Rules of Procedure.

1. Policy Statements
2. Opening of committees
3. Motions
4. Introduction of resolutions
5. Amendments
6. Voting
7. General Assembly

Policy Statements

Debate will open with policy statements from the Head Delegate of each state represented.  Head delegates, in alphabetical order, will make a two minute speech to the General Assembly, giving a brief overview of their stance on the issues for debate.

Committees

During formal debate, delegates have the opportunity to share their views with the entire committee, while the rules of procedure are being observed. In formal debate, delegates make speeches, answer questions, introduce and debate resolutions and amendments.

During the formal debate the speakers list is composed according to the delegate’s request.  This should be done either orally at the beginning of the session or in a written note to the chair during the session. Time for speeches is up to 3 minutes. Formal debate is usually used to express general ideas about the topic of discussion. Questions can be asked if the speaker leaves time for this and expresses such a wish. (I yield to the floor for questions).

Motions

Un-Moderated Caucus
A delegate may motion for caucus time, which is a temporary recess. Rules of procedure are suspended during caucusing. During this time delegates can meet informally with each other and the committee staff to discuss draft resolutions, amendments and other issues.

Moderated Caucus
In order to move into a moderated caucus a delegate must make a motion, which the committee will vote upon. A moderated caucus is a mixture of both formal and informal debate. This form facilitates debate, especially when there is a long speakers list. In this format the rules of procedure are also suspended. When a motion for a moderated caucus is passed, the Chair calls upon delegates as they raise their placards to address the committee for a predetermined amount of time. Speech time is up to 2 minutes. Questions can be asked after rising placards and receiving approval of the chair.

Point of Order  When a delegate thinks that the rules of the assembly are being violated, he/she can make a Point of Order, calling upon the chair for a ruling and an enforcement of the rules.  The chair rules whether “the point of order is well taken” or “is not well taken.”  Points of Order can include: to move to moderated/un-moderated caucus, to suspend a meeting, to close the debate on current topic and move to another one, bringing a resolution to a floor for debate.

Point of Information  When the floor is open, a delegate may move for a point of information, in order to ask the chairperson a question regarding the rules of procedure.   A Point of Information may be directed to a delegate who has the floor if he/she has indicated that they are willing to yield to points of information.  A Point of Information must always be put in the form of a question. (Would the honourable delegate agree that…?)

Point of Personal Privilege  A delegate may raise a point of personal privilege in order to inform the chairperson of a physical discomfort (s)he is experiencing, such as inability to hear another delegate's speech.

Point of Parliamentary Enquiry  A Parliamentary Enquiry is a question directed to the Chair to obtain information on a matter of procedure bearing on the business at hand.  It is the duty of the chair to answer such questions when it may assist a member to make an appropriate motion, raise a proper point of order, or understand the parliamentary situation or the effect of a motion

Formalities

The chairperson should be addressed only as “Mister Chairman” or “Madam Chairperson”.   Delegates should not use ‘you’ but should refer to the chairperson in the third person as “the chair”.  Where the person has a title of office, such as Secretary General, this may be used as an address: “Mister (or Madam) Secretary General”.  Members address only the chair, or address each other through the chair.  A delegate does not speak without first having obtained the floor.

The floor may be yielded by one delegate to another only once consecutively.  Where delegations consist of more than one member, delegates from the same delegation may not yield the floor to each other.

Making Speeches
Although speechmaking is very important to the MUN simulation, many delegates biggest fear is public speaking. It is essential that delegates come to the conference well prepared: meaning that they have completed prior research, know their country's position, and even have objectives for a resolution. A good speech should:

Open with: "Thank you Mr /Madam; Honourable Chair/President etc."

During a speech you should address the committee with “Honourable delegates”, “Honourable delegate of the USA”.

A guide to speech-making in MUN simulations is available here

 

Resolutions

Actions of the United Nations are expressed in resolutions submitted in draft form under the sponsorship of one or more delegations. Resolutions may simply register an opinion, or may recommend action to be taken by a U.N. organ or related agency. Only the Security Council may take decisions which bind Member States to a certain course of action.

United Nations resolutions follow a common format. Each resolution has three parts: the heading, the preamble and the operative clauses. It is one long sentence with commas and semicolons throughout the resolution and with a period at the very end. The first word in each clause should be underlined, and each clause in the preamble should end with a comma. All operative clauses end with a semicolon except the final clause, which ends with a period.

 

Submitting Resolutions.

Delegates may bring a resolution to debate while the committee is in session and with the permission of the chair providing that it has been co-signed.

Sponsors of a resolution are those countries that have been the principal authors of the document and agree with its substance.
Signatories are countries that may or may not agree with the substance of the resolution, but would like to see it debated on the floor.

The submitter will read out the operative clauses of the resolution and will usually be the first to speak in favour of it.

Heading
Committee: The committee or body in which the resolution is introduced.
Topic: The topic of the resolution.
Sponsored by: List of sponsoring countries.

Preamble
The purpose of the preamble is to show that there is a problem that needs to be solved. The preamble of a resolution does everything but propose action or make any substantive statement in the topic at hand. The pre-ambulatory clauses can include:

Operative Clauses
Operative clauses are set out to achieve the country's main policy goals on the topic. Each operative clause begins with a number, ends with a semicolon and the final clause ends with a period. Operative clauses should be organized in a logical progression, and each clause should contain a single idea or policy proposal. Keep in mind that all resolutions except the Security Council are non-binding.
 

 Amendments

During the course of negotiation and cooperation, draft resolutions will alter through amendments. The guidelines for these amendments are less strict since many arise during the course of the activity itself: however, the style, wording and intent of the amendment should complement the original draft resolution   If the amendment is adopted the motion remains pending in its modified form.  If the amendment is lost the motion remains pending in its original form.  The forms of amendment are:

• To insert or, to add.

• To insert words (or to add words if at the end.)

• To insert a clause (or to add a clause if at the end.)

• To strike out.

• To strike out words.

• To strike out a clause.

• To strike out and insert or, to substitute.

• To strike out and insert (which applies to words).

• To substitute; that is to strike out a clause and insert another.

An amendment to a resolution is a primary amendment.  An amendment to an amendment is a secondary amendment.  Secondary amendments must be disposed of before the primary amendment is dealt with.

Voting Procedures

The committee will enter voting procedures once debating time has elapsed or a majority of delegates request such an action.  Resolutions which are passed will then be debated in the General Assembly.  Delegates can either vote for, against, or abstain from a resolution.  P5 countries in the Security Council have the right of veto.

General Assembly

The plenary session will begin with the statements of the ICJ (including dissenting opinions) which are not liable to further debate.  The Security Council resolutions will also follow this course.  Final debate will then take place on the resolutions passed by the Political and Disarmament committees.  Procedure will be similar to that already followed in committees.

† may not interrupt a speech