UN Crises and Roles

General Instructions:  We will select ONE of the following crises.  In most cases, one-two student will play a role for a country but for some of the key countries we may have three students role play Ambassadors from that country.   Listed under each crisis are possible crisis.  Under each crisis, in rough order of importance, are the countries that will be covered in the simulation.  Exactly how many of these will role-play will be a function of class size.  Some of these "lower importance" countries can be modified at your suggestion (i.e. we might add another country in place of one of the less important ones listed here).  I am open to suggestions for other countries to substitute for one of the "minor" countries in this simulation.

Notice:  I have added the Russia/Georgia Conflict and Maritime Piracy as issues.  Also, I have made changes in the roles to play. Notice that I am allowing some NGO's (non-governmental organizations like Amnesty International) and IGOs (Intergovernmental Organizations like the IAEA).  We will vote first on the crisis (probably have to have at least one run-off vote).  Once we pick the crisis - we will discuss roles.  Before coming, you should select your 1, 2, 3 choice for Crisis and your 1, 2, 3, 4 choice for role within that crisis.

Israel-Palestine Crisis

India-Pakistan/Kashmir

Iranian Nuclear Program

North Korea: Multiple Issues (Nukes, Missiles,  Ilegal Arms Sales, etc etc)

Darfur

Maritime Piracy

Russia/Georgia Conflict

Procedure

Goal of Simulation: The goal of the simulation is for you to learn through role-play about three things:

1. The Crisis we select and the manner in which the UN Security Council has responded to this crisis thus far

2. How the UN Security Council operates

3. The perspective of your country on this crisis and on its foreign policy objectives as a whole. For some countries, this particular crisis is vital and they therefore have strong views centered directly on the crisis.  For other countries, this particular crisis may be low priority, and they may be willing to trade their vote on this crisis in order to secure other objectives (all delegates will have "Side Agreement" sheets in order to keep track of any agreements with other countries).

How to Role-Play:  You do NOT have to follow the exact position that your country has adopted so far on this issue BUT you must take a position that is plausible for your country to take.  You can not take a position that it is impossible to conceive.

To Write a UN Security Council Resolution or Not?  Typically, only a few resolutions circulate and these come from the countries most concerned with the issue.  Typically, a number of countries will work together on one of these resolutions. If you plan to write a resolution - it must be completed by Friday 6 March at which time you will informally present it.  It will be modified, no doubt, in response to comments over spring break and, indeed, over the course of the simulation.  Other countries may seek to amend the language of the resolution on the floor. Some countries may focus exclusively on side-agreements.  Countries may also take unilateral action on the crisis (there will be forms that indicate what this would be). 

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Voting Procedures:

1.There are two types of votes - procedural votes and substantive votes.  Procedural votes consist of things like which resolution to consider first, whether to bring a resolution up for an immediate vote, etc.  Substantive votes consist of things like attaching formal amendments, passing a resolution.

2.  On any substantive or procedural vote a member state may vote yea, nay, or abstain.

3. Procedural Votes can be accomplished by a plurality of voting members.

4. Substantive Votes require:

•  No vetoes.  A nay vote by any of the permanent five members (US, UK, France, Russia, PRC) = veto

•  Seven affirmative "yea" votes.  Hence, too many abstentions could also kill a resolution.

5. Friendly v. Formal Amendments: If you have a proposal to change any language or provisions in a resolution - you may offer this suggestion one of two ways.   If you think there is a chance that the sponsor might accept the change - raise your placard (each country will have a placard) and when recognized by the UN Secretary General (Dr. Rogers) you may offer a "friendly amendment."  If the sponsor accepts it - a vote is NOT required - the resolution is changed as recommended.  If you suggest an amendment that the sponsor does not accept - you may still be able to change the resolution but this requires a formal substantive vote (see above).

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Parliamentary Procedures:

1.  The first order of business Monday is that the Secretary General will take a roll call to see who is present and who will introduce a resolution for consideration.  Raise your placard to indicate present.  If you have a resolution for consideration - circulate it to the members of the Security Council.

2. We will then have a brief recess to give you time to read the resolutions and to caucus regarding the vote on which to consider first.

3. We will then convene to vote on which resolution to consider first.  This is a procedural vote - a simple plurality will determine the outcome.

4. The Secretary General will introduce the sponsors of the Resolution to be considered first.  The sponsors will read the resolution one phrase at a time and conduct a question/answer  on each phrase.  NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO ARGUE FOR/OR AGAINST ANY LANGUAGE IN THE RESOLUTION - SIMPLY TO UNDERSTAND IT.  Friendly amendments are acceptable.

5. After the Q/A period is over - we will caucus to lobby votes.

6. After the caucus - the Secretary General will reconvene the session and then take a speaker's list. This IS the time to argue for/against the resolution.  You may also say, "I can not support the resolution in its current form, but will offer an amendment later..."  Any member who cares to speak will be allowed to speak.  You may not interrupt any other member while they speak.  There is no back/forth debate.  One member at a time will have the floor.

7.  After the speaker's list is exhausted (everyone on it has spoken) - we will caucus.

8.  After the caucus, we will reconvene and the Secretary General will say, "The Floor is open for motions."  There are three possible motions:

• a motion to table the resolution (this takes it off the agenda but does not kill it). This is a procedural vote.  It requires a second and a plurality to table. 

• a motion to bring the resolution up for immediate vote.  This is a procedural vote. It requires a second and a plurality.  What this does is to end debate on than resolution and prevent the introduction of amendments.

• a motion to CONSIDER a formal amendment.  The motion to CONSIDER a formal amendment is a procedural vote.  It requires a second and a plurality. All this does is allow the sponsor of the amendment to introduce their amendment - it does NOT necessarily result in passage of that amendment.  If a motion to consider an amendment passes - then the sponsor of the amendment is given the floor.  He reads the amendment and takes question/answer.  After question/answer - we hold a caucus.  After the caucus, we take a speakers list on the amendment.  After the speaker's list we go immediately to a vote on the amendment.  To add an amendment is a substantive vote - that requires no vetoes and 7 affirmative vote.