to real-time crisis updates through directives.
Where Should I Go From Here?
If you are already signed up for a conference, begin by researching your committee and assignment. Reference our Conference Guides and Delegate Training for more information as you go. We wish you the best of luck!
If you are looking to join the Portola MUN competition team, please email portolamodelun@gmail.com.
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