Motion to Introduce a Working Paper

In Model UN, a working paper is an informal draft document that captures the substantive ideas a bloc has been negotiating during unmoderated caucus. Before the committee can openly debate or project it on screen, a delegate typically raises a Motion to Introduce a Working Paper. The motion is usually entertained by the chair once the paper has been submitted to the dais, checked for formatting, and assigned a designation (e.g., Working Paper 1.1).

Procedural requirements vary by conference, but common conditions include:

• A minimum number of sponsors and signatories (often 2 sponsors and 4–8 signatories, depending on committee size).
• Submission to the dais in writing or via the conference platform before the motion is raised.
• Approval by the chair that the paper conforms to formatting rules (no preambulatory/operative clauses required at this stage in most rulesets, though some conferences require them).

Most rulebooks—including those adapted from NMUN, THIMUN, and Harvard WorldMUN procedure—treat the motion as procedural and requiring a simple majority vote, though many chairs pass it without objection because introduction itself does not endorse the content. Once introduced, the paper becomes a public committee document: delegates may reference it by name in speeches, ask questions about it during a Q&A motion, and propose amendments or mergers.

Introducing a working paper is distinct from introducing a draft resolution. A working paper is still informal and editable; a draft resolution has been formatted with preambulatory and operative clauses and, in many rulesets, requires dais approval before it can be motioned for introduction. Delegates often use the introduction stage strategically—timing it to consolidate bloc support, preempt rival blocs, or trigger a moderated caucus on its contents.