Delegate Info

In addition to the necessary research, policy statements, and resolutions, it is important that you fully understand your role as a delegate of your assigned country.

You must constantly keep in mind that you are no longer a high school student and living in the United States, but a delegate and a diplomat of your assigned country.  It is your job to represent your country’s best interests and strive to achieve its goals.  Although these interests may conflict with your personal beliefs, you must nevertheless defend the country’s policies.  Bear in mind that one of the purposes of Model UN is to gain an understanding of the varied policies of those countries that are members of the UN.

Delegates are expected to be able to interpret their policies and not “parrot” them.  This means that you should know your policy well enough to negotiate a settlement while maintaining your country’s position.  This also means that you must conduct yourself in a “delegate-like” manner, as a genuine United Nations ambassador would.  This includes the manner in which you regard other delegates: with the utmost respect.  You should be prepared to bend your policy SOMEWHAT in debate, caucusing, and voting.

Debate is the formal process of airing countries’ views.  Nations are thus able to discover alternate solutions to the problem at hand.  There are Rules of Procedure that must be followed to facilitate the progress of the committee.  You must be very familiar with these rules.  It will save much time and confusion if the Chairperson does not have to repeatedly explain them.  Those delegates who are most familiar with the rules will be able to use them effectively and to their advantage.  Any delegate who rises to the wrong rule, or attempts to use the rules to the detriment of the committee, will be called “out of order.”