--- title: "Model UN Quorum & Majority Calculator | Model Diplomat" description: "Check quorum for your Model UN committee and the votes a motion or resolution needs: simple majority, two thirds, abstentions. Shows the math. Free." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/quorum-calculator" --- > For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://modeldiplomat.com/llms.txt). Skip to main content Members of the committee Every delegation assigned to the committee, present or not (up to 999). Present at roll call Delegations that answered "present" or "present and voting". Expected abstentions Optional. Only affects substantive votes. Leave at 0 if unsure. Quorum rules Quorum to open debate Quorum to take a vote Defaults: one third to open debate, a majority of members to vote. Check your conference's rules of procedure and change these to match. 30 of 40 members present. Debate can open and votes can be taken. ### Quorum to open debate Enough for the chair to open the session and let debate proceed. Met 14needed · 30 present 16 delegations could leave before quorum is lost. Rule: at least one third of the members. 40 × 1/3 ≈ 13.33, rounded up to 14 ### Quorum to take a vote Needed before a decision, such as a vote on a motion or resolution. Met 21needed · 30 present 9 delegations could leave before quorum is lost. Rule: a majority of the members (more than half). 40 ÷ 2 = 20, plus 1 = 21 ### Votes needed A majority means more than half, so a tie fails. “No to block” is the number of no votes that defeats the vote when every counted delegation votes. | Vote | Counted | Yes to pass | No to block | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------- | ----------- | ----------- | | Procedural: simple majorityMost motions, such as a moderated caucus. Counted: everyone present.30 ÷ 2 = 15, plus 1 = 16 | 30 | 16 | 15 | | Procedural: two thirdsMotions that limit debate, such as closure. Counted: everyone present.30 × 2/3 = 20 | 30 | 20 | 11 | | Substantive: simple majorityDraft resolutions and amendments. Counted: yes + no, abstentions left out.30 ÷ 2 = 15, plus 1 = 16 | 30 | 16 | 15 | | Substantive: two thirdsWhere your rules require two thirds for a resolution. Abstentions left out.30 × 2/3 = 20 | 30 | 20 | 11 | ## How to use the quorum calculator 1. ### Enter the committee's size Type the number of delegations assigned to the committee, whether or not they are in the room. This is the base most rules measure quorum against. A double delegation counts as one member. 2. ### Enter the roll call Type how many delegations answered "present" or "present and voting". Update it after every break and whenever a late delegation joins. 3. ### Match your conference's quorum rules The defaults are one third of the members to open debate and a majority of the members to take a vote. If your rules of procedure say something different, pick another fraction or type a custom one. 4. ### Add expected abstentions for a resolution vote On substantive votes, abstentions usually leave the count. Enter how many delegations you expect to abstain to see how many yes votes a draft resolution or amendment really needs. 5. ### Read the result and the working Each quorum shows whether it is met and by how much. The vote table shows the yes votes to pass and the no votes to block for simple-majority and two-thirds votes, with the arithmetic behind every number. ## How quorum works in Model UN Every session starts with roll call. The chair reads each member of the committee and the delegation answers “present” or “present and voting”. That count decides two things: whether there is a quorum, and what every vote in the session is measured against. Many rules of procedure set two quorums. The lower one lets the chair open the session and let debate proceed. The higher one is needed before the committee takes a decision, such as a vote on a motion or a draft resolution. The UN General Assembly's own rules work this way, with one third of the members to open a plenary meeting and a majority of the members for any decision, and the National Model United Nations (NMUN) rules use the same split. Your conference may differ, which is why both fractions are adjustable above. Quorum is measured against the whole committee, but votes are measured against the room. On a procedural motion, everyone present votes. On a substantive vote, such as a draft resolution or an amendment, abstentions are usually left out, so the bar moves with the tally. Delegations come and go during a long session, so take the count again after every break. ## A worked example A General Assembly committee has 40 member delegations. After lunch, 26 answer roll call, and 4 say they will abstain on the draft resolution. Using one third to open debate and a majority to vote: - Quorum to open debate - 14 (met) - 40 × 1/3 ≈ 13.33, rounded up to 14 - Quorum to take a vote - 21 (met) - 40 ÷ 2 = 20, plus 1 = 21 - Procedural motion, simple majority - 14 of 26 - 26 ÷ 2 = 13, plus 1 = 14 - Two-thirds motion, such as closure - 18 of 26 - 26 × 2/3 ≈ 17.33, rounded up to 18 - Draft resolution, simple majority - 12 of 22 voting - 26 − 4 abstaining = 22; 22 ÷ 2 = 11, plus 1 = 12 - Blocking that resolution - 11 no votes - 22 − 12 + 1 = 11 If 6 delegations leave, the committee drops below the quorum to vote and can keep debating but cannot vote until they return. ## Quick reference by committee size Quorum using one third to open debate and a majority to vote, and the vote bars when every member is present and voting. | Members | Open debate | Take a vote | Simple majority | Two thirds | | ------- | ----------- | ----------- | --------------- | ---------- | | 10 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | | 15 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 10 | | 20 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 14 | | 25 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 17 | | 30 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 20 | | 40 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 27 | | 50 | 17 | 26 | 26 | 34 | | 75 | 25 | 38 | 38 | 50 | | 100 | 34 | 51 | 51 | 67 | | 193 | 65 | 97 | 97 | 129 | ## Frequently asked questions What is quorum in Model UN? Quorum is the minimum number of delegations that must be present for the committee to do business. The chair checks it with roll call at the start of each session. Many rules set two quorums: a lower one to open debate and a higher one before any vote is taken. What is the quorum for a Model UN committee? It depends on your conference's rules of procedure, so check them. A common convention, used in the UN General Assembly's own plenary rules and in the National Model United Nations (NMUN) rules, is one third of the members to open debate and a majority of the members to take a decision. The General Assembly's Main Committees use one quarter to open debate. This calculator defaults to one third and a majority and lets you change both. Is quorum based on the delegations present or the whole committee? Quorum is measured against the committee's members: every delegation assigned to it, present or not. The vote thresholds are different. They are measured against the delegations present, or, on substantive votes, against those voting yes or no. Does a simple majority mean half the votes? No. A simple majority is more than half: half the votes rounded down, plus one. With 30 delegations voting, that is 16. A tie is not a majority, so a 15–15 vote fails. How is a two-thirds majority calculated? Multiply the number counted by 2/3 and round up. With 31 delegations present, 31 × 2/3 is about 20.67, so a two-thirds vote needs 21. Rounding down would let a motion pass one vote short. How do abstentions affect a vote in Model UN? At many conferences nobody may abstain on a procedural vote, so every delegation present counts. On a substantive vote, such as a draft resolution, abstentions are usually left out of the count, so the majority is measured against yes plus no votes. Four abstentions in a room of 26 leave 22 votes that count, and a simple majority of 22 is 12. What is the difference between "present" and "present and voting"? Both count toward quorum. At many conferences, a delegation that answers "present and voting" gives up the right to abstain on substantive votes and must vote yes or no. A delegation that answers "present" keeps the option to abstain. Does the Security Council follow the same rules? No. Under Article 27 of the UN Charter, Security Council decisions need nine affirmative votes out of fifteen, and on substantive matters a permanent member's no vote blocks adoption. Use the voting tally tool's Security Council mode for those votes. Is the quorum calculator free? Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs entirely in your browser. If you want to research your country's position before the vote, a free Model Diplomat account includes 375 credits on day one, then 75 a day. ## Keep preparing [All Model UN tools](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun) [Tool](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/voting-tally) [Voting Tally Calculator](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/voting-tally) [Count yes, no and abstain live during voting procedure and see whether it carries.](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/voting-tally) [Tool](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/motion-reference) [Motions Reference](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/motion-reference) [Which motions need a simple majority and which need two thirds, in order of precedence.](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/motion-reference) [Guide](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/rules-of-procedure/model-un-rules-of-procedure) [Model UN Rules of Procedure](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/rules-of-procedure/model-un-rules-of-procedure) [Roll call, the speakers list, caucuses, motions and voting procedure, explained.](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/rules-of-procedure/model-un-rules-of-procedure) [Tool](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/speakers-list) [Speakers List Manager](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/speakers-list) [Once quorum is met, queue delegates and time each speech from one screen.](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/speakers-list) ## Know the votes before voting procedure The calculator tells you how many votes a resolution needs. Model Diplomat can help you find them: research how other delegations have voted on the issue, what their governments have said, and which amendments could bring the undecided on board. The button opens search with a prompt ready for your committee's details. A free account includes 375 credits on day one, then 75 a day. [Predict the vote on my resolution](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=I%27m%20a%20Model%20UN%20delegate.%20Before%20voting%20procedure%2C%20help%20me%20predict%20how%20the%20committee%20will%20vote%20on%20a%20draft%20resolution%3A%20which%20delegations%20are%20likely%20to%20vote%20yes%2C%20no%20or%20abstain%20based%20on%20their%20countries%27%20real%20voting%20records%20and%20stated%20positions%2C%20and%20what%20amendments%20could%20win%20over%20the%20undecided.%20My%20country%2C%20committee%20and%20the%20resolution%27s%20main%20operative%20clauses%20are%20below.\&submit=0)[Start from the resolution template](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?template=resolution-draft)