MOAS Description

The Model OAS General Assembly (MOAS) is a simulation exercise of the proceedings of the OAS Permanent Council and of the annual regular sessions of the General Assembly of the OAS.  During the MOAS students engage in general debate, lobbying, caucusing and negotiation, and participate in working groups.

Each participating high school or university (according to the type of MOAS) represents one of the OAS Member States.  Countries are assigned by the MOAS Program Coordination. Each delegation consists of ten (10) delegates and one faculty advisor. Students discuss current Hemispheric issues during committee meetings, and throughout the Model, they advocate their assigned countries’ policies and interests.  All meetings are held in strict accordance to the MOAS Rules of Procedure.  Delegates must have a working knowledge of the OAS functions and its basic documents, as well as a thorough knowledge of the MOAS rules, which must be observed throughout the sessions. Students draft resolution proposals following the Instructions for Drafting Resolutions, lobby for their support from other participating delegations, and once they have obtained that support, defend those proposals during debate in their Committees. 

Many universities from the United States that participate in the Washington MOAS (WMOAS) have programs and/or courses about the Model OAS.  A few of the study plans (syllabi) from these universities can be found on the WMOAS webpage under “Sample Class Syllabi for MOAS”.  The faculty advisors of the delegations that plan to participate in future MOAS may use these plans as a guide to prepare their students, provided that they take into consideration intellectual property rights.

OBSERVERS
Delegations representing a Permanent Observer to the OAS may have up to three delegates (one of them must be a faculty member).  Participation as a MOAS Observer generally benefits those institutions that attend the MOAS for the first time or plan to attend in the future. A reduced participation fee will be applied.

PARTICIPATION FEE
The participation fee is non-refundable.  All delegations must pay the participation fee.

MOAS LOCATION

  • FOR HIGH SCHOOLS:  The Model OAS General Assembly for high schools is held at the OAS headquarters on 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.  Any OAS Member State may request to host National MOAS for high school.

  • FOR UNIVERSITIES:  Model OAS General Assemblies for universities are held in any OAS Member State that offers to host it, and they can be organized at national, regional or international levels.  The Washington MOAS (WMOAS) is held annually in Washington, D.C., in early April.