TMF Guides · Reference
The MUN Glossary
Updated · 26 July 2026 · ~7 min read
Model UN has its own language, and nothing marks a first-timer faster than fumbling it. Bookmark this page: every term you will hear across UN, Indian and crisis committees, defined in plain English.
1. Debate & procedure
- Agenda
- The topic (or topics) a committee is assigned to debate.
- Roll call
- Attendance at the start of session; you answer 'present' or 'present and voting'.
- GSL
- General Speakers' List — the default running order of speeches on the agenda.
- Moderated caucus
- Timed, structured debate on a narrow sub-topic, run by the chair.
- Unmoderated caucus
- Unstructured lobbying time to build blocs and draft documents.
- Motion
- A formal proposal to change what the committee is doing.
- Second
- Another delegate supporting a motion so it can proceed to a vote.
- Quorum
- The minimum number of delegates required for debate to begin.
- Yield
- How you spend leftover speech time — to the chair, to questions, or to another delegate.
- Placard
- The country name card you raise to be recognised by the chair.
- Overruled / sustained
- The chair rejecting or accepting a point of order.
- Suspension of debate
- A break in committee, usually for lunch or the day.
- Adjournment
- The formal end of committee for the conference.
2. Documents
- Position paper
- A one-page pre-conference brief stating your country's stance and proposals.
- Working paper
- An informal draft of committee solutions circulated before a resolution.
- Draft resolution
- The formal document a bloc submits, made of preambulatory and operative clauses.
- Preambulatory clause
- Opening lines that justify action, beginning with words like 'Recalling' or 'Deeply concerned'.
- Operative clause
- Numbered action lines beginning with verbs like 'Urges', 'Requests', 'Establishes'.
- Sponsor
- A delegate who wrote and formally backs a draft resolution.
- Signatory
- A delegate who wants the document debated without necessarily supporting it.
- Amendment
- A proposed edit to a draft resolution — friendly if all sponsors agree, otherwise unfriendly.
- Background guide
- The Executive Board's official research document for the committee.
- Communiqué
- A crisis committee's short directive or public statement.
3. People & roles
- Delegate
- A student representing an assigned country, person or entity.
- Executive Board (EB)
- The chair, vice chair and rapporteur who run and evaluate the committee.
- Chairperson
- The presiding officer who enforces the rules of procedure.
- Rapporteur
- The EB member who handles roll call, documents and voting records.
- Secretary-General
- The head of the conference secretariat.
- International Press
- The journalism, photography and caricature corps covering committees.
- Bloc
- A group of countries negotiating and drafting together.
- Observer
- An entity that may debate but not vote on substantive matters.
4. Awards & evaluation
- Best Delegate
- The top award in a committee for overall performance.
- High Commendation
- The second tier of recognition in most Indian circuits.
- Special Mention
- Recognition for a specific strength such as diplomacy or research.
- Verbal Mention
- An unwritten acknowledgement given by the EB during closing.
- Substantive
- Content-based contribution — the main thing chairs actually score.
- Diplomatic courtesy
- Formal, respectful conduct; losing it usually costs you an award.
5. Crisis & Indian formats
- Crisis committee
- A fast-moving committee where the storyline updates live via crisis inputs.
- Crisis note
- A private directive a delegate sends to take covert action.
- Portfolio
- The specific person or role you represent in a non-country committee.
- AIPPM
- All India Political Parties Meet — an Indian committee of party leaders.
- Lok Sabha / Rajya Sabha
- Simulations of India's lower and upper houses of Parliament.
- Zero hour
- A parliamentary period for raising urgent matters without prior notice.
- Veto
- The power of the five permanent UNSC members to block a substantive resolution.
Put it into practice
Debate it live at TMF 3.0
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