Lobbying
Lobbying is a crucial part of MUN where delegates get to meet other delegates from their committee and then discuss with them the views of the country they are representing on the topics. In real life the lobbying process is what takes up the vast majority of any resolution preparation time and the actual debate is often a formality. In MUN we do not have the time to allow for such extended lobbying so it is important that we use the time provided to our advantage. The United Nations is not about confrontation or competition rather it is about consensus, collaboration, and diplomacy.
In SAIMUN there are four topics in each committee. Lobbying takes place in the committee rooms and the room is divided into four, one section for each topic. There is only time for each topic to be debated twice in each committee so it is not ideal to have more than two resolutions submitted on each topic. The chair will indicate to the Secretariat which resolutions have had the best lobbying. Resolutions, which are well lobbied, will be viewed to generate better debate than a poorly lobbied resolution.
HOW TO LOBBY
By now you have chosen a topic to be your topic in each committee (some delegates may prepare resolutions on each topic but the time allocated only allows them to lobby one topic properly).
Technology
• This is a paperless conference. Delegates will access the resolutions through our SAIMUN Portal. A device will be needed to do so. Login details will be provided to delegations in the registration pack. The conference is not in a position to provide devices to delegates. Technology should be used to aid constructive debate, and this is at the discretion of the Chair. Notes will still be passed on paper.
Lobbying is a crucial part of MUN where delegates get to meet other delegates from their committee and then discuss with them the views of the country they are representing on the topics. In real life the lobbying process is what takes up the vast majority of any resolution preparation time and the actual debate is often a formality. In MUN we do not have the time to allow for such extended lobbying so it is important that we use the time provided to our advantage. The United Nations is not about confrontation or competition rather it is about consensus, collaboration, and diplomacy.
In SAIMUN there are four topics in each committee. Lobbying takes place in the committee rooms and the room is divided into four, one section for each topic. There is only time for each topic to be debated twice in each committee so it is not ideal to have more than two resolutions submitted on each topic. The chair will indicate to the Secretariat which resolutions have had the best lobbying. Resolutions, which are well lobbied, will be viewed to generate better debate than a poorly lobbied resolution.
HOW TO LOBBY
By now you have chosen a topic to be your topic in each committee (some delegates may prepare resolutions on each topic but the time allocated only allows them to lobby one topic properly).
- Lobbying begins at 12.30pm. All delegates will give their policy statement at the beginning of lobbying. The speeches are a maximum of one minute and are effectively a lobbying proposal by each delegate. The policy statements should mention one topic only. The speeches will serve as a roll call. Delegates who miss these speeches will be given an opportunity to make their policy statement at the beginning of committee on Tuesday morning.
- Delegates should be mindful of who are your allies, and what countries do you have good political relations with. Are there countries you would be cautious of establishing ties with? Discuss with your allies your ideas for the resolution.
- Groups of delegates will form together to write a resolution on the topic. Everyone in the group will have their own resolution or at least clauses or ideas for a resolution.
- Preambulatory clauses will define the topic to be discussed and will also include any previous UN resolutions and state any UN bodies already involved in this topic. The perambulatory clauses are not debated. The operative clauses state the action planned to be taken.
- Please note you must use the stipulated clause phrases.
- Discuss the main ideas each person in the group has. Decide which ones should form the backbone of the resolution. Delegates should be aware that even though you may feel you have better clauses than someone else you should allow them to include their ideas. This is in the spirit of consensus and diplomacy. Lobbying is not about getting delegates their own way, it is about including others and persuading them that the resolution as a whole is a product of the entire group.
- A co-submitter sheet must be completed. These will be available by the chair at a certain time.
- Each resolution must be co-submitted by at least 7 delegates
- The main submitter and second submitter may not be from the same school and delegates cannot yield to delegates in the same school
- Each delegation may only submit or co-submit one resolution on each topic on the agenda.
- At the end of this process the group must decide upon who they feel is the best person to present the resolution (if it is selected for debate). The fact that some students may be awarded grades for being a main submitter is not a reason for them to be selected as the main submitter.
- It is important to note that when resolutions are selected for debate that several criteria are applied. The chief criteria this year will be the quality of lobbying by the group. Other criteria include the number of resolutions selected by a school or country. So for a group to have their resolution debated they may decide to select a good first speaker who will not be disadvantaged by these criteria.
Technology
• This is a paperless conference. Delegates will access the resolutions through our SAIMUN Portal. A device will be needed to do so. Login details will be provided to delegations in the registration pack. The conference is not in a position to provide devices to delegates. Technology should be used to aid constructive debate, and this is at the discretion of the Chair. Notes will still be passed on paper.
