How to chair an MUN committee

Chairing a Model UN committee is a different skill from being a delegate. You stop arguing for one country and start running the room for everyone: keeping debate fair, applying the rules, and helping a crowd of strangers reach a text. Conferences publish surprisingly detailed advice for their chairs. This guide draws on that advice, the real UN's rules and published chair awards to explain what the role involves and how to do it well.

What a chair is at the real UN

At the UN, the chair of a General Assembly Main Committee is elected by the committee. Its rules say the Chair "shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting of the committee, direct its discussions, ensure observance of these rules, accord the right to speak, put questions and announce decisions," and "shall have complete control of the proceedings." But the Chair "remains under the authority of the committee," and "shall not vote." The Chair, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteur together form the committee's bureau, which the UN's Model UN guide says "does not tell a Committee what to do," only recommends.

Model UN conferences such as THIMUN appoint their chairs instead. THIMUN's guidance notes that its Student Officer team "has no exact equivalent in the real United Nations," because at the UN, committee chairs are elected by the delegates from among their own members.

Who does what on the dais

Titles and roles differ by conference:

• Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN): a Director, "the substantive expert on the issues," a Moderator, "the procedural expert who usually chairs the committee when it is in formal session," and Assistant Directors, who answer questions, monitor blocs and track the speakers' list, motions and votes.
• National Model United Nations (NMUN): a Director and Assistant Director, with Chairs, at NMUN New York, who "provide administrative and logistical support, and help implement rules of procedure."
• THIMUN The Hague: appointed Student Officers, usually three chairs with set roles. The Main Chair answers points, entertains motions and times speeches; the Logistics Chair keeps the tick sheet and handles notes; the Expert Chair oversees amendments.

What makes a good chair

THIMUN's booklet on student officers is blunt about the qualities needed. Chairs "need to have studied current world affairs in general, as well as the particular issues on the agenda," and "should have a good speaking voice, have authority without being authoritarian and have a sense of humour without being sarcastic. They should apply the rules fairly, exercise impartiality and patience, but above all be natural and friendly."

It also defines the job. In a General Assembly committee, chairs "work actively with the delegates," especially during lobbying, and "encourage and help the delegates to merge draft resolutions where there is a common intent and to compromise where there is a difference of view." In formal debate: "Conduct the debate impartially - your credibility will be determined by how the delegates view your objectivity - but never allow the rules to become obstacles to communication."

The American University of Beirut's conference (AUBMUNC) gives a Best Chair award, and its criteria are a useful checklist: maintaining "impartiality, professionalism, and control"; "in-depth knowledge of the topic, Rules of Procedure, and diplomacy"; providing "constructive feedback and assistance to delegates"; and making sure "all delegates have the opportunity to speak."

Running the room: advice from THIMUN's 2026 manual

• Use the rules, but serve their purpose. "Never make up your own rules," but remember the rules exist "to facilitate a fair and democratic debate. Stick to the rules, but try to be a flexible Chair."
• Be a role model. "EVERYTHING you do is public and is interpreted by the delegates."
• Explain your decisions. "Make sure the delegates understand why you have made a certain decision before continuing."
• Admit mistakes. Simply say "the chair stands corrected" and move on.
• Stay calm. "Never yell at delegates when they get rowdy or disruptive."
• Be consistent. Agree major policies with your co-chairs beforehand, and "Never contradict each other in public."
• Spread the floor. "Recognise a variety of delegates," using the tick sheet to keep track.
• Never rush. Plan time so each resolution gets proper debate and amendment, and build in short breaks.

The manual advises starting "rather strict and serious," rather than trying to win delegates over by being lenient or funny. That is one conference's view, not a rule everywhere, so match your style to your conference.

Handling difficult moments

THIMUN's manual says chairs should "Never speak condescendingly or arrogantly towards a delegate." For disruptive delegates, chairs can send a private reminder, and if that fails, report the problem to the conference's executive team. Its list of common mistakes includes letting a delegate use a point of information to the chair to attack a resolution, and resuming debate before the room has come to order. If you do not know a procedure, ask the secretariat rather than guessing.

Chairs and awards

At many conferences, the dais shapes the delegate awards. At HMUN, "Each committee Director, in consultation with his or her committee staff, will determine individual awards." That is not universal: at NMUN, individual delegate awards are decided by delegates' vote, and THIMUN gives no best-delegate awards. Some conferences also recognise chairs themselves, such as AUBMUNC's Best Chair award and Montana Model UN's Distinguished and Outstanding Chair awards.

How to become a chair

Chairs often come from the delegate ranks. THIMUN's booklet says its student officers "have usually started as delegates, have then moved on to positions as deputy chairs, gaining experience at smaller conferences, before applying for senior positions." Applications usually ask for your experience and motivation. THIMUN The Hague's 2026 form asked for a letter of motivation covering MUN experience, previous officer roles, qualities and expectations, plus a recommendation from your MUN director, and selected officers had to attend training. NMUN New York also requires training for its chairs. Expect to research the topics as thoroughly as the delegates: THIMUN's officers write research reports and "need to be at least as well informed as the delegates."

What to do next

Know the rules better than anyone in the room: start with MUN rules of procedure explained and the MUN glossary. To understand what delegates are judged on, read how to win Best Delegate at MUN.

To experience a well-run committee from the delegate's side, Model G20 is One Young India's simulation of the G20 summit for students, held as a three-day residential summit at FLAME University.