Knowing how to use the rules at a Model UN conference can feel intimidating if you aren’t familiar with them. You likely have a sense in your head of what you want to do, but maybe aren’t sure how to get from that idea to reality. 

To help you feel a bit more secure in how to get things done in your committee, we encourage you to study and practice AMUN’s rules of procedure as much as you can before coming to Chicago, but to also look to these resources for support:

Come to Rules and Roleplaying: An easy way to enhance your knowledge of the rules is to attend our Rules and Roleplaying Overview Sessions from 5:00–5:45 p.m. on the Saturday of Conference. Chairs and Rapporteurs will be present to go over the basics and answer any questions you might have come across in your conference preparations.

Use your Short Form: A great resource for keeping track of the rules in the committee room is your Rules Short Form, which is available online in the AMUN Handbook. Paper copies of the Rules Short Form for your body are also available on the documents table in each room.

The Rules Short Form allows you, at a quick glance, to see the different points and motions that you can make, along with their precedence and the various intricacies that go along with them. You can use this form to think about what you’d like to accomplish in committee or to follow along with formal session.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions: Your Chairs aren’t just in the committee room to call on people—they are also a great resource for rules information. You can always send a note to the dais, raise a Point of Information during formal session or approach a Chair during a break in formal session. They can answer all sorts of questions about the rules, and if they don’t have the answer, they can help you find it.