RULES

OF
PROCEDURE

MUNLEASHING
POTENTIAL

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I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Rule 1. Official and working languages

English is mandated as the official and primary language for all

committees during formal and informal debates. This decision carries
significant advantages, such as ensuring global accessibility,
standardizing communication, promoting equity and inclusivity,
enhancing efficiency, preparing participants for real-world diplomacy,
honing global communication skills, and facilitating effective
documentation. It underscores MUN's commitment to fostering
international cooperation and diplomacy while equipping delegates
with essential skills for a connected world.

Rule 2. Decorum

Delegates are expected to diligently adhere to the instructions

provided by UNA-USA MUN staff. It is crucial to emphasize that
maintaining decorum and respectful conduct in the conference is an
inherent part of these instructions and a fundamental principle of
Model United Nations (MUN). Those who fail to comply with these
directives risk being dismissed from the conference and undermine
the spirit of diplomacy and collaboration that MUN seeks to foster.

Rule 3. Attires

Delegates and the executive board members are expected to strictly

follow the attire guidelines outlined in the conference itinerary.
Depending on the set dress code participants may be required to
dress in formal attires or opt for traditional clothing. Compliance with
these attire guidelines is not only a matter of protocol but also a sign
of participants' commitment to the seriousness and decorum of the
conference proceedings. It fosters an atmosphere of professionalism
and cultural appreciation, enhancing the overall diplomatic
experience for all attendees.

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Rule 4. Use of electronic devices

Delegates are generally allowed to use their electronic devices during

committee sessions however it's important to note that the Executive
Board (EB) has the authority to enforce restrictions if deemed
necessary. The use of electronic devices is contingent on the
regulations put forth by the conference organizers . Delegates and
participants are required to follow these guidelines, which dictate the
circumstances and manner in which laptops, tablets, smartphones, and
other electronic equipment can be employed.

Rule 5. Sessions

The conference program will encompass a minimum of 4 and a

maximum of 10 sessions, ensuring a structured and productive
schedule for Delegates.

II. SECRETARIAT

Rule 6. Statements by the Secretariat

The Secretary-General or their representative is authorized to deliver

both oral and written statements to any committee on any matter. This
allowance grants them the flexibility to engage in open dialogue and
provide comprehensive information to the committees as needed.

Rule 7. General Functions of the EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Chairperson is responsible for initiating and concluding each

meeting and has the authority to propose procedural motions unless
met with significant objection. Within the framework of these rules, the
Chairperson maintains full control over meeting proceedings,
including moderating discussios, announcing decisions, and ruling on
points or motions. They are also tasked with ensuring adherence to
these rules.

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Rule 7. General Functions of the EXECUTIVE BOARD

If necessary, the Chairperson may temporarily delegate their duties to

another committee staff member. The Chairperson wields discretionary
power over all procedural matters within the committee, and they are
empowered to take any action not explicitly outlined in the Rules of
Procedure to facilitate the smooth progression of debate during the
conference.

III. AGENDA

Rule 8. Agenda

Communicating the conference agenda in advance is crucial for

transparency, efficient time management, and conflict prevention.
Delegates can prepare effectively, allocate resources wisely, and
engage meaningfully with the topics at hand. This practice fosters
accountability, ensuring that the conference stays on track and
addresses its intended objectives while promoting a collaborative and
informed environment.

Rule 9. Adoption of the Agenda

The first order of business for the committee shall be the adoption of
the agenda. The only motion in order at this time will be in the form of,
"The nation of [country name] moves that [topic area x] be placed first
on the agenda for the time being [total duration] and per speaker time
being [per speaker time]."

Here are the revised rules:

• A provisional speakers list shall be established.

• After the provisional speaker's list is exhausted, the committee shall
move into an immediate vote, requiring a simple majority for the motion
to pass.

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• A motion to proceed to the second topic area is in order only after the
committee has adopted or rejected a resolution on the first topic area
or debate has been adjourned.
• In the event of a crisis or emergency, the Secretary-General or Deputy-
General may call upon a committee to table debate on the current topic
area so that the more urgent matter may be addressed. After a
resolution has been addressed and voted upon, the committee will
return to debate the tabled topic. If a resolution on the crisis topic fails,
the committee may return to debate the tabled topic area only at the
discretion of the Secretary-General or Deputy-General.

IV. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Rule 10. General Speakers List [GSL]

A GSL is automatically initiated and remains open throughout the
discussion of the topic unless the committee decides to transition into a
moderated or unmoderated caucus. During a GSL, each delegate has the
opportunity to express their country's stance on the topic. The speaking
time is limited to one and a half minutes per delegate. After fulfilling
this requirement, the floor opens to other motions.

Rule 11. Speeches

No delegate is permitted to address the body without prior permission

from the Chair. The Chair has the authority to intervene and call a
speaker to order if their comments are not pertinent to the ongoing
discussion. Additionally, the Chair is responsible for enforcing the time
limit as outlined in Rule 9.

Rule 12. Yielding Time

A delegate recognized by the Chair to address the body on a substantive

issue has the option to yield their time after their speech in three ways:
1) Yield to Another Delegate: The delegate can choose to give their
remaining time to another delegate.

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2. Yield to Questions: Delegates will be selected by the Chair to ask one
question per speech. The Chair reserves the right to intervene if a
question is not intended to elicit information. Answers to questions are
limited to the time remaining in the delegate's speech.
3. Yield to the Chair: If the delegate prefers not to subject their speech
to comments, they may yield to the Chair. The Chair will then proceed to
the next speaker.

Rule 14. Appeal to the Chair's Decision

An appeal is initiated when a delegate believes that the Chair has issued
an incorrect ruling. To challenge the Chair's decision, the delegate must
formally submit a written note to the dais, motioning to appeal the
Chair's ruling. The appeal will be referred to the Deputy-Secretary
General, who will determine whether the appeal will be considered.
Upon acknowledgment of the motion, the Deputy-Secretary General will
solicit input from both the delegate and the Chair before reaching a
final decision.

Rule 15. Quorum

The quorum in the council, which signifies the minimum number of

members needed for the proceedings to commence, should consist of
one-fifth of the total committee's membership. The quorum
requirement is essential to ensure that there is a sufficient and
representative participation of members during council sessions. It
helps guarantee that discussions and decision-making within the
committee are based on a substantial portion of the committee's
composition.

V. POINTS

Rule 16. Point Of Personal Privilege

While discussing any matter, a delegate has the option to raise a Point of
Personal Privilege, which the Chair must promptly address.
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A Point of Personal Privilege should pertain to matters concerning
the personal comfort, safety, or well-being of the committee
members. The Chair retains the authority to decline recognition of
a Point of Personal Privilege if the delegate does not display
appropriate restraint and decorum or if the point is intended to
cause delays in the proceedings.

Rule 17. Point Of Order

While discussing any matter, a delegate has the right to raise a

Point of Order, and the Chair must promptly address the request.
A Point of Order should pertain to the adherence to the
committee's rules or the Chair's exercise of authority. It's
important to note that a delegate raising a Point of Order may not
comment on the substance of the matter under discussion. The
Chair reserves the right to decline recognition of a Point of Order if
the delegate has not demonstrated the appropriate decorum and
restraint in exercising this right or if the point is intended to cause
undue delays in the proceedings.

Rule 18. Point Of Information (question to other delegates)

Following a delegate's speech, if the delegate chooses to yield

their time to Points of Information, one Point of Information (a
question) can be posed by delegates from the floor. The speaker
will then be granted the remaining portion of their speaking time
to respond to these Points of Information.
Points of Information are directed towards the speaker and
provide an opportunity for other delegations to ask questions
related to the speeches and resolutions.

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Rule 19. Point Of Inquiry

If there is no ongoing discussion on the floor, a delegate has the

option to raise a Point of Inquiry to seek clarification about the
current procedural status of the meeting. It's important to note that
a Point of Inquiry should not interrupt a speaker who is currently
addressing the committee.

VI. MOTIONS

Rule 20. Motion to Caucus

Upon the Chair's or any delegate's recommendation, the committee

may entertain a motion to Suspend Debate for the purpose of
initiating either a moderated or unmoderated caucus. This motion
necessitates a majority vote.
1. Moderated Caucus: To propose a moderated caucus, the
recommendation must specify time limits for delegate remarks and
for the entire caucus duration (e.g. "The nation of [country name]
moves for a five-minute moderated caucus with a 30-second
speaking time."). During a moderated caucus, the Chair will
recognize delegates for remarks without relying on a speakers list,
and yields will not be permitted.
2. Unmoderated Caucus: Suggesting an unmoderated caucus
requires specifying a time limit (e.g. "The nation of [country name]
moves for a ten-minute unmoderated caucus."). Unmoderated
caucuses enable delegates to engage in informal discussions.

Rule 21. Motion to Table Debate

During the discussion of any matter, the committee may entertain a

motion to table debate on the current item under discussion. Such a
motion can be proposed by either the Chair or any delegate.

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If a second delegate supports the motion, two representatives may
advocate in favour of it, and two may speak against it. Following these
remarks, the motion will be promptly subjected to a vote.
Passage of the motion to table debate requires a two-thirds majority.
Once approved, the topic is considered tabled, and no further actions
or votes will be taken on it.
If there is a desire to reintroduce the topic for debate, the same
process must be followed. A motion to resume debate on a tabled
topic will also necessitate a two-thirds majority for passage.

Rule 22. Closure of Debate

At any point during a discussion, a delegate has the option to propose

the closure of debate on the current item under consideration. If this
motion is made, debate will conclude, and all draft resolutions and
amendments will be subject to an immediate vote. Permission to speak
in Favor of closing debate will be granted to only two speakers
opposing the closure. Following their remarks, the motion to close
debate will be immediately voted upon. Achieving a two-thirds
majority is required to pass this motion.
Once the motion to close debate is approved, the Chair will announce
the closure of debate and promptly transition to the voting procedure
on the substantive proposals that have been introduced and are
pending before the committee. Additionally, debate will come to an
end and voting will begin when the speakers list has been exhausted.

Rule 23. Adjournment of the Meeting

While discussing any matter, a delegate has the option to propose the
adjournment of the meeting. This motion cannot be debated but must
be promptly put to a vote. If the motion to adjourn is approved, the
committee will reconvene at its next regularly scheduled meeting time.
It's important to note that adjourning the final meeting will conclude
the session.

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VII. RESOLUTIONS

Rule 24. Submission of Working Papers, Draft Resolutions, and

Amendments:

Working papers, draft resolutions, and amendments must be submitted

to the Director in a typed format and with the appropriate number of
signatures as outlined in the Resolutions Submission Process. The Chair
has the discretion to allow discussion and consideration of proposals
and amendments once they have been approved, even if the
documents have not been circulated throughout the committee.

Rule 25. Introducing Draft Resolutions

Once a draft resolution has received approval from the Director and
has been duplicated and distributed to the committee, a delegate may
make a motion to introduce the draft resolution. This motion is
automatically accepted and does not necessitate a vote. The
introduction should focus solely on summarizing the operative clauses
of the draft resolution. It's important to note that this introduction is
considered a procedural action, and therefore, yields and comments
are not allowed.

Any further questions or comments pertaining to the resolution should

be raised through the speakers list and yields. Encouraging additional
questions and comments via these channels enhances the orderly
discussion of the resolution.

Rule 26. Amendments

Both friendly and unfriendly amendments require the Chair's approval.

An amendment is deemed friendly if all the sponsors of the initial draft
resolution have signed the amendment. In such cases, the amendment
is adopted automatically. However, unfriendly amendments are subject
to the Committee's decision.

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An unfriendly amendment must have the endorsement of the Director
and the signatures of 20% of the committee members to be considered.
Amendments to amendments are not permitted and are considered out
of order.

VIII. VOTING

Rule 27. Methods Of Decision

All procedural decisions, with the exception of motions to close and

adjourn debate, will be determined by a simple majority vote of the
delegations present. Delegations physically in attendance at the
committee session may not abstain when voting on procedural motions.
Decisions related to draft resolutions and amendments will be
determined by a simple majority in favour. However, for resolutions and
amendments in the Security Council, a different threshold applies. To
pass, they require nine affirmative votes, with an affirmative vote or
abstention from all permanent members (People's Republic of China,
France, Russian Federation, United States of America, and United
Kingdom).

Rule 28. Voting Rights

Each present delegation is entitled to one vote. Observing nations and

non-governmental organizations (NGOs) do not have voting rights on
substantive matters. There are three rounds of voting:

Round 1: All delegates have an option between choosing:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Yes with Rights
4. No with Rights
5. Pass
6. Abstain

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Round 2: All delegates that have opted for rights get to justify their
positions. This round is entered only if there is a Yes with Rights or a No
with Rights and a Pass.

Round 3: Delegates must cast their final vote, and their three choices
are: Yes, No and abstain.

Rule 29. Conduct While in Voting Procedure

Once the Chair has declared the start of the voting process, no
representative may enter or leave the room, and no representative shall
disrupt the voting except in the case of a Point of Personal Privilege,
Point of Inquiry, or Point of Order related to the conduct of the voting.
During this time, communication between delegates is strictly
prohibited. A member of the staff will be responsible for securing the
doors to ensure the integrity of the voting procedure.

Rule 30. Method Of Voting

Delegations have the option to vote in favour of, against, or abstain from
a proposal. Typically, the committee conducts votes by a show of
placards. However, any delegate has the right to request a roll call vote
for substantive matters.

During a roll call vote, delegations will be called upon in alphabetical

order based on the English names of the countries present. Each
delegation can respond with an affirmative vote, a negative vote, an
abstention (if applicable), or may choose to pass. Delegations that pass
during the initial round of voting will be called upon alphabetically for a
second round, during which they can only provide an affirmative or
negative vote.

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Delegations that appear to be voting against their usual policy, even when
casting an affirmative or negative vote, may reserve the right to explain
their vote through a mechanism called "Voting with Rights." Delegations
must declare that they are Voting with Rights at the time they cast their
vote.
The Chair may allow delegations Voting with Rights to elucidate their
votes after voting concludes but before the decision is announced.

Rule 31. Order Of Draft Resolutions

If two or more draft resolutions pertain to the same question, the

committee will conduct votes on these resolutions in the order in which
they were submitted. This ensures a systematic and fair consideration of
the various proposals addressing the same issue.

Rule 32. Voting On Unfriendly Amendments

During the voting process on a substantive proposal, unfriendly

amendments to a resolution will be voted on first. When multiple
amendments are simultaneously proposed for a resolution, the committee
will begin by voting on the amendment that introduces the most
significant changes to the draft resolution, as determined by the Chair.
Subsequently, the committee will vote on the amendment with the
second greatest impact on the resolution, and this process will continue
until all amendments have been voted upon.
However, if the acceptance of one amendment inherently implies the
rejection of another (as determined by the Chair), the latter amendment
will not be subject to a separate vote.
If one or more amendments are adopted, the amended proposal will then
be subjected to a vote. It's important to note that amendment voting is a
substantive procedure, and adoption requires the simple majority consent
of the delegations present.

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Rule 33. Passage Of Resolutions

In most cases, for a resolution to be considered approved, it must receive

a simple majority of votes in favour. A simple majority is defined as fifty
percent of the members present during the last roll call, plus one.
For example, if there are 99 members present, a simple majority would
require 49.5 (50%) + 1, which equals 50.5 or rounded up to 51 affirmative
votes. However, there is an exception for the United Nations Security
Council. In the Security Council, resolutions and amendments require nine
affirmative votes for passage. Additionally, all permanent members
(People's Republic of China, France, Russian Federation, United States of
America, and United Kingdom) must either vote affirmatively or abstain
for the resolution or amendment to pass.

This special requirement emphasizes the importance of consensus and

cooperation among the permanent members of the Security Council.

IX. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES

Rule 34. Suspension Of the Rules

The suspension of these rules can only occur through a majority vote.
However, it's important to note that any motion to suspend the rules is
subject to the Chair's discretion.
This means that the Chair has the authority to decide whether to allow or
disallow such a motion, taking into consideration the circumstances and
the impact on the proceedings.
The official rules of procedure of Ashoka Model United Nations (AMUN)
are the organization's property. Any reproduction, reprinting, or usage of
these rules must be carried out with explicit written permission from
AMUN.

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