DELEGATIONS

Each member school is assigned a country to represent. Schools with large active Model United Nations’ groups may choose to send more than one delegation, each representing a different country. Delegations vary in size, but to represent its country’s views adequately, each delegation needs one delegate in the General Assembly and an additional delegate in each additional Council or Committee to which it is assigned. In addition, a delegate or advisor is needed to represent the school in Membership Committee.

Each delegation at the UN generally consists of one Permanent Representative, a Deputy Permanent Representative, if necessary, and as many delegates, alternates, and advisors as needed. At the United Nations, the Permanent Representative is accredited as Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. In some countries, other members of the delegation, such as the Deputy Permanent Representative, are similarly accredited. In other cases, the foreign minister or head of state may also attend the session.

Since the above positions vary among delegations in the United Nations, each country assignment should be researched carefully to determine which representatives should be present.

In MUNFW, a Member School may have more than one delegation, but normally not more than two or three. Each delegation should also consist of a Permanent Representative, a Deputy Permanent Representatives, and normally one delegate, but not more than two delegates per each Committee, Commission, or Council as assigned, and an advisor. The OED may approve additional delegates as needed. Delegations shall be permitted to include postgraduate and undergraduates of any accredited college or university.

A typical delegation might consists of:
     Faculty Advisor and/or Student Advisor
     Permanent Representative (optional)
     Deputy Permanent Representative (optional)
     Committee Delegates
                       General Assembly
                       Main Committee 1
                       Main Committee 2
                       Main Committee 3
                       ECOSOC (if assigned)
                       Commission or Agency(if assigned)
                       Security Council (if assigned)
     World Press Reporter (optional)

At all Plenary, Committee, Council, or caucus meetings -except Membership Committee meetings - members of a delegation speak and vote as the official representatives of their country. The position taken by a delegation should be based upon the actual policies of the country, not upon policies the delegates personally favor or those they feel would be the most exciting and controversial to present. Each delegate must know and follow the Rules of Procedure for the particular Council or Committee to which they are assigned.

The Permanent Representative and Deputy Permanent Representative are fully credentialed to speak and participate in committees, commissions, or councils to which other members of their delegation may be assigned. Delegates, other than Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives, are not credentialed to speak or participate in other committees, commissions, or councils, except for General, Rules, Ad Hoc Committees if they have been appointted to them by the Secretariat.

Advisors, Delegation Chairs, Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives are experts in technical matters who serve as information resources for their delegations. Advisors do not speak or vote for their countries and are not admitted to the floor of any body except Membership Committee. The Student Advisor (Delegation Chair) is an administrative title that designates the person who is normally a student leader of the organization of the member school. The DCs can not be credentialed to a committee and, like the Advisor, is not permitted on the committee floor.

The OED assigns the countries and/or organizations recognized by the United Nations to be represented by the Member Schools. Each member school submits, in order of preference, the names of at least six countries it would like to represent at the Annual Session. School Applications for first country requests are accepted beginning on May1 and will be accepted continually until March 1 of the conference year. The OED notifies those member schools that submit requests of their country assignments within 5 days by email and all country assignments are posted to the web site. Second country requests are accepted at any time after May 1 but will not be assigned until after September 1. First country requests have precedence over second country request during this period. Schools requesting additional countries ( 3 or more) will be honored after October 15.

While the MUNFW is essentially a student activity, it is also an institutional commitment; the Faculty Advisor is ultimately responsible to the participating colleges and universities for the preparation, performance, and conduct of the student organization.

The Advisor in no way replaces the student advisor, but aids and advises in the development of the Model United Nations program on each campus and serves, in the long run, as the continuity for this activity.

Advisors may not be a voting delegate to the Annual Session except to the Membership Committee or to an ad hoc or standing committee created by this body.

Advisors are not allowed on the floor of the General Assembly or of the various committees, councils, etc., but may observe all proceedings and communicate with their delegates during the actual conduct of the meetings in writing only.

MUNFW is concerned with the maintenance of a proper role for delegates. It is not proper for an Advisor to require, as a basis for grading, specifications such as the number of speeches, election to Rapporteur, resolution submissions, or other similar requirements.

The Advisor will actively assist the delegation in fundraising both on and off the campus.

It is strongly urged that Member Schools create a Chapter Charter/By-laws. These regulations should include:

1. Membership policy

2. Expulsion of members policy

3. The role, responsibilities, and authority of the Faculty Advisor.

4. The role, responsibilities, and authority of the Student Advisor.

5. An internal conflict resolution procedure.

In the absence of such regulations, the Faculty Advisor, in consultation with the Student Advisor, or in accordance with the institution or Associated Student Organization regulations, may refuse to allow a student to participate in the MUNFW program.