United NationsRules of

Procedure by Kenneth Nicholas

2016

FLO

W O

F T

HE

CO

NFER

EN

CE

PASSING THE RESOLUTION

CLOSING OF THE DEBATE

AMENDMENTS

INTRO TO DRAFT RESOLUTION

CAUCUS

GENERAL SPEAKERS’ LIST

AGENDA SETTING

OPENING CONFERENCE

ROLL CALL

ADJOURNMENT OF CONFERENCE

GENERAL RULES

• No use of electronic devices during Moderated Caucus • The official language use is ENGLISH • Each country delegation is given ONE Vote • Please refrain from using “I” to using “WE” because we are

representating a nation not ourselves • Use respectful language, use “Distinguished, Honorable” while

addressing the chairs and delegates. • Avoid using Right to Reply or Point of Order in any way possible • Dress RIGHT and conduct yourself in the most respectable and friendly

manner!

OPENING THE CONFERENCE

• QUORUM At the beginning of each session, the chair will conduct roll call, and delegate can answer :PRESENT AND VOTING : must vote “yes” or “no” ( NO ABSTENTION) in substansive votingPRESENT : can vote “yes”, “no”, and ABSTRAIN in substansive voting.• The conference shall start when at least 1/4 of the delegations are

present

MATTERS AND TYPES OF VOTING MATTERS• Substansive Matters : Matters relating to the specific topic at hand • Procedural Matters : All Delegates MUST VOTE ( Matters relating to

the structure of the conference session)TYPES OF VOTING

• SIMPLE MAJORITY : (50% +1)• TWO THIRDS MAJORITY (2/3)

Agenda Setting

• Initiated after Roll Call• There can be more than one motion for agenda setting only if a different

order of debating the topics is proposed• The chair will allow TWO Speakers in FAVOR, and TWO Speakers AGAINST the

motion proposed for ONE MINUTE Speaking time. • This is a procedural matter, that means ALL DELEGATES MUST VOTE • The order of the agenda set at the beginning of meeting shall remain for the

duration of the conference. Delegates can revisit the agenda if a topic HAS BEEN COMPLETED or HAS BEEN TABLED • In the event of an International Crisis or Emergency, The SECGEN may call

upon the council ( preferrably GA) to discuss the urgent matter at hand

GENERAL SPEAKER’S LIST (GSL)• The time for delegates to speak for the first time about the topic before formal Debate • The speech could range from topic background, country stance, to proposed solutions. IT’S

TIME TO GIVE FIRST IMPRESSION and GAIN ATTENTION !• DEFAULT Speaking Time : 1 minute/del, MINIMUM Speaking Time : 30 Sec/del , MAXIMUM

Speaking Time : 2 Minutes/del• Countries wishing to be added in the GSL can raise their placards or send a written request

to the Chair• The Chair MAY CALL the delegate to order if the speech IS NOT RELEVANT to the issue

being discussed• A GSL for a different topic area WILL NOT BE OPENED until the conference has moved to

that topic

• When there is no motion on the floor ( either MC or UNMOD), the chair will go back to the GSL

GSL : YIELDS

• Used if the delegates DO NOT USE THEIR TIME ENTIRELY1. Yield the Remaining Time to Another Delegate : Yielded to delegate designated by the speaker. It is AT THE DISCRETION of the chosen delegate to accept 2. Yield the remaining time to Questions : The chair will recognize other delegates to ask ( ONE question and NO

FOLLOW UPS). The time remaining ONLY COUNTS for answering the questions. The chair may CALL TO ORDER if the questions are considered rhetorical/

not designed to elicit information

GSL : YIELDS ( Cont)

3. Yield the remaining time back to the chair, this way the debate will continue with the next speaker on the list permitted to speak

POINTS

1. Points of Personal Privilege : If matters impairs him/her from participating fully in the conference

(turning down the AC, sitting near the LCD) MAY INTERRUPT a Speaker. However this point should be used WITH

THE UTMOST DISCRETION 2. Points of Order (SHOULD BE AVOIDED) : Used if a rule or procedure is not properly observed by a delegate and

unintentionally disregarded by the ChairMAY INTERRUPT a Speaker if the violation interferes with the proper

process of the conference

POINTS ( Con’t)

3. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry : To request an explanation from the chair on the rules of procedure MAY NOT interrupt a Speaker 4. Point of Information : Request information or clarification of remarks relating to the

material or arrangements of the conference MAY NOT interrupt a Speaker

POINTS ( Con’t)

5. Right of Reply ( Should be Avoided) : When feeling that another delegate has insulted the sovereignty or integrity of

your country Disagreements does NOT grounds for a right of replyHAS to be SUBMITTED to the chair (in writing to the Chair and no verbal

request will be accepted)A right of Reply to a right of Reply IS OUT OF ORDERa specific time limit will be given to the Delegate who requested it when

appropriate. When the Delegate is granted the floor has to explain why he/she feels that

his/her state has been offended.

CAUCUS AND MOTIONS

1. Motions for a Moderated Caucus (MC) and Extention : Must suggest a time length of the caucus, speaking time, and the matter to be

discussedRequires a SIMPLE MAJORITY to PASSChair will recognize delegates who wishes to speak by raising their placardsTIPS & TRICK : motion for the longest time than the motions from other

delegates in order to be voted FIRST!a Moderated Caucus will elapse automatically if there are no delegates who

wishes to speaka MC could be extended in a NEW MOTION and the LENGTH cannot exceed

the original caucus

CAUCUS and MOTIONS

2. Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus (UnMod) :An informal discussion on the topic. Usually USED for joining/ forming blocs and creating Working Paper/ Draft Resolution The delegate who proposes this motion must suggest the length and

justification for the Unmoderated Caucus Requiring SIMPLE Majority to PASSa UnMod could be extended in a NEW MOTION and the LENGTH

cannot exceed the original caucus

MOTIONS AND CAUCUS

3. Motion to Suspend the Meeting : to halt all the committee activities until the next scheduled meeting for breaks, lunch, etc4. Motion to Table Debate : In order to end debate on an issue without voting on any DRsTWO delegates shall speak IN FAVOR and TWO delegates shall speak

AGAINST before the vote 2/3 Majority Vote is NEEDEDThe Speaker’s List will be NEW for the new topic

MOTIONS AND CAUCUS

5. Motion to Return to a Suspended ( Tabled) Topic : The chair will entertain TWO Speakers FOR and TWO Speakers AGAINST2/3 MAJORITY VOTE is REQUIRED to PASSNew Speaker’s list will be established for the resumed topic 6. Motion to close Debate :In order to end debate on a substansive issue and will proceed to the

voting procedure of DRTWO delegates speaking AGAINST the motion, NONE in FAVOR2/3 MAJORITY VOTE is REQUIRED to PASS7.Motion to Adjourn the Meeting : Ending the conference itself

Working Papers

• INFORMAL Document used to work on building the Draft Resolution• Contains GENERAL IDEAS and PROPOSALS on the topic and its

purpose is to OUTLINE A MORE CONCRETE FRAMEWORK FOR DISCUSSION• DOES NOT need to be written in RESOLUTION FORMAT and DOES

NOT need to be INTRODUCED • NO MAXIMUM number of working papers can be submitted • There are NO MINIMUM Sponsors or Signatories.

DRAFT RESOLUTION (DR)

• Delegations are asked to prepare a DR following a SPECIFIC FORMAT • Drafts will be submitted to the chair, approved, signed and coded • A motion to Introduce a DR will be entertained, and SIMPLE MAJORITY is

REQUIRED to PASS• Three Sponsors are allowed to present the DR and read out its operative

clauses. • Agreement with the motion to introduce DR does not indicate agreement

with the content, but only expresses a wish to see it debated on the floor.• The same procedure is applied to other DRs. • If two or more DRs are complimentary/ identical, the Chair MAY request

to COMBINE them to ONE DR

DR GUIDELINES

• DR THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

A specific writing format with Preambulatory Clause and Operative ClauseSponsors : • Countries that have prepared the Draft Resolution• Sponsored at least TEN PERCENT of the countries present or present and

voting • Sponsors cannot sponsor another DR within the same topic • Claim ownership of the draft and bear obligation to vote in favor of the

draft when voting

DR Guidelines

Signatories : • Sponsored at least TEN PERCENT of the countries present or present

and voting in order to be eligible for introduction • Signatories are those countries who wish to see the respective draft

being introduced• NOT considered as supporters of the draft nor bear any obligation

towards the sponsors• CAN be a signatory to more than one DRs

DRAFT RESOLUTION

• Preambulatory Clause :

DRAFT RESOLUTION

Draft Resolution : Amendments

• Amendments can be introduced by the SPONSOR of the DR in the ‘Motion to Introduce an Amandment’ • The Chair will entertain TWO Speakers in FAVOR and TWO Speakers AGAINST

the amendment (45 Secs each)• Voting for an amandment is a Procedural Matter. Simple Majority is

REQUIRED • Amendments Guideline ( not accepted if do not comply)Writing Format : Amendments have to clearly define their scope and purposeSponsors : Each Amendment needs to be sponsored by at least 1/8 of

countries in order to be submitted

DR : Amendments

• TYPE of Amendments : Friendly Amendments : If ALL Sponsors have approved an amendment

( automatically added to the DR)Unfriendly Amendments : Do not have the support of All Sponsors, require

standard procedure. NOT GRAMMATICAL ERRORS OR SPELLING OR FORMATTINGAmendments for preambulatory is permitted if such a clause is of crucial

importance • Amendments to amendments are OUT OF ORDER, but amended part can be

further amended (A friendly amendment can be further amended viathe unfriendly amendment process)

DR : VOTING

• Motion to Reorder of the DR : the committee will vote first on the first DR submitted by default, but a delegate may request to vote on DR in a different order. Only in the event that the first DR fails, that the committee will vote on the other DRs• Motion to Divide the Question : to vote on an individual or group operating

clauses *need to be further explained*• Motion for a Roll Call Vote : Voting for a whole DR. The chair will ask every

countries in an alphabetical order to cast thier votes based on “ PRESENT” and “PRESENT AND VOTING” ( in favor, against, abstain, pass)• The Chair will place the delegation that passed to the bottom of the voting

list and must vote definitively

DR : VOTING

• Voting with Rights : A delegate may request a right or explanation after voting ends to explain thereasons as to why he/she has chosen to vote a certain way• An abstention is not a vote, and CANNOT be made with rights• Voting with Rights is only in order when voting is held via Roll Call

Vote.

DR : VOTING

• Each delegation must demonstrate its voting intentions by raising its placard unless there is a role call vote • No delegate may vote for other delegates• The council can pass only one DR per Topic • NOTE PASSING is NOT ALLOWED during Voting procedures, and no

one is allowed to go in or out of the room. • After adopting a resolution, the body moves immediately on the next

topic of Agenda.

Good Luck and Let’s Continue the Winning Legacy