For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt.Skip to main content
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:
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:
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.
No. Under standard MUN and UNGA practice, abstentions are not counted as votes cast, so they neither help nor hurt the threshold. Only yes and no votes are tallied.
In the UNGA, 'important questions' under Article 18(2) of the UN Charter require a two-thirds majority. Many MUN conferences mirror this for substantive resolutions in GA-style committees, while ECOSOC and most specialized agencies use simple majority.
A simple majority counts only members present and voting, while an absolute majority requires more than half of the entire membership, regardless of attendance or abstention.