Rules of Procedure

Preparation
● Every conference will publish its agenda item(s) before the conference and all
delegates are obliged to do research according to the agenda item(s).

● Conferences also publish unique “Study Guide”s or “Chair Report”s in

accordance with the agenda items of the committees.

● As a result of research and understanding, delegates are (in most

conferences) obliged to prepare an original position paper and send this to
the secretariat of the conference.

● The position paper aims to clearly set the country’s position on the topic(s)
Personal Values
● Delegates are obliged to present their country in a formal status during all
official sessions.

● This includes dressing according to the official dress code, being courteous
and respectful to the committee staff and to other delegates, and being
physically confident and representative with good posture and professional
appearance.
Communication
● Delegates should be listening actively to fellow delegates and to the chair(s).

● They should also bear in mind that they have to speak in the name of their
country when they are making a speech or commenting on the work of the
committee.

● All delegates must read the Rules of Procedure published by the conference
that they are attending.
Opening the debate
● ROLL CALL: Each session will start with a roll call in order to see how many
delegates are present, and to see if the Quorum has been reached.

● OPENING SPEECHES: All delegates are obliged to write an opening speech in

the Harvard procedure to be read in the first session in accordance with the
alphabetical order of the countries’ names.
SETTING THE AGENDA: The Agenda decides the order in which the topics will be
discussed in the committee. Therefore the first matter the Committee decides on
will be setting the agenda. A motion to set the agenda shall be introduced by the
delegates.

A motion to put a Topic Area on the agenda shall be made first. This motion
requires a second.

Delegates may only propose the Topic Areas listed in the preparation materials.
The Chair has the right to change or modify these Topic Areas at his or her
discretion.
A Speakers List will be established ‘for’ and ‘against’ the motion; speakers ‘for’ will
speak in support of the Topic Area suggested, speakers ‘against’ will speak in
favor of the other Topic Area.

A committee with only one Topic Area will be considered to have automatically
adopted that Topic Area without debate.
General Speakers’ List
GENERAL SPEAKERS’ LIST: A motion to set the General Speakers’ List shall be
introduced and delegates wishing to be added to the list shall inform their chair by
raising their placards, or by sending a message paper.

Once a delegate has the floor in the General Speakers’ List, they will have a certain
amount of time to make their speech.
If they have any remaining time, delegates have to Yield the floor in the following
ways:

Yield the time back to the Chair: “…yield our time back to the Chair.”

Yield the time to Points of Information: “…yield our time to Points of Information.”

Yield the time to another delegate: “…yield our time to the delegate of XXX”
Motions
Setting the agenda is followed by a motion to open debate. Once the floor is open
for motions, a motion to open debate or to open a speaker’s list may be introduced
as “delegate of AAA motions to BBB”.
Motions
1. Motion for a Moderated Caucus: A form of continuous debate in which
speakers give their positions on the topics at hand. Normally, you must give a
purpose, speaking time, and total time when making this motion.

2. Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus: An informal form of debate where

delegates are free to leave their seats and discuss with other delegates. This
motion is normally made when it is time to merge or write draft resolutions.
Motions
3. Motion to Move into Time Against: This motion is to made when those
planning on speaking against a resolution wish to speak.
4. Motion to Move into Time For: This motion is made when those planning on
speaking in favor of a resolution wish to speak.
5. Motion to Move into Voting Procedure: When a delegate feels the topic has
already been thoroughly discussed, he motions to move into voting procedure so
that whatever was being discussed is put to a vote.
6. Motion to Table a Resolution: This motion is to put aside the resolution at
hand to discuss it at a later time. This is normally done if the resolution isn’t
producing debate or if the committee is running out of time and you want your
resolution to be discussed.
Motions
7. Motion for Division of the House/ Motion to Vote by Roll Call: This motion is
granted by the Chairs if voting by placards seems inaccurate or if the vote was
very close. Delegations vote one-by-one and abstentions are not in order.

8. Motion to Adjourn: Motion to finish the current committee session.

9. Motion to Recess: End of the conference.

10. Right of Reply: A formal request to speak after another delegate has offend
you or your delegation. This must be submitted in writing to the Chairs.
Moderated Caucus
The delegate making the motion must briefly explain its purpose and specify a time
limit for the caucus, not to exceed twenty minutes, a time limit for the individual
speeches, and a short explanation of the issue to be discussed.

“Motion for a moderated caucus with a total time of 15 minutes and 1 minute
individual speaking time, in order to discuss XXX”
Delegates are not allowed to yield their remaining speaking time during moderated
caucuses.

No motions are in order between speeches during a moderated caucus.

A delegate who has been recognized to speak during a moderated caucus will be
ruled out of order by the Chair if the delegate’s speech does not address the topic of
the current moderated caucus.

If there are no delegates wishing to speak during a moderated caucus, the caucus
shall immediately end.

A moderated caucus may be extended only once, but only after the caucus has
ended, and the total length of a moderated caucus and its extension may not be
longer than 20 minutes.
Unmoderated Caucus
A delegate may motion for an unmoderated caucus at any time when the floor is
open.

The delegate making the motion must specify a time limit for the caucus, not to
exceed twenty minutes.

The motion will immediately be voted upon and will pass given a simple majority.

An unmoderated caucus can not be motioned as the first caucus of the session.

Unmoderated caucuses also get a priority in the voting procedure.

Closure of Debate
When the floor is open, a delegate may motion to close debate on the substantive
or procedural topic that is being discussed.

Delegates may move to close debate on the general topic, debate on the agenda,
or debate on an amendment.

When the closure of debate is moved, the Chair may choose up to two speakers
against this motion.

Speakers in favour of this motion will not be recognized.

Closure of debate requires the support of two-thirds of the members present and
voting.

If there are no speakers against the closing of debate, the chair will ask the
delegates if there are any objections, according to voting by acclamation.

If there are no objections, the motion to close debate will automatically be

adopted and the committee will move immediately to substantive voting
procedure.
Points
Whenever a delegate has a concern about the procedure, about personal issues,
etc. they may raise a point according to the following types of points.

1. Point of Information: A question, normally after a delegate has delivered his

speech. This is you chance to attack or enhance the speech made by a delegate.

2. Point of Personal Privilege: Ask the Chairs to change something making you
uncomfortable, such as temperature, technical issues, or inability to hear the
speaker. This is the only point that may interrupt a speaker.
Points
3. Point of Parliamentary Procedure: When you think something is outside or
proper parliamentary procedure.

4. Point of Inquiry: A question directed to the Chairs about MUN procedure.

5. Point of Clarification: A point normally made by the Chairs to clarify something,

such as a fact.
Suspension or Adfournment of the Meeting
● The suspension of the meeting means the postponement of all committee
functions until the next meeting.
● The adjournment of the meeting means the postponement of all committee
functions for the duration of the Conference.

● Whenever the floor is open, a delegate may motion for the suspension of the
meeting or adjournment of the meeting.

● The Chair may rule such motions out of order in accordance with the meeting
schedule.

● When in order, such motions will not be debatable but will be immediately
voted upon, will require a simple majority to pass
Path to a Resolution
WORKING PAPERS: Working papers are not official documents and they do not
need to be written in resolution format to be approved by the chair.

These papers do not need to be voted upon and only the approval of the chair is
sufficient.

Working papers do not need sponsors or signatures and they often serve as
foundations to the draft resolution.
DRAFT RESOLUTION: A draft resolution may be introduced when it receives the
approval of the chair and is signed by 20 members in the General Assembly, 10
members in the Economic and Social Council and Regional Bodies, or 5 members
in Crisis Committees.

Signing a draft resolution only indicates a desire for the draft resolution to be
discussed in the committee.

There are no official sponsors of draft resolutions. A draft resolution requires a

simple majority of members present to pass. Only one draft resolution may be
passed per topic area.

Once the draft resolution has been approved, a delegate shall move to introduce
the draft resolution. The Chair may ask for only the operative clauses to be read in
order to save time for further debates.
AMENDMENTS: Delegates may amend any draft resolution that has been
introduced by adding to, deleting from, or revising parts of it.

Only one amendment may be introduced at any given time.

A motion to introduce an approved amendment may be introduced when the floor

is open.

After this motion, the Chair may read the amendment out loud.

The motion will pass by a simple majority.

General debate will be suspended and a Speakers’ List will be established for and
against the amendment.