MUNSociety Passau

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MUN-Society Passau

• Workshop
• Rules of Procedure and Structure of Debate
• This presentation is based on one that was given
  at BRIMUN 2006. We thank the organizers, and in
  particular Mitja Müller, for their kind help.

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THE CHAIR (c.f. RoP II 1.1)
co-ordinate debate ensure that debate follows
the Rules of Procedure advise delegates on
policy and writing of resolutions first
person to contact in case of any questions
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DIPLOMATIC COURTESY (c.f. RoP II 2.2)
begin speeches e.g. Mister/Madam Chair,
Honourable Delegates
never use the word I, but instead refer to
the views of your country (e.g. Norway
believes)
always wear business attire - suits and tie or
female equivalent (only applies for actual
conf.)
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DRAFT RESOLUTIONS (c.f. RoP II 3.1)
after lobbying drafts are submitted to the
chair for review
drafts require signatures of 1/5 of committee
to be introduced
delegates may sponsor more than one resolution
resolutions on the same agenda item will be
discussed in order of the number of their
supporters
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AMENDMENTS (c.f. RoP II 3.3)
require signatories of 1/8 committee to
introduce
must be send to and be considered in order by
chair
raise of placard upon being recognized by
chair introduction of amendment
speakers for and against will be considered
amendments are considered procedural motions,
so when voting abstentions are out of order
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AMENDMENTS TO THE AMENDMENT (c.f. RoP II 3.5)
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ROLL CALL AND SETTING AGENDA (c.f. II 2.1 a-d)
sessions begin with a roll call nations
answer present when called upon first session
will begin with a vote on setting the agenda a
vote on setting the agenda decides which of the
topics will be debated first
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STRUCTURE OF SPEECH (c.f. RoP II 2.2)
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YIELDING (c.f. RoP II 2.3)
yield the floor after speaking
may yield in three ways

• yield to points of information
• yield to another delegate (if speaking time
  remains)
• yield to the chair

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POINTS OF INFORMATION (c.f. RoP II 2.5)

• delegates may address speaker with a question
• generally 2 are accepted (chairs discretion)
• must always be formulated as a question
• request for a follow up (if granted by chair)

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PROCEDURAL MOTIONS I (c.f. RoP II 5)

• when there is no speech and no voting procedure
  underway procedural motions may be proposed
• they require a second but may be objected
  by another delegate
• when objected must be put to vote
• absolute majority required to carry
• ? 2/3-majority when appealing decision of the
  chair
• no abstentions in order

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PROCEDURAL MOTIONS II (c.f. RoP II 5)

• motion to...

• ...change the agenda
• ...appeal the decision of the chair
• ...extend debating time
• ...go directly into voting procedure
• ...change speaking time
• ...question the competence of the committee
• ...go into unmoderated caucus

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UNMODERATED CAUCUS
entered by proposing motion to enter
unmoderated caucus caucus and lasts not
longer than 15 minutes
in unmoderated caucus delegates may leave their
seats and address other delegates in an informal
manner
purpose is to allow informal discussion of
issues causing deadlock
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POINTS (c.f. RoP II 6)
points of order

• alert the chairperson of a breach of rules

points of parliamentary inquiry

• ask a question concerning the rules

points of personal privilege

• draw the attention of the chair to circumstances
  that impair full participation in debate

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CLOSING DEBATE VOTING PROCEDURES (c.f. RoP II
3.2 a ff.)
debate will be closed when

• debating time has elapsed
• a motion to go directly into voting procedures
  carries
• ? requires a 2/3-majority

motions concerning voting procedures may be put
forward
points, motions, discussions and note passing
are out of order once voting procedures are
entered
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PROCEDURAL MOTIONS III (c.f. RoP II 5)
these are motions that may be put forward
during voting procedure

• motion to...

• ...split the question
• ...split the house
• ...have a roll call vote
• ...retake vote

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QUIZ
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SCENARIO 1
The delegate representing Malteseria cannot hear
the speaker from Kitkatistan, so interrupts the
speaker with a Point of Order. The delegate
agrees to speak louder and continues their
speech. Believing that a breach has been made in
the Rules of Procedure, Tobleronia interrupts the
speaker from Malteseria with a Point of
Parliamentary Inquiry.
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SCENARIO 2
Tobleronia criticises the Human Rights record of
Kitkatistan in a speech. Kitkatistan interupts
the speaker to request a Right to Reply. The
Chair grants a Right to Reply. Tobleronia
responds to the Right to Reply made by
Kitkatistan.
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SCENARIO 3
States are voting on an amendment and the Chair
reminds delegates that they may abstain. Once the
votes have been counted, the vote is found to be
tied and the Chair declares the amendment has
passed.
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SCENARIO 4
A motion to enter unmoderated caucus is proposed
by Confectionary International, an accredited
NGO. The vote on the motion passes with the
necessary two-thirds majority and the Chair
allows delegates to leave their seats and discuss
matters informally.
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SCENARIO 5
There are 50 delegates in a committee. The
Peoples Fruits of Pastille submits a resolution
to the Chair with 5 signatories. The Chair
accepts the resolution and allows delegates to
debate its content once it is distributed.
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SCENARIO 6
Curlywurlistan proposes a motion to postpone
debate, which passes with a simple majority. The
Chair ends debate on all resolutions under
discussion and ends all further consideration of
the topic.
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SCENARIO 7
The United Fruits of Opal comes to the end of his
speech having run out of time and yields to
points of information. Minstrelalia raises a
point of information, to which the United Fruits
of Opal replies.