Model United Nations - Parliamentary Procedures

The opening speech
This is the time when each delegation has the opportunity to provide a brief introduction and address what they feel should be the primary concern of the caucus; this might be a referral to a specific or interrelated issue. Bear in mind that it should be a more informal presentation of the country and the particular individuals that are representing its position, a sort of greeting to the house and presentation of their hopes for the upcoming meetings.

Rights of reply
Following the presentation of the speech, the specific delegate at the floor will be questioned by the Chair if he/she is “open for points of information,” note that though one is given the option, the Chair will push on for replies even if the answer is “no.” These points are addressed in the form of a question, though not purely rhetorical, and the Chair will call upon a delegation with raised placard and grant them the right to speak. A point of information may be supportive of the speaker or may question the validity of the speaker’s points.

Lobbying (unmoderated caucus)
This is an informal activity that involves merging resolutions, debating positions and discussing possible amendments, – the perfect opportunity to share ideas with “allied delegations” and discuss solutions with clashing countries. Lobbying brings into play several major forms of diplomacy for the purpose of communicating and coordinating policies on particular issues with the parties involved. Interest groups should develop resolutions in which they reveal common policies with that of other delegations, which will benefit them once they have the support of other nations.

Consensus and Merging
Resolutions are not documents written in isolation, nor are they the personal property of the original author. They are simply a basis for discussion. They must be drafted and “tested” through discussion with other delegates and teachers prior to the conference, and with allies during the lobbying process. The main aim should be to formulate a resolution which both sustains your delegation’s position and attracts the support of others. A delegate should never disregard this country’s position in the process of negotiation, but neither should he be uncompromising if the end-result is mutually beneficial to the negotiating parties. (Exerted from the THIMUN Handbook) For SALMUN this year, merging resolutions will be highly more important than in the past due to the expanded number of delegates and country delegations represented. Time will be given before each discussion for delegations to argue and merge entire resolutions as well as simple clauses. With this, we hope for an improvement in quality of resolutions and hope delegates will be encouraged to work harder to build a consensus.

Debating
In general terms, speaking in formal debate falls into two main areas: the delegate either has the floor to speak on the main motion (as in against or in favor of a resolution) or on a proposed amendment, or he/she is rising to a point of information by asking a question to the speaker, then delegate that has the floor. One must know how and when to obtain the floor, when and how to ask questions, and how, when and to whom to yield the floor. Generally the floor is yielded back to the Chair, but during a moderated caucus session, a delegate might wish to yield their remaining time at the floor to another delegation, if the latter agrees to this arrangement.

During ordinary session a delegate can motion the chair for a short break in debating in order to informally discuss a topic, otherwise known as caucusing. The delegate specifies which type of caucus he is petitioning for, either a moderated or an unmoderated caucus. A moderated caucus can be a very good way to break from the more formal debate and form a new short speaker’s list to discuss a specific issue (like an amendment or a controversial part of the resolution). In a moderated caucus delegates don’t get the floor for unlimited time, nor do they get to entertain points of information. Instead, it is a way to form a short speaker’s list for a limited time period so that several delegates can voice their opinion about a subject and hopefully quickly move to consensus or move to a vote afterwards. In a moderated caucus, the chair (if she grants the motion) sets up the speaker list and limits time. She usually asks the inquiring delegate if she would like to be the first to speak. This is a good way to get a chance to talk if the normal speaker’s list is long and the delegate will not have a chance to talk for some time (a strategic reason to call for a short moderated caucus). Delegates stay seated and the chair calls on them to speak one at a time for a set number of minutes (at the discretion of the chair). This helps all delegates who want to participate and speak out during the moderated caucus get their points across to the whole assembly, and is a great opportunity if the delegate wishes to make an important point(s) that she thinks will affect the opinion of the other delegates on the topic.

An unmoderated caucus is called for when a delegate feels that there is some issue that likely won’t get solved under the strict format of formal debate and parliamentary procedure and this issue might be keeping a consensus from being reached. In this case, a motion for an unmoderated caucus can be quite effective, because then delegates are able to converse and debate freely, lobby allies and opponents, work out differences, re-word an amendment, etc. In the case of an unmoderated caucus, a delegate motions for an unmoderated caucus and, after approval from the chair, delegates can get up and talk freely amongst themselves (about issues relevant to the topic) sharing ideas how to resolve the issue in a slightly more informal setting, writing amendments or draft resolutions, and seeking support from nations to achieve the delegates goals in representing his or her country. The unmoderated caucus is sometimes abused by delegates who want a break from meetings. Because of this, the chair will not allow delegates to leave the meeting room during an unmoderated caucus.

Warning Guidelines
Warnings are given to those delegates that do not conduct themselves properly during the event. A warning is up to the discretion of the chair (whether that be a caucus leader or the Secretary-General). Warnings are given as needed in order to keep control of the caucus and ensure delegates are cooperating and following the rules of procedure. Warnings will not only potentially hinder the delegate’s performance during the session, but it will also be reflected negatively in their academic evaluation by the faculty evaluator.
The warning process consists of three main steps. An initial warning is given to a delegate for his first misbehavior. If he or she commits another one, the caucus leader or Secretary General may apply a second warning with a harsher intonation and threats of expulsion if misconduct continues. If the behavior persists, the delegate will be given a third and final warning, which will consequently result in their expulsion from the caucus or General Assembly for the rest of that session

-All speeches should Begin: “Mr. (or Madam) Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the house...”
-All references to other speakers should be in third person, e.g. point of information should begin with a phrase such as: “Is the speaker aware that...” and never: “Do you think...”
-Never refer to yourself in first person, remember, you are representing a delegation.

Will the house please come to order?
The chair calls upon delegate X (the submitter) to read the resolution to the house.
Are there any seconds?
The chair will fix a debate time of 10 minutes for, and 10 minutes against the amendment/resolution.
Delegate X, you have the floor
All points are out of order until the speaker has concluded his speech.
Please rise and state your point (of order/ information)
Will the delegate please state his/her point in the form of a question?
The speaker appears not to have heard/ understood your question.
Will the delegate please repeat/ rephrase his/her question?
Are there any further points of information to the speaker?
Will the speaker please make his concluding remarks?
Debate time for/against the resolution/the amendment has been exhausted. Will the speaker please yield the floor back to the chair?
Debate time has expired.
The chair purposes an extension of debate time by 5 minutes for, and 5 minutes against the motion.
The debate is now closed. We will move into voting procedures.
All points are out of order.
The motion will now be put to the vote.
Will all those in favor of the resolution/ amendment please raise the placards
Will all those opposed to the resolution/ amendment please raise their placards
Are there any abstentions?
Will all those abstaining please raise their placards?
The motion/ resolution/ amendment has passed by...
The motion/resolution/ amendment did not pass by: X votes in favor, Y votes against, and Z abstentions.

During General Assembly, the speaking list will be available to everyone via overhead projector. Specific software will be used to control speaker order and allotted time. The Speaker’s List will be used primarily during moderated caucus to preserve the flow. There will be a time limit for remarks pre-established by the Secretary General, any modifications to that time limit can be suggested by a “motion to extend speaking time” or a “motion to move to close debate and move to voting procedures.” The final decision will be left to the Secretary General’s discretion. The Secretary General will also determine the number of countries on the speaking list and when the Speaker’s List will be closed, as well as whether or not to suspend the speaker’s list at any point during debate. To add your country to the Speaker’s List, the delegate shall calmly raise his/her placard, and the person in charge of the Speaker’s List will add the country. There will be no need for verbal recognition during this process. The Secretary General will signal when countries should raise their placards for the speakers list.

Order of Debate
(Adapted from BRAMUN Handbook)
The order of debate inside the committee forums is probably the most confusing part for MUN newcomers. It is suggested that delegates pay close attention for the first few minutes, as they will quickly grasp the process.

CHAIR: ‘We will now discuss the resolution on the question of (subject), submitted by (name of delegation). The Chair would like to call upon the main submitter of the resolution to read out the operative clauses.
(Name of delegation), the floor is yours.’

CHAIR: ‘The House has heard the resolution. Is there a second?’
DELEGATE: ‘Second’

CHAIR: ‘Thank you, (Delegate of/name of country). The Chair sets a debate time of 20 minutes of debate in favor of the resolution. All delegates have a right to request the floor at any point in time during the debate. (Name of delegation), you have the floor.’
DELEGATE: ‘(begins with) Mr. /Madam Chairman, Honorable Delegates…’

CHAIR: ‘Thank you very much. Is the speaker open to points of information?’
DELEGATE: ‘The speaker is open to points of information’
CHAIR: ‘The Chair sets a limit of three points of information for the speaker. Are there any points in the House? (Name of country), you have been recognized.
or
CHAIR: ‘Thank you. Is the speaker open to points of information?’
DELEGATE: ‘The speaker is not open to points of information’
CHAIR: ‘Will the delegate please yield the floor back to the Chair?”
DELEGATE: ‘The delegate of (country name) yields the floor back to the Chair’
or
CHAIR: ‘Thank you. Is the speaker open to points of information?’
DELEGATE: ‘The speaker is not open to points of information, but instead wishes to yield to floor to the delegation of (country name)’
CHAIR: ‘That is/is not in order. Thank you (name of delegate); please yield the floor back to the Chair.’
DELEGATE: ‘The delegate of (country name) yields the floor back to the Chair’
CHAIR: ‘Thank you. 'Delegate of (country name) you have the floor/Does any other country wish to have the floor?’

CHAIR: ‘Debate time in favor of this resolution has expired. The House will now move into time against. The Chair sets 20 minutes of debate against this resolution. Are there any requests for the floor?’

CHAIR: ‘The Chair has received an amendment from (name of delegation). The amendment is in order. The Chair will read out the amendment twice. First, I will just read it out for you to listen. Next, I will read it out slowly, in order to allow you to write it down. Are there any seconds to this amendment? (If yes: The Chair sets a separate debate time for this amendment of 4 minutes of open debate. (Name of delegation), you have the floor.’

10. Once time has expired for the amendment the Chair will conduct voting
procedure. (The same procedure will be repeated for an amendment to an
amendment)
CHAIR: ‘Debate time on the amendment has elapsed. The Chair therefore suggests we will move into voting procedures on the amendment/amendment to the amendment. All those in favor of the amendment, please raise your placards... All those against the amendment, please raise your placards... With a vote of xx in favor and xx against, the amendment has passed/failed. We will now resume debate time on the resolution/original amendment.’

11. Once debate time for the resolution has expired – or there has been a motion to
move directly to voting procedures that has been seconded without any objections
– the Chair will call and conduct voting procedures.
CHAIR: ‘Debate time on the resolution has elapsed. The Chair therefore suggests we will move into voting procedures on the resolution. All those in favor of the resolution, please raise your placards... All those against the resolution, please raise your placards... All those who wish to abstain from voting, please raise your placards... With a vote of xx in favor, xx against and xx abstentions, this resolution has passed/failed.’

“The Delegation of: …………………… WANTS TO or MAKE…	Why?	How? When?	Appeal Against Decision?	Needs a Second?	Debate	Vote
Amendments	The resolution needs to be amended so that it solves the problem the best way possible.	Send the amendment while the resolution is being discussed to the chair.	Approval of director	No	Debate	Simple majority
Amend the Agenda	The delegate feels that resolutions should be discussed in a different order.	When the agenda is presented by the Secretary General to the General Assembly, the delegate must send an amendment with the new order.	Yes	No	Yes	Simple Majority

“IS A FOLLOW-UP IN ORDER?”	Why?	How? When?	Appeal Against Decision?	Needs a Second?	Debate	Vote
Follow-Up	The delegate wishes to present another question to the speaker, as a consequence of the speaker’s last remark.	Shortly after making a point of information, if the delegate wishes, he has the right to ask the CHAIR for a follow up.	No	No	None	Caucus leader decision.

*Lobbying time should be used for the sole purpose of informal gatherings, directly related to MUN. For example, in order to formulate a new strategy, or get people on board for a specific vote.

“The Delegation of: …………………. MAKES A MOTION TO…	Why?	How? When?	Appeal Against Decision?	Needs a Second?	Debate		Vote
Recess…	The delegates think a break would be wise.	Raise placard and wait to be called upon.	Not open to appeal	Yes	None		Caucus leader decision and then simple majority.
*Lobbying time	The delegate feels that has lost important allies or wants to rearrange alliances.	Raise placard, and wait to be called upon.	Not open to appeal	Yes	None		Simple majority
Adopt Without a Vote	The resolution or amendment is obviously needed or calls for an unquestionable action.	Raise placard, before voting procedures have started.	Open to appeal	Yes	0 pro / 2 con	Unanimous decision (If there is a single “NO” shouted when asked, the procedure is discarded)
Postponement of Debate (Table the resolution)	The resolution has taken much of the session’s time or is not a priority.	Raise Placard, and wait to be called upon.	Open to appeal	Yes	1 pro / 1 con		2/3 Majority
Review Competence	The resolution does not belong to the General Assembly or calls for actions not under the competence of the General Assembly.	Raise Placard, immediately following the introduction of a resolution	Open to appeal	Yes	1 pro / 1 con		Simple majority
Division of the House	The amendment or resolution has been voted upon and the number of abstentions can change the outcome of the voting.	After voting procedures have been completed, raise placard and wait to be called upon.	Yes	Yes	None		Simple majority
Extend speaking time	The delegate believes that the speaking time during moderated caucus in the General Assembly should be extended regarding the Speaker’s List.	Raise placard before or after a speaker takes the podium.	Not open to appeal	Yes	None		Chair’s decision
Move to Moderated Caucus	The delegate believes that debate will be enhanced if we could abandon the traditional speaker’s list and quickly move through several opinions on a specific issue (amendment, etc.)	Raise placard, and request the motion. The delegate will be required to propose the duration of the Moderated Caucus, although this is ultimately the discretion of the chair.	Not open to appeal.	Yes	No		Chair’s decision
Move to Un-Moderated Caucus	The delegate believes that he/she could rework the wording to an amendment or a resolution or come to a consensus if they could have a little time for discussion free of the confines of formal debate and parliamentary procedure.	Raise placard, and request the motion. The delegate will be required to propose the duration of the Un-moderated Caucus, although this is ultimately the discretion of the chair.	Not open to appeal.	Yes	No		Chair’s Decision

POINT…	WHY?	HOW? WHEN?	APPEAL AGAINST DECISION?	NEEDS A SECOND?	DEBATE	VOTE
Of Personal Privilege	The delegate cannot hear what is being said.	Allowed to interrupt a speaker	Can hardly ever be ruled out of order	No	None	Decision of the chair
Of Information to the speaker	This is how you debate in MUN. You ask questions to the speaker in relation to their speech.	Raise placard and wait to be called upon.	N/A	No	None	No
Of Parliamentary Procedure	The Delegate does not know how to behave during a given situation and needs to ask the caucus leader, once asked to approach the chair.	Raise placard, and wait to be called upon.	Can hardly ever be ruled out of order	No	None	Decision of the chair

Abstention: Delegates may choose to abstain, which counts neither for nor against the resolution in question.

Caucus: the committee you are participating in (Asian Caucus, Middle Eastern Caucus…)

Chair: The Chair is the person who controls debate and keeps order whilst remaining impartial and allocating equal opportunities for countries to voice their opinion.

Co-signer: The delegations that sign a fellow delegate’s resolution to show their support of the proposed action to remedy the issue.

Delegate: A student ambassador representing a country’s beliefs and political, social, economic and cultural ideologies.

Explanation of the Vote: After voting, delegates may be allowed (one for, one against and one abstention) to explain the reasoning behind their voting.

Formal Debate: The opportunity for delegates to share their opinions in front of the entire committee.

Moderated Caucus: A moderated caucus is a mixture of both formal and informal debate. Anyone may speak if they raise their placard and are called on by the Chair. To go to a moderated caucus, a delegate makes a motion to suspend debate and the committee votes.

Motions: The mean of communication between the Chair and delegates who do not have the floor. Motions should never interrupt a delegate whom has the floor, unless it is a Point of Personal Privilege.

Motion to Move into Time ‘Against’ a Resolution or Amendment: If a delegate feels that there is nothing more to say concerning the question at hand, they may call for this motion. If the motion is seconded and there are no objections, the motion is granted.
Motion to Move into Voting Procedure: This motion is used to move directly into voting procedures. If there are no objections and the motion is seconded then the motion will be granted.

Motion to Table Resolution: The motion to lay a resolution on the table is not debatable, and when carried, moves a resolution to the bottom of the agenda and will, thus, be considered last. This is usually done when one delegation wishes to debate their resolution which concerns the same issue that is currently being debated. A two-thirds majority is needed to take matters from the table although tabling itself only needs a simple majority.

Opening Speech: A requirement for each delegation represented in a committee and introduces them to their peers. It should state the country’s main concerns surrounding the topics to be debated and their ultimate goals and hopes.

Operative Clause: Numbered clauses in the second part of a resolution which state specific action to be taken to resolve the issue.

Parliamentary Procedure: The specific rules that govern the usage of language, right to address the committee and maintain order.

Point of Information: These are questions that members of the house may ask the speaker, after he has concluded his speech and opened himself to Points of Information. They must be phrased in the form of a question and are generally used for clarification and to elicit more information from the speaker. They may, however, be rhetorical in which case they would be used to either disconcert the speaker or express an opposing opinion when the floor is taken.

Point of Order: This motion is used when the delegate does not agree with a decision made regarding parliamentary procedure. To make this point, you must wait for the delegate that has the floor to yield the floor back to the Chair. The chair will determine if the point is in order.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: This is used to discuss time and other parliamentary procedure issues.

Point of Personal Privilege: This motion is used to express discomfort during the debate, such as if you cannot hear the speaker. This is the only point or motion that can interrupt a speaker.

Position Paper: A general statement of a country’s position on a specific issue. It should contain a summary of recent action and illustrate the topic’s relation to the delegate’s nation.

Preambulatory Phrase: Clauses that form the first part of a resolution, introduce the issue, provide background information and explain its global significance.

Quorum: One half of the members in the committee plus one (51%). A quorum must be present at all times during the sessions.

Reconsideration: After all issues have been address by having a resolution adopted for each one defeated resolutions may be reconsidered. This requires two thirds of the house to vote in favor.

Resolution: A document that proposes a feasible solution to a problem presented to the committee.

Unmoderated Caucus: In an unmoderated caucus, delegates meet informally with one another and the committee staff to discuss and negotiate draft resolutions, amendments and other issues. Unlike a moderated caucus, an unmoderated caucus allows delegates to move from their seats.

Yield the floor: To pass on one’s right to speak to another delegation, if that is in order, or back to the chair.