MUN Note Passing – Complete Guide

One of the most important, yet not often talked about, ways to be successful at a Model UN conference is to master the art of note passing (also known as MUN chits). Note passing is a subtle, yet powerful, tool at a conference. If you think you can get through a conference without passing a single note to other delegates, then you might as well plan on having an unsuccessful conference.

Note passing provides a way for you to speak to other delegates during the formal debate, be in General Speakers list or moderated committee sessions. You may ask, “Isn’t that what unmoderated caucuses are for?” Absolutely, but some things need clarification, panning, or to be put into the works before you get to that point. MUN notes allow you to personally communicate with anyone from the first moment the conference starts. In itself, this is a tool of critical importance. If a country says something during their speech to the committee, that directly impacts your country or block, you will need to be able to quickly move into action.

Learning how to write and pass notes that are meaningful and impactful will go a long way towards success for your delegation. It will also improve your chances at winning best delegate. This article will cover the different important uses for notes at a MUN conference and how to write them.

At a MUN conference, you will be sending notes mostly to other delegates. They are the ones who you spend most of your time with, and energy on, when negotiating, discussing policies, and formulating strategies. Occasionally, you will need to send notes to the Chair as well.

Clarification – If, during the General Speakers list or a moderated committee session, something is said that needs clarification, don’t hesitate to send a note. If Venezuela mentions the need for oil pricing controls, and you want to know which price controls they would opt to send a note. Another example is if you aren’t sure if Venezuela is aware that other OPEC members addressed this topic earlier. Venezuela’s statement could signal a shift in OPEC policy, which would impact every other delegate in the room, or it could simply be that they misspoke. Any significant clarification, especially if it pertains to something major, should not wait until an unmoderated caucus to find out.

For your own knowledge and understanding – You aren’t going to be expected to know the policies of every country at the conference. While you should certainly know yours and the policy of the countries you commonly work with, there will be times when you need more information.

Do ideas match? – If you hear other delegates discussing ideas and proposals that sound similar to yours or your block’s, send a note asking for more details. This could be an opportunity to combine clauses, or draft resolutions, and create a stronger coalition. Be the first to get this in motion so you can take maximally benefit from the situation.

Let’s meet later – For questions and statements that will need a face-to-face session and are too long for a note, send a note asking to meet right when the committee session breaks. 

What do you think about… (information and opinion) – When you are trying to shore up support for a position you are taking, or come up with a new idea, send a note to a few delegates asking what they think about it. Honestly, you may not care about their opinion, but by getting others involved, you help them feel that they matter. By giving them a say in the matter, you can more easily get their support when you need it.

Recognition for alliance building – By simply involving other delegates, you create an additional level of diplomatic interaction. You give solent delegates a voice. This is a great tactic to use if you notice any delegations that others are ignoring. It always happens. Take advantage of this and form a partnership. Likewise, if you sense a break in a rival block, send notes to both sides and feel them out for possible partnerships.

Mobilize your block – These notes need to get to many delegates quickly for a purpose like telling them all to vote against a certain motion or ask a supportive point of information when your block is presenting their resolution. The key is to make sure this group of allies is all on the same page so that everyone votes the way they need to, or whoever is chosen first will be able to ask the questions that need to be asked or offer the desired motion. 

Strategic use – Like the above bullet point says, passing notes can be very strategic. The key to strategic note-passing is that is doesn’t only ask for information, or a potential alliance, but also comes with a plan to utilize the outcome of said note. For example, you can tell a block that you are looking to merge with that they have a limited window to decide before you join another block. You can also give misinformation, but this is usually advised against. The key for every strategic note is that it is supposed to result in an action, and not just gaining information.

In all these cases, the key to comfortable conversation is not to think of notes as cold, technical requests. Think of them as a sentence in a one-on-one conversation.

Sending notes to the Chair of the committee will be different than sending notes to other delegates. The main reason notes are sent to the Chair is to add yourself to the speaker’s list. Generally, as soon as you are finished speaking, send a note up to be added back to the list. This may seem silly, but even if you don’t have anything to say yet, you will. In larger rooms, it will take a while for the speakers time to get back around to you. By then, you will have heard something you need to respond to.

You are not going to be having a conversation with the Chair through notes. Notes to the Chair should be one way and technical in nature. If not about procedure, it can also deal with clarifications on the proceedings through a “Point of parliamentary enquiry”. However, the public clarification, especially later in the committee session, may interrupt debate which the chair would be unhappy to entertain. Notes are a way to avoid this situation.

If you have a critical question for the Chair that is going to take a longer explanation that you can write on a note, save it for a face-to-face meeting during an unmoderated caucus or a break.

When you are writing a note, you want to remember a few things. A good Model UN note needs to be:

Friendly

Short

Direct and

Neat

Try to get the reader’s attention with the first line. There will be so many notes flying around that you need to make sure yours achieves its goal, whether to convey a complex idea or stand out among many other notes.

• Friendly – Always start the note with a friendly greeting such as “Dear” or “To the honorable delegate of Ecuador.” Keep the content of the note friendly, not adversarial, even if you are on opposing blocks. Don’t add fire to any mix.
• Short – Why short? Because, if it’s not, they won’t read it. Also, keep it short for your sake. You will be writing so many notes that you need to learn to get your point across quickly and succinctly.
• Neat – Make sure your handwriting is legible. Most other Model UN delegates will not be hyroplihpics experts.