Simple Majority

In Model UN, a simple majority means a motion passes if the number of "yes" votes exceeds the number of "no" votes among voting members present. Abstentions are typically not counted toward the total, so a committee of 60 delegates with 20 abstentions would only need 21 of the remaining 40 voting members to pass a measure.

Simple majority is the default voting threshold for most procedural and substantive matters in MUN, including:

• Adoption of the agenda
• Most procedural motions (moderated caucuses, unmoderated caucuses, motions to extend debate)
• Adoption of draft resolutions in most committees
• Adoption of amendments (when not friendly)

This default mirrors practice in the UN General Assembly, where Article 18(3) of the UN Charter provides that decisions on questions other than "important questions" are made by a majority of members present and voting. The phrase "present and voting" is defined in GA Rule of Procedure 86 as members casting an affirmative or negative vote; abstaining members are considered not voting.

Simple majority is distinct from:

• Two-thirds majority (or qualified majority), required in the UNGA for "important questions" under Article 18(2) of the Charter, such as recommendations on peace and security, election of non-permanent Security Council members, and budgetary questions. Many MUN committees also require two-thirds for closure of debate or reconsideration.
• Absolute majority, which requires more than half of all members of the body, not just those present and voting.
• Consensus, used in bodies like the WTO and some UN committees, where no formal vote is taken if no member objects.

Chairs should clarify at the start of committee which threshold applies to which motion, as rules of procedure vary between conferences (NMUN, WorldMUN, Harvard MUN, THIMUN all have slightly different defaults). Delegates contesting a close vote may call for a division of the house or a roll-call vote to verify the count.