Return To: The 2019 AMUN Handbook
The 2019 AMUN Handbook Introduction
Welcome Welcome
American Model United Nations (AMUN) is a non-profit, educational organization founded in 1989 to provide students with the highest quality, most professionally run simulation of the United Nations available. AMUN strives to combine educational quality with highly realistic simulations of the United Nations to give students an unparalleled Model UN learning experience. We return to these ideals year over year as we create the policies and applications expressed in this handbook. We are excited to have you join us for the 2019 Conference.
2019 Simulations 2019 Simulations
In 2019, AMUN will simulate the General Assembly (GA) Plenary, three Main GA Committees (GA1, GA2 and GA3), The World Council on Youth (WCY), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). AMUN also simulates three historical bodies: the Historical Security Council of 1961 (HSC61), the Historical Security Council of 2003 (HSC03) and the Historical Commission of Inquiry: Assassinations (COI). Finally, AMUN features a simulation of the International Press Delegation (IPD), which produces the Conference newspaper, maintains the AMUN Twitter feed during Conference and covers all simulations’ work.
The General Assembly First (Disarmament & International Security), Second (Economic & Financial) and Third (Social, Humanitarian & Cultural) Committees, the Concurrent General Assembly Plenary, the World Council on Youth, and the International Telecommunications Union will meet for the first three and a half days of the Conference (i.e., from Saturday evening to Tuesday morning). These six committees will then come together for a plenary session of the General Assembly during the afternoon session on Tuesday. Up to four representatives may be seated at the country’s placard for the combined plenary session, and may change out as required.
The purpose of the General Assembly combined plenary session will be twofold. First, for the General Assembly Main Committees (GA1, GA2, GA3), the plenary body will consider and vote on one of the body’s resolutions; the purpose here is to build consensus among Member States and to ratify the work of the General Assembly Main Committees. While a small amount of additional debate is typical, it is expected that the work done by each Committee will be respected. It is rare for significant changes to be made or for a resolution to fail in the Plenary session after passing in Committee. Second, for the remaining bodies, whose resolutions are not sent to the General Assembly Plenary for further consideration, the plenary session will hear the reports of and take questions on the work of these bodies. Each of these committees will have an opportunity to present their work and answer questions in front of the larger group, but no vote will be taken.
The Economic and Social Council, the Economic Commission for Africa and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will meet for the first three and a half days of the Conference (i.e., from Saturday evening to Tuesday morning). The ECA and CCPCJ are report-writing bodies whose purpose is to build consensus and to write and ratify reports submitted to the ECOSOC. These three simulations will convene on Tuesday afternoon for a plenary session in which the reporting bodies submit resolutions to the Economic and Social Council. The purpose of the Economic and Social Council plenary session will be to hear the reports of and take questions on the two subsidiary bodies submitting a final report to the Economic and Social Council. The Members of the Economic and Social Council will receive the reports of its commissions and will vote on resolutions that recognize the bodies for their work and accept the work of their commissions. It is expected that the Members of Economic and Social Council will ask questions and read a short abstract about the commissions’ work and then will generally pass a resolution adopting these reports with consensus or at least overwhelming support. While a small amount of additional debate is typical, it is expected that the work done by each commission over the first three days of the Conference will be respected.
The Contemporary Security Council will be responsible for dealing with international peace and security issues as they stand at the opening of the Conference. A tentative list of topics will be provided for preparation, but representatives should be prepared to discuss any and all security issues that might arise. The Historical Security Councils (1961 and 2003) will simulate the events of those years; they will use contemporary rules of procedure but will role play from the viewpoint of their delegation at the time of the simulation. The Security Council and the Historical Security Councils will meet all four days of the Conference, including an emergency session on Monday night and a debrief on Tuesday afternoon.
The International Press Delegation, the International Court of Justice and the Historical Commission of Inquiry are unique simulations that will meet all four days of the Conference. Individuals must apply for positions on these simulations on the AMUN website. The International Press Delegation will provide journalistic cover for the Conference, producing at least one newspaper each day. The International Court of Justice will hear cases brought to the Court by Member States. The Historical Commission of Inquiry: Assassinations will simulate a fact-finding investigation of two international incidents as requested by the Security Council.
How to Use This Book How to Use This Book
This handbook is published to assist representatives in preparing for the American Model United Nations Conference. This handbook provides representatives with a full picture of conference philosophies, policies, and logistics, the rules of procedure required in each simulation, and substantive overviews of the simulations and topics for the Conference. Section I: Conference Policies, Logistics and Preparation is relevant to all participants at the Conference, while sections II-V detail the specific rules and substantive overviews for different types of simulations at AMUN. Delegates should be familiar with the sections and chapters relevant to their Conference assignment; Faculty Advisors and Permanent Representatives will want to be familiar with the whole handbook.
Welcome Welcome
American Model United Nations (AMUN) is a non-profit, educational organization founded in 1989 to provide students with the highest quality, most professionally run simulation of the United Nations available. AMUN strives to combine educational quality with highly realistic simulations of the United Nations to give students an unparalleled Model UN learning experience. We return to these ideals year over year as we create the policies and applications expressed in this handbook. We are excited to have you join us for the 2019 Conference.
2019 Simulations 2019 Simulations
In 2019, AMUN will simulate the General Assembly (GA) Plenary, three Main GA Committees (GA1, GA2 and GA3), The World Council on Youth (WCY), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). AMUN also simulates three historical bodies: the Historical Security Council of 1961 (HSC61), the Historical Security Council of 2003 (HSC03) and the Historical Commission of Inquiry: Assassinations (COI). Finally, AMUN features a simulation of the International Press Delegation (IPD), which produces the Conference newspaper, maintains the AMUN Twitter feed during Conference and covers all simulations’ work.
The General Assembly First (Disarmament & International Security), Second (Economic & Financial) and Third (Social, Humanitarian & Cultural) Committees, the Concurrent General Assembly Plenary, the World Council on Youth, and the International Telecommunications Union will meet for the first three and a half days of the Conference (i.e., from Saturday evening to Tuesday morning). These six committees will then come together for a plenary session of the General Assembly during the afternoon session on Tuesday. Up to four representatives may be seated at the country’s placard for the combined plenary session, and may change out as required.
The purpose of the General Assembly combined plenary session will be twofold. First, for the General Assembly Main Committees (GA1, GA2, GA3), the plenary body will consider and vote on one of the body’s resolutions; the purpose here is to build consensus among Member States and to ratify the work of the General Assembly Main Committees. While a small amount of additional debate is typical, it is expected that the work done by each Committee will be respected. It is rare for significant changes to be made or for a resolution to fail in the Plenary session after passing in Committee. Second, for the remaining bodies, whose resolutions are not sent to the General Assembly Plenary for further consideration, the plenary session will hear the reports of and take questions on the work of these bodies. Each of these committees will have an opportunity to present their work and answer questions in front of the larger group, but no vote will be taken.
The Economic and Social Council, the Economic Commission for Africa and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will meet for the first three and a half days of the Conference (i.e., from Saturday evening to Tuesday morning). The ECA and CCPCJ are report-writing bodies whose purpose is to build consensus and to write and ratify reports submitted to the ECOSOC. These three simulations will convene on Tuesday afternoon for a plenary session in which the reporting bodies submit resolutions to the Economic and Social Council. The purpose of the Economic and Social Council plenary session will be to hear the reports of and take questions on the two subsidiary bodies submitting a final report to the Economic and Social Council. The Members of the Economic and Social Council will receive the reports of its commissions and will vote on resolutions that recognize the bodies for their work and accept the work of their commissions. It is expected that the Members of Economic and Social Council will ask questions and read a short abstract about the commissions’ work and then will generally pass a resolution adopting these reports with consensus or at least overwhelming support. While a small amount of additional debate is typical, it is expected that the work done by each commission over the first three days of the Conference will be respected.
The Contemporary Security Council will be responsible for dealing with international peace and security issues as they stand at the opening of the Conference. A tentative list of topics will be provided for preparation, but representatives should be prepared to discuss any and all security issues that might arise. The Historical Security Councils (1961 and 2003) will simulate the events of those years; they will use contemporary rules of procedure but will role play from the viewpoint of their delegation at the time of the simulation. The Security Council and the Historical Security Councils will meet all four days of the Conference, including an emergency session on Monday night and a debrief on Tuesday afternoon.
The International Press Delegation, the International Court of Justice and the Historical Commission of Inquiry are unique simulations that will meet all four days of the Conference. Individuals must apply for positions on these simulations on the AMUN website. The International Press Delegation will provide journalistic cover for the Conference, producing at least one newspaper each day. The International Court of Justice will hear cases brought to the Court by Member States. The Historical Commission of Inquiry: Assassinations will simulate a fact-finding investigation of two international incidents as requested by the Security Council.
How to Use This Book How to Use This Book
This handbook is published to assist representatives in preparing for the American Model United Nations Conference. This handbook provides representatives with a full picture of conference philosophies, policies, and logistics, the rules of procedure required in each simulation, and substantive overviews of the simulations and topics for the Conference. Section I: Conference Policies, Logistics and Preparation is relevant to all participants at the Conference, while sections II-V detail the specific rules and substantive overviews for different types of simulations at AMUN. Delegates should be familiar with the sections and chapters relevant to their Conference assignment; Faculty Advisors and Permanent Representatives will want to be familiar with the whole handbook.