Table Of ContentDartmouth Model United Nations
Post-Apocalyptic
America
April 6 – 8, 2018
DARTMOUTH MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE
Thirteenth Annual Conference • April 6 - 8, 2018
Dartmouth College • Rockefeller Center • Hanover, NH 03755
E-mail: [email protected] • DartmouthMUN.com
Scott Okuno January 11, 2018
Secretary-General
Dear Delegates:
Jessica Campanile
Director-General On behalf of the entire Dartmouth Model United Nations staff, I would like to welcome and thank
you for registering for the twelfth annual Dartmouth Model United Nations conference this April
Anjali Peddanna
2018. We have been working relentlessly since the end of last year’s conference to provide a better
Chief of Staff
and more worthwhile Model U.N. experience for this winter’s delegates. We are optimistic about this
Nina Kosowsky winter’s conference and Dartmouth Model U.N.’s future.
Chargé d’Affaires
DartMUN is a unique conference. We pair world-class delegations and dais staff members in smaller,
Anne Pinkney more-interactive environments to facilitate an enriching experience for delegates of all skill levels. We
Undersecretary-General of believe DartMUN’s active, small committees ensure delegates feel comfortable immersing themselves
General Assemblies
in a competitive but supportive environment that encourages trial by error and participation.
Furthermore, DartMUN’s well-trained staff is excited to work with your delegates this winter in
Erika Ogino committee to equip the next generation of college students with the skills to tackle complex global
Undersecretary-General of Ad- problems.
Hoc Committees
With this said, Model United Nations is only meaningful when delegates are thoroughly prepared. To
Lauren Dusseau aid in your research preparation, your committee staff has spent hours researching, writing, and
Undersecretary-General of editing this Background Guide. The Background Guide serves as an introduction to your respective
Special Committees
committee and an overview of the topics that you will be debating over the course of the
conference.
Soham Basu
Undersecretary-General of
The Background Guide is intended to be a starting point for your research and is not, in itself, an
Current Crisis Committees
adequate exposure to the complexities of your committee’s topics. To be prepared, each delegate
Sam Zarkower should do further research and focus on processing information through the lens of their respective
Undersecretary-General of country or position. If you are having trouble digesting all the information, the Background Guide
Historical Crisis Committees contains relevant discussion questions that break down the topics. Also, as questions or ideas arise,
do not be shy in contacting your committee staff via e-mail. Committee staff are knowledgeable and
Sam Wilson
can help you better understand a particular topic or how your country fits into a larger international
Director of
Public Relations debate. More often than not, discussing the problem with another person can open up more
paradigms and viewpoints that may guide you throughout the brainstorming process.
Bethany David
Director of As in years past, all delegates are expected to write a brief position paper before the conference to
Technology synthesize all of their preparatory research and analysis. Please see the position paper guidelines on
the conference website for specific information about content, format, etc. Committee staff will
collect position papers at the beginning of the first committee session on Friday evening, so be sure
to bring a hard copy because delegates who do not submit position papers will not be eligible for
awards.
DartMUN is a student run, non-profit, Sincerely,
all volunteer organization sponsored by
he Dickey Center for International
Understanding. Scott Okuno
Secretary-General
DartMUN XIII
DARTMOUTH MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE
Thirteenth Annual Conference • April 6 - 8, 2018
Dartmouth College • Rockefeller Center • Hanover, NH 03755
E-mail: [email protected] • DartmouthMUN.com
January 18, 2018
Scott Okuno
Dear Delegates,
Secretary-General
Jessica Campanile Welcome to the thirteenth installment of DartMUN and this year’s Futuristic Crisis! We are very
Director-General excited to be joining you in yet another incredible conference experience. As you have chosen to be
part of a crisis committee, we are confident of the high-caliber decision making and resolution
Anjali Peddanna
creation that we have to look forward to. With the rapidly changing political environment we find
Chief of Staff
ourselves in, both within the United States as well as in international news, it is hard to imagine
where we will find ourselves in five years, let alone fifty years. This is why we have decided to bring
Nina Kosowsky
to you a not so distant future, involving the aftermath of 3 years of political, environmental, social,
Chargé d’Affaires
and technological change. You will be challenged to extrapolate what a few, but critical changes, can
Anne Pinkney have on the United States landscape and how that ripples out to massive shifts internationally. We
Undersecretary-General of are also here though, to learn from one another in a freer, less rigid environment and meet people
General Assemblies outside of our own classrooms. Over the course of the conference, as your Director of this futuristic
U.S. Cabinet Crisis committee, I will have the pleasure of mediating your debates and resolutions. A
Erika Ogino little of my background: I am originally from Westchester, NY and am currently a senior here at
Undersecretary-General of Ad- Dartmouth majoring in Biology, following a pre-health track, applying for medical school this spring.
Hoc Committees As such, this conference will be my last with DartMUN. I have greatly enjoyed being involved in
two other of these conferences as a Committee Director in another futuristic crisis committee in
Lauren Dusseau 2015 as well as serving as Director General in 2016.
Undersecretary-General of
Special Committees
Working alongside me is Abhimanyu Kapur, our Assistant Director. Abhimanyu is originally from
Mumbai, India and is a freshaman at Dartmouth with interests in Computer Science, Design and
Soham Basu
Creative Writing. Abhimanyu has served as a chair for various crisis committees over the past two
Undersecretary-General of
years and he looks forward to this year’s futuristic crisis simulation!
Current Crisis Committees
Sam Zarkower In order to assist in your preparation for this committee and allow you to get the most out of it once
Undersecretary-General of here, Abhi and I have created the following Background Guide on some of the notable occurrences
Historical Crisis Committees of the next three years, alongside the details of where the United States federal government stands
during the timing of the crisis itself, right before the presidential election of 2020. This guide is a
Sam Wilson
starting point for your research involving similar topics and occurrences to those that will have
Director of
happened in the timeline prior to committee, as well as planning a means to re-stabilize the country
Public Relations
internally and externally. Some of you may be familiar with futuristic committees, while others may
Bethany David not, so it is important to plan always with the template of the U.S. in 2020, not just how it is in 2018.
Director of Additionally, some of the players in the committee may be subject to change, as our federal
Technology government brings changes to elected and appointed positions in the present. If a case comes where
one of your characters is no longer involved in government and we have decided to alter those in the
committee, we will contact your delegation, as well as provide sources of information for the new
character. As other questions or ideas arise, do not hesitate in reaching out to Abhi
([email protected]) or myself ([email protected]).
Once again, welcome to DartMUN XIII. I am very excited to explore this uncharted future with you
DartMUN is a student run, non-profit, and learn from your critical decision skills and point of views.
all volunteer organization sponsored by
he Dickey Center for International
Understanding. Sincerely,
Alison Clarke
Post-Apocalyptic America
DartMUN XIII
Committee Overview parliamentary procedure. They are often times
more unstructured, and the flow of the
Model United Nations, or MUN, is a worldwide committee is heavily dependent on the
academic program that promotes understanding discretion of the chair. The chair will make
of and involvement in international relations his/her procedural preferences clear at the start
and global issues through simulation of the real of the first committee session.
United Nations. The United Nations is an
international organization, often called a There may be a speaker’s list, yet most
peacekeeping body, that ensures active efforts committees do without one. There is often no
by all 192 member states to the principles of official setting of the agenda, as debate tends to
peace, justice, equality, and human dignity. flow between topics and is determined by the
pertinent crisis at hand.
What are Crisis Committees?
In general, discussion occurs through
Crisis Committees are specialized groups at moderated caucuses in which the chair calls
DartMUN that spend most of their time dealing upon delegates to speak. Delegates motion for
with real-time events that require immediate moderated caucuses of a specified length and
attention and action. These crises range from speaking time and on a specified topic. Many
terrorist attacks to natural disasters to issues may be discussed concurrently and crises
corruption within a certain organization. introduced by the crisis staff may interrupt
Common considerations of crisis committees discussion. Occasionally, unmoderated caucuses
include: understanding the crisis and its (motioned for by a delegate) are held in which
implications, informing/not informing the press formal debate is suspended and delegates speak
and public, undertaking immediate damage- at will in groups of their choosing. In voting, a
control, reacting to the actions of other groups, motion for an unmoderated caucus takes
and preventing future crises. precedence over a motion for a moderated
caucus. Often, motions are simply passed
Simulation Overview without voting if there are no competing
motions.
Parliamentary Procedure Specific to Crisis Committees
(adapted) Action is taken through directives, and there are
generally no working papers or resolutions,
The same parliamentary procedures which are unless the chair so desires. Notes are used to
used for GAs and Specials apply to the Crisis communicate between delegates while the
Committees. However, Crisis Committees tend committee proceeds. They may also be sent to
to be more informal than other committees, delegates on another committee if it is a JCC.
that is, they require a limited use of They are often used to work with delegates of
Post-Apocalyptic America
DartMUN XIII
similar viewpoints to coordinate actions. public.
Questions can also be sent to the chair (or crisis
staff) in a note. Examples of Directives
Directives and Notes: Action Order:
Directives: Direct Allied forces to invade Normandy,
France on June 6th. Paratroopers shall be
In order to carry out any action during dropped behind enemy lines on June 4th.
committee, a directive must be sent by an Landings shall take place at Utah, Omaha,
individual, a group of individuals, or the Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches.
committee as a whole. If it is not on behalf of
the entire committee, then the delegate(s) can -The Allies
choose to make the directive private and it will
not be revealed to the whole committee. If the Communiqué
chair deems necessary, the directive may need
to be introduced by a requisite number of To the Emperor of Japan:
writers. To pass a directive on behalf of the We demand an immediate, unconditional
whole committee, a simple majority vote is surrender by all Japanese forces within 48
required. The chair will hold a vote as each hours, or we shall be forced to unleash
directive is introduced. heretofore unimaginable devastation upon your
cities.
Types of Directives - The Allies
There are three types of directives – Action Press Release
Orders, Communiqués, and Press Releases.
Action orders are used to direct troops, Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live
agencies, individuals, etc. to take an action that in infamy - the United States of America was
is within the authority of the committee. An suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and
individual may only send an action order if it is air forces of the Empire of Japan.
within his powers (check the background guide - Franklin D. Roosevelt
for a summary of the characters and their
committee roles and powers). A communiqué Examples of Notes
is used to communicate with foreign
governments, other committees of the JCC, or To a member of the same committee:
individuals outside the committee. A press
release is used to reveal information to the [Address Section on outside of Note]
Post-Apocalyptic America
DartMUN XIII
To: Franklin D. Roosevelt » Discussion on the directives will proceed
From: Winston Churchill through the current moderated caucus and
amendments may be proposed and voted on.
[Message on inside of Note]
We ask that you work with us to increase » A delegate will motion to vote on a directive
intelligence efforts directed against our so-called and the directive is either passed or rejected.
allies, the Soviets, so that we will not be
surprised by any actions they take after the war. » A crisis will occur, oftentimes in the middle of
- Winston Churchill debate. The crisis staff will introduce new
information or developments through news
To chair/crisis staff: articles, videos, intelligence reports, etc.
[Address Section on outside of Note]
To: Chair/Crisis » Discussion will shift informally or through a
From: Winston Churchill new moderated caucus to discuss this
development.
[Message on inside of Note]
What is the current disposition of British forces Delegates in Attendance:
in the Middle East?
- Winston Churchill 1. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson – He is one
of the only surviving members of the
An Outline of How a Typical Crisis Committee ‘Flows Cabinet. In the face of the greatest crisis
the world has ever known, he believes
» A moderated caucus takes place with delegates that the United States first needs to
outlining their position. secure its energy resources before it can
begin to rebuild. Hence, he believes that
» A delegate motions for a moderated caucus on the American government must
a specified topic of a specified length with a maintain control over and invest in its
specified speaking time. oil fields in Texas, North Dakota and
Alaska. Moreover, he proposes that the
» Delegates discuss actions to take regarding surviving superpowers – Russia, China,
that topic through the moderated caucus and Germany, France and the United
through notes. Kingdom – work together to rebuild the
world. In addition, Tillerson supports
» Delegates submit directives to the chair to the former federalist system that United
take an action and motion to introduce the States operated under and is against any
directive. new structural changes to the
Constitution.
Post-Apocalyptic America
DartMUN XIII
2. Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Corps. Neller directs the deployment of
Mike Pompeo – He is in command of the the remaining members of the Marine
United States’ primary intelligence Corps. He currently has 1,000 marines
agency. Thus, he can deploy spies in under his command. He supports the
intelligence gathering and target former federalist system and is against
elimination operations. Moreover, he any new structural changes to the United
can direct these operations against States government. However, he believes
foreign actors, domestic actors and his that the Marine Corps should become
fellow delegates. Pompeo believes that the main branch of the military.3
the Central Intelligence Agency should 5. Chief of Staff of the Army Mark A. Milley –
have greater power and influence within He is the commanding officer of the
the new United States.1 United States Army. He is in command
3. Chief of Staff of the Air Force David L. of 1,000 infantrymen, 500 paratroopers,
Goldfein – He is highest-ranking member and forty M1 Abrams tanks. He
of the Air Force to have survived the supports the former federalist system
initial crisis. Goldfein directs the and is against any new structural changes
remaining members of the Air Force and to the United States government.
thus can deploy air units against other However, he believes that the Army
actors. He has twenty F-22s, three F-35s, should become the main branch of the
forty Warthogs and fifteen Apache military.4
attack helicopters under his command. 6. Chief of Naval Operations John M.
He has dedicated his life to his country, Richardson – Admiral Richardson is
the Air Force and the Constitution. directing the United States Navy during
Therefore, he supports the former this troubling time. He is in command of
federalist system and is against any new one battleship, four destroyers, an
structural changes to the United States aircraft carrier and twenty-five F-22s. He
government. However, he believes that supports the former federalist system
the Air Force should become the main and is against any new structural changes
branch of the military.2 to the United States government.
4. Commandant of the Marine Corps Robert B. However, he believes that the Navy
Neller – He is in command of the Marine
3 “37th Commandant of the Marine Corps: General Robert
1 Kaveh Waddell. “Trump’s CIA Director Wants to Return B. Neller.” Headquarters Marine Corps. Web. 30 Dec 2017.
to a Pre-Snowden World.” Web. 18 Nov 2016. http://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Leaders/Biography-
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/11/tru View/Article/553750/37th-commandant-of-the-marine-
mps-cia-director-wants-to-return-to-a-pre-snowden- corps/
world/508136/. 4 Mark A. Milley “39th Chief of Staff of the Army Initial
2 “General David L. Goldfein.” U.S. Air Force. Web. Jul Message to the Army.” U.S. Army. Web. 30 Dec 2017.
2016. http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/ https://www.army.mil/e2/rv5_downloads/leaders/csa/Initial
Article/108013/general-david-l-goldfein/ _Message_39th_CSA.pdf.
Post-Apocalyptic America
DartMUN XIII
should become the main branch of the communiqués, notes or personal actions
military.5 unconstitutional.7
7. Head of the Federal Bureau of Investigations 9. Senator Susan Collins – one of the two
Christopher Wray – formerly a leading surviving members of the Senate, she is
prosecutor in the Department of Justice, the ultimate moderate. During her long
Wray is currently the Director of the career in the Senate, Collins helped lead
FBI: the nation’s primary law many bipartisan coalitions, passing a
enforcement agency. Thus, he directs plethora of crucial legislation. She is the
300 federal agents and is charged with best candidate to bridge the divide
protecting the nation from internal and between the liberal, conservative,
external threats within the nation’s federalist, statist and militarist factions
borders.6 within the committee. Senator Collins is
8. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor – as currently the President pro tempore of
the only surviving member of the the Senate.8
Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor has 10. Senator Elizabeth Warren – one of the two
the unprecedented power to unilaterally surviving members of the Senate, she
re-interpret the Constitution. During her was a leading progressive prior to the
time in the Judiciary, she practiced a pandemic. She believes that the United
form of legal realism and espoused a States should reform itself during this
loose interpretation of the Constitution. time of crisis. In particular, she believes
Thus, she will support more practical that Glass-Steagall should be reinstated,
solutions to the crisis at hand, even if it Citizens United should be overturned,
requires the structure of the federal and renewable energy should replace
government to change. As the only fossil fuels. Overall, she believes that the
member of the Supreme Court, at the federal government must be further
moment, she has the power to declare strengthened. However, Warren will face
any directive that is passed by the steep opposition in realizing her goals,
committee as a whole unconstitutional, for she currently lacks any military
effectively blocking it. However, she power, judicial legitimacy or executive
cannot declare portfolio powers, authority.9
5 “Admiral John M. Richardson: Chief of Naval 7 Michael C. Dorf. “What is Sonia Sotomayor’s Judicial
Operations.” U.S. Department of Defense. Web. 18 Sep Philosophy?” FindLaw. Web. 3 Jun 2009. http://supreme.
2015. findlaw.com/legal-commentary/what-is-sonia-sotomayors-
https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography- judicial-philosophy.html.
View/article/621885/admiral-john-m-richardson/ 8 “About Susan Collins.” Susan Collins – United States
6 Catherine Herridge. “Who is FBI Director Christopher Senator for Maine. Web. 29 Dec 2017. https://www.col
Wray?” Fox News. 7 December 2017. http://www.foxnews lins.senate.gov/about.
.com/politics/2017/12/07/who-is-fbi-director-christopher- 9 “Issues: Leveling the Playing Field.” Elizabeth Warren
wray.html. For Senate. Web. 30 Dec 2017.
Post-Apocalyptic America
DartMUN XIII
11. President Tulsi Gabbard – following the power of the federal government, and
deaths of the President and the Vice the Judiciary, while strengthening the
President, the de facto Speaker of the power of the state governments.10
House is now the President of the 13. Governor Bill Walker – the governor of
United States of America. President Alaska, the northern safe haven.
Gabbard must now begin the process of Formerly a Republican, Walker struck
rebuilding the country, dealing with out on his own in 2013 when he ran for
rebellious governors, wide-spread governor on a fusion ticket with the
anarchy, riotous citizens, an energy crisis, Democratic candidate who now serves
foreign actors and the most dangerous as his lieutenant. Following the outbreak,
threat of all: the other delegates. She has Walker was able to establish a quarantine
the power to fill the vacant positions in zone in the northern state. Although the
the government: she can appoint new Alaska safe-zone is not as powerful as its
Supreme Court Justices, a new Secretary Texan counterpart, it is still a force to be
of Defense, and a new Vice President. reckoned with. Accordingly, Governor
She also can unilaterally create executive Walker has control over key oil and
agreements with foreign states and natural gas fields, and directs 2,000 state
actors. Moreover, she is in command of troopers.11
the Secret Service and its 1,000 federal
agents.
12. Governor Greg Abbott - the leader of the
Lone Star state. He is one of the few
state leaders who were able to maintain
order during the pandemic. In the
process, however, he has also established
a powerful semi-autonomous nation-
state from the Rio Grande to Oklahoma.
Thus, Governor Abbott has control over
key oil and natural gas fields, has a large
base of support, and has 6,000 state http://www.gmaptool.eu/sites/default/files/os
troopers. Furthermore, he is highly m/usa-regions.png
conservative and a strong supporter of
state’s rights. Prior to the pandemic, he
10 Brandi Grissom. “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls for
proposed holding a Constitutional
Convention of States to take back states’ rights.” Dallas
Convention in order to weaken the News. Web. Jan 2016. http://www.dallasnews.com/news/
politics/2016/01/08/gov-greg-abbott-calls-for-constitutional-
convention-to-take-back-states-rights.
https://elizabethwarren.com/iss ues/leveling-the-playing- 11 “Bill Walker (Alaska).” Ballotpedia. Web. 30 Dec 2017.
field. https://ballotpedia.org/Bill_Walker_(Alaska).
Post-Apocalyptic America
DartMUN XIII
Overview depopulated. Therefore, they are easy targets
for any ambitious council member to “liberate”
On December 3, 2018, a man walked into an and establish their own kingdoms in.
ICU with respiratory issues. Within twelve
hours he was dead. By the following month, 1.8 The council members should also be aware of
billion were dead. In the face of the greatest the geo-political situation outside of the United
calamity the world had ever known, President States. Currently, the United Kingdom,
Donald Trump declared a national emergency Switzerland, Finland, Italy, France, Germany
before he too succumbed to the virus. As a and Ireland have maintained control of their
result, the federal government of the United respective states, banding together in this
States of America was reorganized as per troubling time. Moreover, Vladimir Putin has
Executive Order 51. In effect, the federal stabilized the Russian Federation and
government was transformed into an executive established a new Warsaw Pact with Russia at
council. This executive council includes: the its head. Poland, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and
surviving members of Congress, the surviving Mongolia all have joined this resurgent
members of the late President’s Cabinet, the coalition. Furthermore, the People’s Republic
remaining leaders of the American military, and of China currently has control over the western
the most powerful regional leaders. Currently, plains and Manchuria, as the eastern coast was
the council is located in an underground facility decimated by the pandemic.
in Colorado. From its bunker, the council
commands forces across the country, ready to Portfolio Powers
restore the nation.
Each of the council members will have
As of April 6, 2020, the council has control portfolio powers that they can execute
over Alaska, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, independently of the council’s joint directives
Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and communiqués.
Hawaii, Texas and Oklahoma. In particular,
Governor Walker has direct control over At the start of the first council meeting:
Alaska; Governor Abbott has direct control
over Texas and Oklahoma; and General Mark • Director of the Central Intelligence
A. Milley has direct control over Wyoming. The Agency Mike Pompeo can spy on or
council jointly leads the rest of the assassinate other delegates, factions and
aforementioned liberated states. nation-states.
The Pacific Zone has been taken over by a local
• Chief of Staff of the Air Force David L.
warlord, known by his followers as King
Goldfein can deploy units to combat
Richard. He currently commands an army of
enemy forces and capture territory.
3,000 militiamen, three M1 Abrams tanks and a
dozen SAMs. By contrast, the situation in the
• Commandant of the Marine Corps
Midwest is far more chaotic. A state of
Robert B. Neller can deploy units to
complete anarchy has erupted in this region of
combat enemy forces and capture
the United States. Lastly, the South Atlantic and
territory.
Northeast Regions have been heavily
Description:part of a crisis committee, we are confident of the high-caliber decision making years and he looks forward to this year's futuristic crisis simulation!
