What is MUN?

Model United Nations (MUN) is a course in which students study the structure and functions of the United Nations and simulate UN activities. In MUN, students come to understand international relations, view current events from perspectives other than their own, work together to solve world problems, and debate knowledgeably about world events.

Model United Nations is a course taught by Mr. Peter Andrews, the Director of the Iberian Model United Nations Conference.  Individual participants learn that the success of the group is dependent upon serious commitment and effort on each student's part. It is imperative that students work cooperatively and demonstrate positive teamwork. In some schools MUN is not a course, but an extra curriculum activity.

Students can expect to be constantly challenged to clearly articulate their ideas and always support and defend their thoughts. It is not a textbook driven course, but numerous handouts are distributed and current periodicals are heavily utilized.

Goals and Objectives:

The numerous objectives of  Model United Nations  include the:

- objective knowledge of parliamentary procedure and its use in formal debate

- ability to craft UN format resolutions and position papers

- development of public speaking skills, in particular, persuasive speeches

- a careful study of the major facets of the United Nations, its history, organs and functions

- an understanding of the historical context of current crises of international politics

- an understanding of the interdependence of nations in the modern world, especially in relation to global resource management, economics, and armaments

- ability to cooperate with classmates in a productive, positive manner and to develop leadership skills, particularly in preparation for the November CAISL-organized Iberian Model United Nations Conference.

Sequence of Major Units:

1. Parliamentary Procedure

a. Terms (personal privilege, orders of the day, point of order, etc.)

b. Structure (debate format)

2. Resolution Writing

a. Research and write resolutions for class debate and eventual use in IMUN

b. Use of correct format

c. Write well-researched pre-ambulatory clauses

d. Write effective operative clauses

e. Work as a team to merge resolutions and / or amend resolutions during debate to make them acceptable to a larger number of delegates

3. Public Speaking:

a. Prepare three minute persuasive speeches relating to a world current event

b. Strengthen extemporaneous speaking, formulating questions, and rebuttal

c. Employ good posture and effective gestures.

4. The United Nations:

a. Pre-UN international security and cooperation (League of Nations)

b. Historical context in which the UN was established

c. Purpose of the UN as stated in the Preamble of the Charter

d. The six organs: General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council, Secretariat, and International Court of Justice

e. Other UN agencies: UNESCO and UNICEF

5. Global Issues:

a. Arms control and disarmament

b. Economics and development

c. Global resource management

d. Human rights

e. UN peacekeeping efforts, history and limitations