Conference Structure
SIMULATIONS
LEIMUN firmly believes that small committees of 15 - 30 countries offer the best educational opportunity for delegates. Smaller committees allow delegates to participate more actively in debate, caucusing, and resolution writing. Larger committees can be intimidating, particularly to inexperienced delegates and can be less engaging due to the limited ability for extensive participation. We only allow our committees to include more than 30 countries if there is an unusually high level of registration at a particular conference.
Because of our belief in smaller committees, our conferences generally offer multiple Security Councils, pared down versions of other United Nations committees, and smaller or pared down regional bodies. On these pared down committees, we strive to maintain a geographic balance in the countries represented. We believe that it is vital for delegates to take a wider world view and not merely represent the larger and more developed countries of the Western and Northern hemispheres.
A typical LEIMUN conference will include the following committees.
There will be 1-3 regular Security Councils and may be some sort of modified Security Council.
There will be either a Historical Security Council or Crisis Committee. Some recent examples of these are Desert Storm (1991), African Independence Movement (1960-1961), Iranian Revolution (1979), Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and Fashoda Incident (1898).
There will be 2-3 Ad Hoc Committees. Some recent examples include Disarmament and International Security, Legal Committee, Environmental Programme, Human Rights Council, and International Atomic Energy Agency.
There will be 2-3 Regional Bodies. Some recent examples include Organization of the Islamic Conference, Organization of American States, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the African Union.
There will be a Delegate A-Team wherein delegates must represent any unrepresented country on any topic before any committee at the conference whenever such representation is requested. This is by far the most challenging and rewarding assignment at any LEIMUN conference.
There will be a Delegate Press Corps wherein delegates will act as journalists, writing articles for distribution in a newsletter based on current proceedings in the various committees. Delegates will have a set amount of time to research different types of assignments.
SUPPORT SERVICES
In addition to the committees noted above, the LEIMUN Secretariat offers the following.
The Research Assistance Library (RAL) helps delegates obtain information during the conference. For the most part this includes assisting with providing technology for internet access and printing or copying of requested information. Delegates must rely on their advisors or RAL to gather information as committee chairs are not permitted to dispense such information to delegates.
Delegate Services prints all conference placards, nametags, and other materials. It also copies working papers, resolutions and recommendations for committees. These documents must be presented legibly, in the proper format, with the proper request form, and by the committee chair.
Emergency Simulation Design creates crisis scenarios that are typically presented to Security Councils and regional bodies. These scenarios are a traditional part of most Model UN conferences and enable delegates to react to rapidly occurring situations for which they may not have all the information they need at their immediate disposal.
Awards Evaluations and Tabulation processes the data on the evaluation forms completed by the chairs of each committee to determine which delegates and teams have earned awards
RESOLUTIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, WORKING PAPERS
Depending on the committee being simulated, decisions are formalized by the passage of either resolutions or recommendations. The process through which these documents are created at a LEIMUN conference is as follows:
- Delegates determine what provisions their country requires and what compromises they are permitted to make in order to reach a final decision.
- During caucuses, delegates meet in groups to share their ideas and work together to construct working papers based upon their mutual requirements and compromises.
- During caucuses and formal proceedings, working papers are discussed and amended by the entire committee.
- When the appropriate number of sponsors and co-sponsors have been attached, the working papers are introduced as resolutions or recommendations.
- Multiple working papers, resolutions, and recommendations may exist, but only one may be passed on each topic.
- Pre-written working papers, resolutions, and recommendations are not permitted in any form at LEIMUN conferences.
AWARDS
LEIMUN believes that healthy competition encourages diligent preparation and the pursuit of excellence. By rewarding the outstanding performance of both individual delegates and school teams, we believe we are ensuring a higher quality conference experience. We do our best to walk the fine line between education and competition. In doing so, we have devised an awards system that we believe fairly and accurately evaluates delegate performance in an objective way.
INDIVIDUAL
The President and Rapporteur of each committee are responsible for evaluating delegate performance in three different categories in each committee session. Each person completes an evaluation form, awarding a number of points in each category. Scores for each session are weighted based on the length of the session, e.g. four (4) hour sessions are worth twice as much as two (2) hour sessions. The categories are as follows. These vary slightly for Delegate A-Team and Press Corps.
Portrayal of Country (1-15 points) is the accuracy with which country's foreign policy positions and diplomatic mores are represented
Caucusing and Resolution Writing (1-10 points) is both the quantity and quality of the delegates' performance in these areas
Debate and Parliamentary Procedure (1-10 points) is both the quantity and quality of the delegates' performance in these areas
Evaluation forms for each session are tabulated and an overall score is determined. Awards are given based on the following overall scores.
Superior (29.50 - 35.00) 5 Points contributed towards Team Total
Excellent (23.50 - 29.49) 4 Points contributed towards Team Total
Good (16.50 - 23.49) 3 Points contributed towards Team Total
Fair (9.50 - 16.49) 2 Points contributed towards Team Total
Poor (0.00 - 9.49) 1 Point contributed towards Team Total
Those delegations receiving a ranking of Excellent or Superior will be recognized and awarded medals for their performances at the Closing Ceremonies. Committee chairs may also award their gavels as a special form of recognition.
TEAM
Team trophies are awarded to those teams with the highest point totals. First, second, third, and fourth place trophies are awarded to teams based upon the points earned by the team's top ten delegations. We also present a trophy to to the best overall "Small Delegation". This award generally goes to an outstanding team with only 5-6 delegations.
EVALUATIONS
All delegations will receive evaluations of their performance. These evaluations will include their average scores in each of the three evaluative categories for each committee session, their final score, and constructive feedback from the committee chairs. These evaluations are typically sent to advisors within a week following the end of the conference.