SEOMUN XV Security Council

1. SEOMUN XVSecurity Council • President: Angela Cho • Deputy President: Michelle Park • Assistant Deputy President: Steven Lee Credits: Sang Hyun Park, SEOMUN XIV SC president

2. Agenda • Security Council • 1. Assisting Western Asia with the early recovery phase • 2. The situation in Syria • 3. The situation in Sudan and South Sudan • Joint issue with Advisory Panel: Question of Syria

3. Overview • Purpose • Structure • Procedure • Features • Functions and Powers • Veto Power • Caucus • Submitting Resolutions • Questioning Delegates • Joint session with Advisory Panel

4. Purpose • The SECURITY COUNCILassumes the “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security” (Article 24, Chapter V, Charter of the UN) • The main function of the Security Council is to maintain international peace and security. In accordance with the underlying theme for SEOMUN XV, “Global Commitment and Responsibility,” debates within the Security Council this year will focus on shouldering responsibilities among individuals, organizations and member states to ensure peace and security to all masses.

5. Structure • The Security Council is composed of five permanent member nations and 10 non-permanent member nations. • Permanent Members (P5): United States, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, France, China • Non-permanent Members (2012): Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Columbia, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa

6. Procedure • Opening speech: each delegate will deliver an opening speech no longer than 1 min. at the start of the conference explaining his or her stance and interests. • Lobbying: delegates will collaborate on resolutions during this time. SC will lobby for each issue separately. • Debate: the house will debate each individual clause before debating on the whole resolution. • Debating on clause: submitter will approach podium and read the clause, debate time set by chair, debate, vote on clause • Debating on whole resolution: delegates may add/strike/modify clauses from resolution before voting on entire resolution

7. Voting procedures • The majority of the house (50% + 1) must vote in favor of an amendment/clause/resolution in order for it to pass. • Normally, the number of votes needed to pass is nine, assuming that all fifteen members of the SC are present and voting.

8. Functions and Powers • The Security Council alone holds the power to place sanctions on nations and to deploy peacekeeping troops in addressing matters of international security. • Delegates may use the terms “demands” and “condemns” in their operative clauses.

9. Veto Power • The P5 nations have the power to veto decisions made by the Security Council during debates. • They may exercise their power to veto a resolution. • Any P5 nation wishing to veto a resolution must inform the chair and clearly express their interest to the council before voting on the resolution as a whole. • The chair will ask the house if any P5 nation wishes to veto the resolution before the final voting. • A caucus will be set if a P5 nation wishes to veto, during which delegates from all five permanent members will privately negotiate while other delegates remain indoors. • P5 nations should use their veto power with careful discretion and only when absolutely necessary.

10. Submitting Resolutions • The Security Council, unlike other committees, will not have a “main-submitter” for each resolution. • Delegates will be submitters of operative clauses instead. • Submitters for operative clauses will read out the operative clause and deliver a speech for the clause. • Submitters of operative clauses do not have to be co-submitters of the resolution as a whole. • Each delegate may submit more than one operative clause per resolution.

11. Caucus • P5 nations may motion to hold a caucus during the debate. This is highly suggested in instances where a P5 nation has expressed an interest in vetoing the resolution. • A maximum of 20 minutes will be given to caucus. During this time, P5 nations will negotiate separately while other delegates may converse with other delegates but must stay indoors.

12. Questioning Delegates • When necessary, the chair may call for a delegate in a different committee during the debate to answer questions that delegates may have. • E.g. When debating on the issue of “The situation in Syria,” the delegate of Syria may be called upon to share his or her views regarding the issue.

13. Plenary session with Advisory Panel • A joint session with the Advisory Panel will be held on the last day of the conference. • The purpose of this meeting is for delegates of the SC to offer constructive feedback to the Advisory Panel’s final proposal. • Security Council delegates will be provided with copies of the Advisory Panel’s proposal before the meeting. • An advisor (AP delegate) from the Advisory Panel will open with a speech presenting the proposal. • SC delegates will be deliver brief speeches explaining their position on the issue • SC delegates will then raise general questions/criticism/comments on the proposal as “points regarding the proposal,” to which advisors from AP may respond as “rights to reply.” • No voting will take place during the joint session.

14. Final Reminders • Please remember to research the issuesthoroughly and to check up on the proceduresbefore the day of the conference. • Proper attire andattendance will be strictly enforced during the conference. • Please remember to bring both a soft copy and several hard copies of your resolution, as well as a laptop and a USB memory stick for lobbying. • Feel free to contact us if you have any questions/concerns and we will be happy to assist you.