Notes Card

In Model UN and similar parliamentary debate formats, a notes card (often just called a "note") is a short handwritten or pre-printed slip used to communicate silently between delegates, between a delegate and the dais, or between a delegate and a press/crisis staffer. Because speaking out of turn is prohibited under standard rules of procedure, the notes card is the primary channel for private coordination while formal debate, moderated caucuses, or speeches are underway.

Typical uses include:

• Bloc coordination: lining up co-sponsors, dividing operative clauses, or agreeing on yields during a speech.
• Strategic signaling: offering amendments, proposing motions, or warning allies of an opposing bloc's draft.
• Dais communication: requesting clarification on procedure, submitting a working paper, or asking for speaking time.
• Crisis directives: in crisis committees, notes are also used to send private actions ("notes to crisis" or "crisis notes") to the backroom, which differ from inter-delegate notes in that they trigger off-floor consequences.

Notes are passed by raising a hand to flag a page or staffer, who then delivers the folded card. Most conferences require the sender's and recipient's country names (or character names) to be written on the outside, and many ban notes during voting procedure or once debate has closed on a topic. Some larger conferences — including several university-hosted circuits — have experimented with digital note-passing platforms, though paper remains standard at most high-school and collegiate competitions.

Best practice is to keep notes brief, legible, and substantive: experienced delegates often number their notes to track threads, and chairs may read notes if they suspect rule violations. Excessive or disruptive note-passing can be curtailed by the dais at its discretion.