MODEL UNITED

NATIONS
RULES OF PROCEDURE
 TWO MAIN MODES

FORMAL DEBATE INFORMAL DEBATE

 COMMITTEE IN SESSION  SUSPENSION OF
COMMITTEE SESSION
 USE OF THE SPEAKERS LIST
 CAUCUSING
 DELEGATES MUST BE QUIET
AND RESPECTFUL TO  BREAKING INTO SMALLER
SPEAKER GROUPS
1. DISCUSSION OF IDEAS
2. QUESTIONING SPEAKERS
 PURPOSE IS STATING  PURPOSE IS: 3. DIPLOMATIC
NEGOTIATION
OPINIONS 4. DEVELOPING SUPPORT
AND CONSENSUS
5. DEVELOPING
COMPROMISES
 SPEAKERS’ LISTS
 SPEAKERS’ LIST IS MAIN FORUM OF DEBATE IN FORMAL
SESSION
 NEW LIST OPENED AT BEGINNING OF DISCUSSION ON EACH
TOPIC
 ALL DELEGATES ELIGIBLE TO SPEAK

 NATION CAN SPEAK AS OFTEN AS IT WISHES (MUST WAIT UNTIL IT HAS

SPOKEN BEFORE PLACING ITS NAME BACK ON THE SPEAKERS’ LIST)

 CAN SPEAK FOR AS LONG AS DELEGATE WISHES UNLESS TIME

LIMITS HAVE BEEN VOTED BY THE COMMITTEE (NO YIELDING OF
EXCESS TIME TO ANOTHER DELEGATION – NO QUESTIONING OF SPEAKER)

 GOAL IS TO PERMIT ALL VOICES TO BE HEARD!!

Chart of Basic Model U.N.
Procedural Rules
(Points and Motions)
 ROLL CALL
At the beginning of each session, the rapporteur, who’s a chair
assistant, will start the roll call, in order to identify the States which are
present and the ones who are not.

There are two possible and appropriate responses when your State is
called: “PRESENT” and “PRESENT AND VOTING”. Delegates who
identify their status as “PRESENT AND VOTING” are not permitted to
abstain on any substantive vote while the committee is in session.
Instead, the delegates must vote strictly in favor or in opposition to
any motion before the committee.

For those delegates who may arrive while the roll is being taken, and
whose attendance is not recorded, they may can send a note forward
to the dais to let the chair board know of their arrival and voting status.
 Motion to Set Speakers’ Time
This is a motion to set or change the speaker's time. It is a procedural
motion, which requires two (2) delegates speaking in favor of the amount of
time motioned for, and two (2) delegates speaking against it.

The exact words to move this motion are: “ Honorable Chair, the
delegation from Utopia moves to set a limit on the speakers time of one
minute”

To pass, the vote requires: Simple Majority

 Motion to Open and Close the speakers’ list
At some Model U.N. conferences, once the speakers list is closed it is closed for
the remainder of the session or topic. However, at most Model U.N.
conferences the speakers list can be opened and closed multiple times. Once
the speakers list is exhausted, it means no one else wishes to speak, debate is
over, and the committee then moves into voting procedure. This motion
requires an immediate vote.

In large committees, the dais might only recognize the first 20 or so placards
raised due to time constraints. Also, be aware that no State can be placed
twice upon the speakers list concurrently: once a delegate has completed
allotted speaking time and has been removed from the current list, he/she may
then immediately submit a request to the dais to be placed again upon the list.

The exact words to move these motions are: “ Honorable Chair, Utopia moves
to open/close the speakers’ list”

To pass, the vote requires: Simple Majority with no debate

Motion to Suspend Meeting

This motion is made to suspend the meeting for the purpose of a

regular caucus or a moderated caucus, but its use also depends upon
the conference you are attending. When moving to suspend the
meeting, the delegate should specify a certain amount of time and the
purpose. This motion requires an immediate vote.

The exact words are: “Honorable Chair, Utopia would like to move to
suspend the meeting for a period of ten minutes for the purpose of a
caucus session to informally discuss…”

To pass, the vote requires: Simple Majority and no debate is required

Motion to Adjourn Meeting

This motion is made to end the committee session until the next
session, which at times is until next year. This motion is most
commonly made to end committee session for the purpose of
lunch or dinner. This motion requires an immediate vote.

To pass, the vote requires: Simple Majority

Motion to Adjourn Debate
This motion must not be confused with the motion to adjourn the
meeting. Motion to adjourn debate is a tactic to put all of the work
that the committee has completed on the topic in which they are
discussing on hold and to table it. At some Model U.N. conferences you
could table the topic by adjourning debate, move on to another topic
and then return to the first topic at later time. However, at most
Model U.N. conferences, once you adjourn debate on a topic, the topic
is considered tabled and cannot be discussed any more. This motion
requires two (2) delegates speaking for the adjournment of debate and
two (2) delegates speaking against the adjournment of debate.

The exact words are: “Honorable Chair, Utopia moves for

adjournment of debate”

To pass, the vote requires: 2/3 Majority and debate required

Motion to Close Debate
This motion is made in order for the committee to move into
voting procedure. Once a delegate feels as if they have made
their country's position clear, there are enough draft resolutions
on the floor, and everyone is ready, a delegate makes a motion to
move into voting procedure by moving for the closure of
debate. This motion requires only two (2) delegates speaking
against the closure of debate and zero (0) delegates for the
closure of debate.
The exact words are: “Honorable Chair, Utopia moves for
closure of debate”.

To pass, the vote requires: 2/3 Majority

Point of Order
During the discussion of any matter, a representative may rise to
a point of order, and the chairperson in accordance with the
rules of procedure shall immediately decide the point of order. A
delegate may appeal against the ruling of the chairperson
(noted below). The appeal shall be put to a vote, and the
chairperson’s ruling shall stand unless overruled by a two-thirds
majority of the members present and voting. A delegate rising
to a point of order may not speak on the substance of the
matter under discussion, but only in regard of the misbehavior
of another delegate.
There are no exact words to move this motion, as it depends on
the problem you want to underline
Point of Inquiry

When the floor is open, a delegate may move for a point of

inquiry, in order to ask the chairperson a question regarding the
rules of procedure.
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 delegates speech.
Point of Information

After a delegate has given a speech in formal debate, s/he may

choose to yield his or her time to a point of information, a
question another delegate raises concerning the speech.
Appeal to the Chair’s Decision

This motion is made when a delegate feels as if the chairperson

has made an incorrect decision. The delegate wishes to
challenge the chairperson and does so by formally making a
motion to appeal the chairperson's decision. This motion may be
made verbally or in writing. The opposing delegate speaks and
the chairperson defends his or herself before the vote.
 Motion Purpose Debate Vote
Point of order Correct an error in procedure None None
Appeal of the Chair Challenge a decision None Majority
Suspension of the Meeting Recess Meeting None Majority

Adjournment of the Meeting End Meeting None Majority

Adjournment of the Debate End debate without a substantive vote 2 pro/ 2 con Majority

Decision of competence Declare committee unable to consider issue or None Majority

resolution
Closure of debate Move to immediate vote 2 con 2/3rds

Declare an important question Require all substantive actions to obtain a 2/3 2 pro/ 2 con Majority
(GA Plenary only) majority to pass
Amendments and 1st vote on Vote on sections separately, prior to voting in 2 pro/ 2 con Majority
division of the question the entire resolution

Roll call vote Vote by roll call, rather than show of placards None none

Reconsideration Re-open debate on an issue 2 con 2/3rds

Set the speakers’ time Set or change the speakers’ time limit 2 pro/ 2 con Majority

Close speakers’ list No additional speakers added to speakers’ list None Majority
on topic
Adoption of the agenda Approval of the agenda order None Majority
Tactics and Strategies for
Model UN
At-Conference Partecipation
 Start caucusing early

Introduce yourself to others when you arrive at the conference

site, and especially in the time before the meeting is called to
order
 When giving a formal speech, make good use of the time

Time for speech may be short, and you need to be prepared

Base your speech on the current circumstances
Don't read your speech!
 Caucusing is where all the work gets done, and it should be
done early and often

Behind the scenes versus "formal" caucusing

After hours caucusing and personal contacts

 A view of formal caucusing - concentric circles

Stick with the leaders (center of the caucus)

Be active
 What is your role?

Some possible roles:

leader, facilitator, whip, wordsmith, consensus
builder, typist, follower
 The only cardinal sin at the UN - never act alone

Strength in diplomacy often comes through numbers

 Don't write a resolution that just states the problem, work
toward a solution to the problem first
If the answers are simple, why hasn't someone solved it yet?
 Whenever possible, don't condemn

If you are trying to solve a problem, condemning one party rarely helps

 Compromise, compromise, compromise

What does your nation really need to see in a solution, and what are
you willing to compromise?

 Credit others whenever possible

Nothing makes friends faster than proving that you were listening, and
giving credit to others for their ideas
Into the conference roles

 Leader: A Leader is a delegate capable of generating consensus

around certain ideas and to drive other nations delegates into a
certain position

 Facilitator: Takes the responsibility of prepare summaries and

compendiums around a certain topic to facilitate the debate and
the consensus building operations. It is a very important roles in
committees and must be undertaken with the maximum
responsibility.

 Whip: The Whip is a delegate capable of keeping other delegate

focused and with high moral; he is capable also to contain
complaints and to keep delegates togethere in the decisional
process.
 Wordsmith: A Wordsmith is the delegates who actually create the
resolution, following the suggestions and the ideas the came out
from the caucuses. He is capable of summarize and he has a very
good English skills.

 Consensus Builders: A consensus Builder is a delegate capable of

approaching and convincing other nations to endorse a certain
resolution. He has high negotiation skill and he is capable to
understand other delegate's position and request.

 The Typist: This delegate actually write the resolutions, he has to

be fast and keen in doing it. He is also capable of fast modify the
resolution and he has a deep knowledge of formal rules.
Delegate’s ABC
Attire

 Professional business attire required

 National symbols of any kind are forbidden

 Exclusively symbols associated with UN are allowed

Being a Diplomat

 In acting as professional diplomats delegates must regard the

others with utmost respect

 Ideological perspectives and personal disagreements

differing from the policy of the country the delegates are
representing are inapplicable during the course of the
simulation

 Leadership and ability to negotiate and compromise are

fundamental tools for delegates to be effective
Conclusions

 Remember: When at the conference you are a diplomat, and

the Distinguished Representative of your country - think and
act the part and others will treat you that way

 Always keep in mind: A diplomat's job (among others) is to

"make friends and influence people”

 Final advice: Suffer fools gladly!