New chairs often know what needs to happen next but freeze when they have to say it out loud to a room of fifty delegates. This guide provides word-for-word chair language for every standard committee moment, from the first gavel strike to final adjournment. Adapt these to your conference's specific rules, but use them as a starting point. Our guide to the UNA-USA rules of procedure is a useful reference. If this is your first time on the dais, read how to chair your first MUN too.
Opening the Session#
"The chair will call this session of the [Committee Name] to order. Welcome, delegates, to [Conference Name]. The topic before this committee is [Topic]. Before we begin, the chair will call roll. When your delegation is called, please respond 'Present' or 'Present and Voting'."
Roll Call#
"[Country name]... [pause for response]. [Country name]... [pause]."
If a delegation does not respond: "The delegation of [Country] will be marked absent."
After completing the roll:
"The chair notes that [X] delegations are present, constituting a quorum / not constituting a quorum. [If quorum] The committee will proceed to formal debate."
Opening the General Speakers List#
"The chair will now open the General Speakers List. Delegates wishing to be added to the list, please raise your placard. The default speaker time is [X] seconds. Delegates are reminded that they may yield remaining time to another delegate, to questions, or to the chair."
Calling a Speaker#
"The chair recognises the delegate of [Country]. You have [X] seconds. You may begin."
When time expires:
"The delegate's time has expired. Thank you. The chair recognises the delegate of [next country]."
Handling a Yield#
Yield to another delegate:
"The delegate of [Country A] yields their remaining time to the delegate of [Country B]. The chair recognises the delegate of [Country B] with [X] seconds remaining. You may begin."
Yield to questions:
"The delegate yields their remaining time to questions. Are there any points of information? The chair recognises the delegate of [Country]."
Entertaining a Motion#
"The chair recognises the delegate of [Country] on a motion."
After the motion is stated:
"The delegate of [Country] moves for a [type of motion]. Is there a second? [pause] The motion is seconded. The committee will now vote on this motion. All those in favour, please raise your placards... all those against... the motion [passes/fails] with [X] in favour and [Y] against."
Opening a Moderated Caucus#
"The committee will now enter a moderated caucus of [X] minutes, with [Y] seconds per speaker, on the topic of [topic]. Delegates wishing to speak during this caucus, please raise your placards now."
Closing the caucus:
"The moderated caucus has concluded. The committee returns to the General Speakers List. The next speaker is the delegate of [Country]."
Opening an Unmoderated Caucus#
"The motion passes. The committee will now take an unmoderated caucus of [X] minutes. Delegates are free to leave their seats. The committee will reconvene at [time]. Two minutes remaining. Delegates, please return to your seats."
Voting on a Resolution#
"The committee will now proceed to vote on Draft Resolution [number]. All those in favour, please raise your placards... all those against... abstentions... The resolution [passes/fails] with [X] in favour, [Y] against, and [Z] abstentions."
For a roll-call vote:
"A roll-call vote has been requested. When your country is called, please state 'In Favour', 'Against' or 'Abstain'. [Country name]..."
Ruling on a Point of Order#
Our guide to MUN points explained covers each type of point.
"The chair rules this point of order [well-taken / not well-taken]. [If well-taken:] The chair will [corrective action]. [If not well-taken:] The committee will continue."
Closing the Session#
"Delegates, the committee session is drawing to a close. [If time remains:] The committee will take up [X] more speakers before suspending. [At end:] The chair thanks all delegates for their contributions to today's session. This session of [Committee Name] is hereby suspended. [gavel]"
For the moments no script covers, see our guides to controlling the floor and handling difficult delegates.
