Conference Vocabulary
These are vocabulary terms that will be frequently used during committee sessions and during your pre-research.
Blocs
A Bloc is a group formed by delegates with similar ideas who want to collaborate to write a resolution paper. Depending on the size of the committee, there are usually 2-3 blocs. Sometimes, Chairs will only accept a specific number of resolution papers, which means that the blocs will need to merge. You must be in a bloc to form a final resolution.
Resolution Paper
A Resolution Paper is an explanatory "essay" that is formatted in a specific way (see RESOLUTION PAPERS located in CONFERENCE). It is written by all of the members of the bloc and are the final solutions that the entire group came up with. Resolution papers should only be made during un-mods and will be presented at the end of committee.
Most to Least Disruptive
This is a voting term. It means that the committee will vote on the motions in order of longest motion to shortest motion. Making motions will also be taught in the conference section/Flow of Debate.
(ex: if the motions are Greece's motion for a 10 minute Un-Mod and Canada's motion for a 30 minute Un-Mod, Canada's motion would be voted on first, because if it were to be passed, it would take up the longest amount of time.)
Flow of Debate
The flow of debate is how the committee runs, or "flows".
Round Robin
This is when delegates take turns speaking about a topic while adding on to what the previous person said. These speeches are short and all of the delegates participate.
Chairs
The Chairs, or Chairs of Committee, are the people who are in charge of the committee. Delegates may ask the Chairs questions. In speeches, the Chairs are referred to as "Honorable Chair".
Dias
This is where the Chairs sit.
"Speaker's List"
This is a list of the delegates who are speaking. It is opened at the beginning of the conference by a delegate and then remains open until the conference ends (it can not be closed). The Speaker's List usually has around ten initial speakers. If other delegates have a speech or can quickly compose a speech that relates to the topic, they may raise their placard to be added to the list. A limited number of people are selected, but this is a very good time to share your country's position on your committee's topic, since there is no set theme for the Speaker's List. After that, the conference transitions into Moderated and Unmoderated Caucuses and no other delegates may speak on the Speaker's List unless all other motions have failed.
Moderated Caucus, aka "Mods"
A Moderated Caucus, or Mod, is when delegates are able to speak about a specific topic related to the overall topic of the committee. A delegate can motion for a Moderated Caucus. If other delegates have a speech or can quickly compose a speech that relates to the topic, they may raise their placard to be added to the list. In Mods, you can speak as many times as you would like. This is also the time where you get to understand the ideas of the other delegates or countries around you.
Unmoderated Caucus, aka “Un-Mods”
An Unmoderated Caucus, or Un-Mod, is when delegates are able to form blocs and communicate with others. This is a good time to determine which countries you would like to work with in blocs (they have similar views and ideas as your country). Un-Mods are also the only time to work on your resolution paper which will be presented at the end of the committee.