Resources · For teachers & chairs

Model UN Chairing Script

Chairs are handed a gavel and a rulebook and expected to sound like they have done this before. This script covers what to actually say, phase by phase, from calling the room to order through the final gavel, with the awkward moments (dilatory motions, disputed counts, lost delegates) handled in the table below the script.

It works for student chairs at school simulations and first-time dais staff alike. If you are training a club, it pairs with the advisor starter kit, which puts student chairs in the seat by meeting seven.

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The script, phase by phase

Bracketed values are yours to fill. Standard US procedure.

Opening and roll call

Set the tone: warm, precise, unhurried.

"Delegates, please take your seats. I hereby call this session of [committee] to order."
"We will begin with roll call. When your country is called, please answer present, or present and voting. Delegates answering present and voting may not abstain on substantive votes."
"[Country]?" ... "With [number] delegations present, we have met quorum and may begin."

Setting the agenda

First substantive act of the committee.

"The committee will now set the agenda. Is there a motion on the floor?"
"There is a motion to place Topic A first on the agenda. Is there a second? ... All those in favor, raise your placards. Opposed? ... The motion passes; Topic A is set first."

Speakers list

Open it early and keep it fed.

"The general speakers list is now open. Delegates wishing to speak, raise your placards. ... Speaking time is set at [time]."
"The delegate of [country] has the floor for [time]."
"Delegate, how do you yield your time?" (to the chair, to questions, or to another delegate)
"Thank you, delegate. Next on the speakers list, [country]."

Moderated caucus

Restate the motion completely before voting it.

"There is a motion for a moderated caucus of [total time], with a speaking time of [time], on the topic of [topic]. All in favor? ... The motion passes."
"We are now in a moderated caucus. Delegates wishing to speak, raise your placards. The chair recognizes [country]."
"Time has elapsed on this caucus. Is there a motion on the floor?"

Unmoderated caucus

Circulate the room; this is where you learn who is doing the work.

"There is a motion for an unmoderated caucus of [time] for the purpose of [purpose]. All in favor? ... The motion passes. Delegates, you may leave your seats; we resume at [time]."
"Delegates, please return to your seats. This committee is back in session."

Introducing draft resolutions

Check format, sponsors, and signatories at the dais before allowing the motion.

"The dais has received a working paper from [sponsors]. It has been approved for introduction as Draft Resolution 1.1."
"There is a motion to introduce Draft Resolution 1.1. The sponsors may come forward to read the operative clauses."
"Draft Resolution 1.1 is now on the floor and open to debate."

Amendments

Friendly needs every sponsor; unfriendly goes to a vote in voting procedure.

"The dais has received an amendment to Draft Resolution 1.1. All sponsors having approved, the amendment is friendly and is incorporated."
"This amendment is unfriendly. It will be voted on during voting procedure, before the vote on the draft resolution as a whole."

Closing debate and voting

Seal the room; slow down; this is where errors get made.

"There is a motion to close debate and move into voting procedure. Two speakers against may be heard. ... This motion requires a two-thirds majority. All in favor? ... The motion passes."
"We are now in voting procedure. The chamber is sealed: no delegate may enter or leave, and only points regarding the vote are in order."
"We will vote on the unfriendly amendment first. All in favor? Opposed? Abstaining?"
"We now vote on Draft Resolution 1.1 as a whole. All in favor? Opposed? Abstaining? ... With [number] for, [number] against, and [number] abstentions, the resolution passes." (gavel)

Closing the session

End on time; committees remember chairs who respect the schedule.

"There is a motion to suspend the meeting until [next session]. All in favor? ... This session of [committee] is suspended." (gavel)
Final session: "There is a motion to adjourn. All in favor? ... This committee stands adjourned. Thank you, delegates." (gavel)

When something unusual happens

The seven situations that separate calm chairs from flustered ones.

A delegate raises a Point of Order mid-speech	Pause the clock, hear the point, rule immediately: "The point is well taken" (fix it) or "The point is not well taken; the speaker may continue."
Someone requests a right of reply	Require it in writing. Grant it only for genuine insults to national or personal dignity, set a short time limit, and allow no reply to the reply.
A motion is dilatory or out of order	"The chair rules that motion dilatory." Say it kindly the first time and explain why after the session; repeat offenders get no explanation.
The speakers list runs empty	Warn once: "Delegates, if the speakers list is exhausted, debate automatically closes and we move into voting." Then follow through.
Two blocs shout over each other in mod caucus	Gavel once, lower your voice rather than raising it: "Delegates, decorum." Recognize the quietest placard next; the room recalibrates fast.
A delegate is plainly lost	Answer the Point of Parliamentary Inquiry fully, without irony, and check in at the next unmod. How you treat the weakest delegate sets the room’s culture.
The vote count is disputed	Re-vote immediately by placard count, or take a roll call vote. Never argue the count; recount it.

How to use this sheet

1
Read the script aloud twice before your first session
Chairing rhythm is muscle memory. Two read-throughs, out loud, and the phrases will be there when forty placards go up at once.
2
Restate every motion before voting it
Half of committee chaos comes from delegates voting on motions they did not hear. The restatement is also your chance to rule it out of order gracefully.
3
Keep a session log next to the script
Motions passed, caucus topics, who introduced what. It feeds award decisions and settles procedural disputes, and it takes one line per event.
4
Adapt bracketed values to your conference
Speaking times, quorum, and amendment handling vary by rulebook. This script follows standard US (UNA-USA style) procedure; where your conference’s rules differ, its rulebook wins.

The points and motions cheat sheet is the delegate-side view of the same procedure, and the scoring rubric gives the dais a consistent way to track delegates for awards.