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SciencesPoRennesInternationalModelUnitedNations

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RULES

OFPROCEDURE

I. GENERALRULES

1. GENERALSCOPE

TheserulesapplytoallCommitteesofthe2017editionoftheSciencesPoRennesInternationalModelUnitedNations(SPRIMUN), excepted for modifications provided at thediscretion of the Secretariat, and will be considered asadoptedinadvanceofthesession.

2. INTERPRETATION

InterpretationoftherulesisanexclusivecompetenceoftheSecretaryGeneralorselectedmembersof theSecretariat.Such interpretations shall be in full compliance with thephilosophy and principles of the Sciences Po RennesInternational Model United Nations, and will seek topromoteitseducationalmission.

3. LANGUAGE

English will be the exclusive working language of theconference, except for the UN Human Right Council forwhichtheworkinglanguageshallbeFrench.

4. PROTOCOL

AllparticipantsoftheSPRIMUNshalldisplaycourtesyandrespectatalltimeswhendealingwithanypersondirectlyinvolved with the SPRIMUN (including Staff andDelegates/ChairsofanyCommittee)orindirectlyinvolvedthroughanyofitspartners(includingbutnotlimitedto

Sciences Po Rennes, sponsors, accommodation providers,andotheruniversitystudents). Participants are also expected to observe the SPRIMUN’sdresscode,whichisbusinessformalattire.

TheCommitteeChairsshall immediatelycall toorderanyDelegate who fails to comply with the rules regardingetiquette. Chairs and Vice-Chairs have the authority tosuspendDelegateswhoinfringetheserules.Delegateswhocommit a grave breach of etiquette rules can also bepermanently removed from the Committee by theSecretary-GeneralandselectedSecretariatmembers.

5. PARTICIPATIONOFNON-MEMBERS

AccreditedObserverswillhavethesamerightsasthoseoffull members, except that they may not sign or vote onsubstantivematters,i.e.thefinalvoteonaresolution.

Journalistsandreportersarenotallowedtosign,votenorparticipate in the formal debate without the priorauthorizationoftheChair.


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II. PROCEDURESINCOMMITTEE

6. GENERALDUTIESOFTHECOMMITTEECHAIRS

Under the powers bestowed upon the Chair by theSecretaryGeneralandtheserules,theChairshallannouncetheopeningandclosingofeachmeetingoftheCommittee,directdiscussions,guaranteetheobservanceoftheserules,grant the right to speak, submit questions to voting andpronouncedecisions.

TheChair,subordinatedtotheserules,shallhaveabsolutecontrol of the procedures of the Committee and over theupholdingoforderatitsmeetings.

TheChairshallruleonpointsoforder,maysuggesttotheCommitteetheclosureofthelistofspeakers,alimitationonspeakingtime,theinterruptionorclosureofthedebate,andthesuspensionoradjournmentofameeting.TheChairmaymomentarilytransferhisorherdutiestoamemberoftheSecretariatoroneoftheVice-Chairs.CommitteeChairsmayalsocounselDelegatesonthepossiblecourseofdebate.Intheexerciseofthesefunctions,CommitteeChairswillbeatall times subject to these rules and responsible to theSecretaryGeneral.

ItistheChairs’powertoassignspeakingtimesforallspeeches attendant to Motions andamendments.Further,the Chairistousehisorherdiscretion,todetermineifaparticularMotionisbasedonthe philosophy and principles of theSPRIMUN.Such discretion should be used on alimitedbasisand only in order to makeprogressinthedebate.

7. MOTIONTOAPPEALDECISIONSOFTHECHAIR

ADelegatemayraiseaMotiontoappealanydecisionoftheChair,exceptthosedescribedintheserulesasnotopentoappeal. A Delegate wanting to raise such a Motion shallorallystatetheirMotionwithoutdelayaftertheChairhasannounced theirdecision.TheChairmay speakbriefly indefence of their decision after which the Motion will besubmittedtoavote.TheChair’sdecisionwillstandunlesstwo-thirds of the Committee vote ‘Yes’ on the Motion toappealtheChair’sdecision.

Numberofrequiredvotes:2/3majority.

ThefollowingChair’sdecisionsarenotsubjecttoappeal:

-ApproveaResolution,

-ApproveanAmendment,

-TheorderinwhichMotionsareentertained,

-UnmoderatedCaucus,

-ModeratedCaucus,

-ClosureofDebate,

-AdjournmentoftheMeeting,

-AdjournmentoftheDebate,

-RightofReply,

-StopentertainingMotions.

Thevoteofappealunderlined in thisrule isaproceduralvote. Hence all Delegates will be required to vote –abstentionsareoutoforder.

ThedecisionsoftheSecretaryGeneralormembersoftheSecretariatarenotopentosuchaMotiontoappeal.

DelegatesshouldnotethatthisMotionshouldonlybeusedasalastresortonlyafterapointoforderhasalreadybeenraised.

8. STATEMENTSMADEBYTHESECRETARIAT

The Secretary General or a member of the Secretariatselectedbyhimorhermay,atanytime,makebothoralandwrittenstatementsduringaCommittee.

9. QUORUM

In the first session of each day, the Chair may declare aCommitteeopenandallowdebatetoproceedwhenatleastone-thirdofthetotalnumberofmembersoftheCommitteeareintheroom.

In the next sessions, quorum shall be one-third of themembers of the Committee present on that day. Roll CallmustbetakenatthestartofeveryCommitteesession.


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III. SETTINGTHEAGENDA10. ROLLCALL

AtthebeginningofeachCommitteesession,theCommitteeChairswillcallMemberStatesinthealphabeticalorderofthe Committees’ working language. Member States mayreply“present”or“presentandvoting”.“Presentandvoting”meanstheMemberStatecannotabstainduringsubstantivevotes,i.e.thefinalvoteconcerningaresolution.Observersarerequiredtoreply“present”incompliancewithRule5.

11. AGENDASETTING

ThefirstorderofbusinessfortheCommitteeistosettheAgenda.

AMotionshouldbemadeinordertoputforwardanAgendaitem. If no Delegate opposes the Motion, it shall beconsideredautomaticallyasadoptedby theCommittee. IfthereareobjectionstothisMotion,aspeakers’listwillbesetupforandagainsttheMotion,bothofwhichwillhavetwospeakers.Ifthereisonlyonespeakerfororagainst,thespeakers’listwillbecomposedofonespeakerforandoneagainst.

When debate is closed, the Committeewill move to voteimmediatelyontheMotiontoputanAgenda itemfirst. IftheMotionfails, theotherAgenda itemwillautomaticallybeplacedfirstontheAgenda.

Numberofrequiredvotes:½majority.

IV. RULESCONCERNINGTHEDEBATE

12. SPEAKERS’LIST

AftertheAgendahasbeenset,aconstantlyopenspeakerslistwill be established for thepurposeof generaldebate,calledthe“GeneralSpeakers’List”.

TheChairshallasktheCommitteeforthosewhowishtobeaddedtotheGeneralSpeakers’Listandshallkeepawrittencopyoftheorderofthespeakers.AnyDelegatewishingtobeaddedtotheGeneralSpeakers’ListcandosobysendingawrittennotetotheChairorbyraisingtheirplacardwhenthe Chair asks if there are any Delegates wishing to beaddedtotheGeneralSpeakers’List.NoDelegatemaybeontheGeneralSpeakers’Listtwiceatthesametime.

ThisGeneralSpeakers’ListwillbefollowedthroughoutthedebateontheAgendaitem,exceptwhensupersededby

procedural Motions such as those for unmoderated ormoderatedcaucuses.SpeakersmayspeakgenerallyontheAgenda item being considered and may address anyresolutioncurrentlyonthefloor.

Should the General Speakers’ List elapse, debate on theAgenda item shall be considered finished and theCommitteeshallmoveintoclosingproceduresasperRule18.

13. PROPOSINGMOTIONS

TheChaircanaskforanyMotionstobeputforwardwhenthefloorisopen.TheChairwillaskforMotionsonebyone.TheChairmaystopentertainingMotionsatany timeandmovetovoteonthemotionsalreadyraised.ThisisnotopentoaMotiontoappealtomakesuredebatemovesforward.

TheChairwillthenentertaintheraisedMotionsonebyone,startingfromhighest intheorderofpriority, i.e. themostdisruptive. In the case of several Motions having equalpriority,theywillbeconsideredintheorderinwhichtheyweresubmitted.

ThiscontinuesuntilaMotionispassedorthefloorreturnsto theGeneralSpeakers’List. IfaMotionpasses,allotherMotionspreviouslyraisedareremovedfromthefloorandmustberaisedagainwhentheChaircallsfornewMotions.


14. WITHDRAWINGAPROPOSAL

AMotionmay bewithdrawn by its proposer at any timebeforevotinghasbegun.AMotionthuswithdrawnmayberaisedagainbyanyDelegate.

Any Motion approved by the Committee may not bewithdrawnbytheCommitteememberwhointroducedit.

15. ORDEROFPRIORITYOFMOTIONS

TheorderofpriorityofMotionswhichmayberaisedwhilethefloorisopen,frommosttoleastsuperseding,is:

1. AdjourningtheMeeting(Rule20)

2. SuspendingtheMeeting(Rule19)

3. ClosingDebate(Rule18)

4. IntroducingDraftResolutions(Rule31)


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5. IntroducingAmendments(Rule34)

6. IntroducingaFriendlyAmendment(Rule35)

7. IntroducingWorkingPapers(Rule29)

8. UnmoderatedCaucus(Rule16)

9. ModeratedCaucus(Rule17)

Motions introduced after others of the same type cannotsupersedethoseotheronesexceptattheChair’sdiscretion.A longer Motion of one type does not automaticallysupersedeashorterMotionofthesametype.

16. UNMODERATEDCAUCUS

AMotionforanUnmoderatedCaucusisinorderatanytimewhenthefloorisopenpriortoclosureofdebateandwhentheChairasksforMotions.

The Delegate raising the Motion must specify an overalltimelimitforthecaucusthatcan’texceedtwentyminutes(includingMotionstoextendthecaucus).


TheChairmayruletheMotionoutoforderifheorshefeelsthat the Motion is not constructive to the debate at thatpointintime.ThedecisionoftheChairisnotopentoappeal.

17. MODERATEDCAUCUS

AMotion for aModeratedCaucus is in order at any timewhenthefloorisopenpriortoclosureofdebateandwhentheChairasksforMotions.

InaModeratedCaucus,theChairwillmomentarilydepartfrom the General Speakers’ List and call on Delegates tospeakattheChair’sdiscretion.

The Delegatemaking theMotionmust briefly explain itspurpose and specify a time limit for the caucus, not toexceed twenty minutes (including Motions to extend thecaucus),andatimelimitfortheindividualspeeches.IftheMotion is approved by the Committee, the Delegate whoproposed the caucus will be the one making the firststatement.


TheChairmayruletheMotionoutoforderifheorshefeelsthat the Motion is not constructive to the debate at thatpointintime.ThisdecisionoftheChairisnotopentoappeal.

18. CLOSUREOFDEBATE

A Motion for the Closure of Debate requests ending alldiscussion on the Agenda item and moving into votingproceduresonallsubstantiveproposalsintroducedunderdebate,i.e.allDraftResolutions.OncethisMotionhasbeensuccessfully passed, debate has been closed, and votingprocedurescantakeplace.Followingvotingprocedures,theCommittee shall,withoutdelay, adopt the secondAgendaitem, or an alternate Agenda item if instructed by theSecretariat.

AMotionforClosureofDebateisinorderatanytimewhentheChairasksforMotions.NotehoweverthattheChairmayrule theMotion out of order if he or she feels that thereshould be further debate before moving to votingprocedures.ThedecisionoftheChairisnotopentoappeal.

ImmediatelybeforemovingintovotingproceduresonthisMotion,authorisationtospeakontheMotionshallonlybegiven to two Delegates opposing the closure, unless onlyoneDelegatewishestoopposetheMotiontoclosedebate.After this, the Motion shall be submitted to votingimmediately.Nospeechesarerequiredinfavourofclosingdebate.

Numberofrequiredvotes:2/3majority.

19. SUSPENSIONOFTHEMEETING

AMotion for the Suspension of theMeeting calls for thetemporaryinterruptionofthemeeting.ItisusuallyusedattheendoftheCommitteesession.Whilethefloorisopen,aDelegate may move for the Suspension of the Meeting,specifyingatimeforreconveningtheCommittee.


This Motion can be used to propose short breaks of thesession,ratherthanthroughunmoderatedcaucuses.

TheChairmayruletheMotionoutoforderifheorshefeelsthatitisnotyettimefortheendofthesession.ThedecisionoftheChairisnotopentoappeal.


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20. ADJOURNMENTOFTHEMEETING

The Adjournment of the Meeting means the end of theCommittee’sworkinthelastsessionofSPRIMUN.Aftertheadjournment, theCommitteeshallreconveneatSPRIMUN2018.

AsthisMotion,ifsuccessful,wouldendthesessionuntiltheCommittee’s next regularly scheduled meeting, the ChairwillnotentertainituntiltheendofthelastsessionoftheCommittee. TheChair’sdecisiononwhethertoentertainthisMotionisnotopentoappeal. Numberofrequiredvotes:½majority.

V. RULESCONCERNINGSPEECH

21. RIGHTTOSPEAK

No Delegate may speak in a session without havingobtained beforehand the consent of the Chair (exceptduringanunmoderatedcaucus).TheChairmayathisorherdiscretioncallaDelegatetoorderifhisorherspeechisnotrelevant to the subject under discussion; is consideredpersonallyoffensivetoanypartyorotherwisegoesagainsttherulesandspiritoftheSPRIMUN.

22. TIME-LIMITONSPEECHES

The Chair may limit the time given to each speaker. Theminimum time-limit will be thirty seconds and themaximumtime-limitwillbetwominutes.WhenaDelegateexceedstheallottedtime,theChairmaycallthespeakertoorder.

Should the Chair not explicitly state a different speaking time for the General Speakers’ List, the timelimitshallbe90seconds.

DelegatesmayraiseaMotiontochangethespeakingtimeontheGeneralSpeakers’Listshouldtheyfeelthatchangingthetimelimitwouldbenefitthedebate.


23. YIELDS

IfaDelegatewasgiventherighttospeakonasubstantiveissue–notduringacaucus–andhastimeremainingattheendofhisorherspeech,theDelegatehastoyieldhistimeinoneofthreeways:

1. YieldtoanotherDelegate.Hisorherremainingtimewill be given to that Delegate, who may not,however,doanyfurtheryields.

2. Yield to Questions. If a Delegate does so, otherDelegateswishingtoaskaquestiontothecurrentspeakerwillbechosenbytheChairandbelimitedtooneshortquestioneach.TheChairhastherightto call to order any Delegate whose question isrhetorical, leading, or not designed to elicitinformation.Onlythetimetakenforthespeaker’sanswers to questions will be deducted from thespeaker’sremainingtime.

3. YieldtotheChair.SuchayieldshouldbemadeiftheDelegatedoesnotwishtoyieldtoquestionsortoanotherDelegate.TheChairwill thenmoveontothenextspeaker.

Note that Delegates can only yield if they have timeremainingattheconclusionoftheirspeech.IftheDelegatehasutilizedtheentiretyofthetimeallottedtohimorher,theChairwillnotpermityieldsandsimplymoveontothenextspeaker.

24. RIGHTOFREPLY

ADelegatemayrequestaRightofReplyonlyincaseswherethe Delegate feels their country’s national integrity hasbeen impugned by another Delegate. A remark thatimpugnsaDelegate’s“nationalintegrity”isonedirectedatthegoverningauthorityof thatMemberStateand/oronethatputsintoquestionthatMemberState’ssovereignty.

Any delegate wishing to use a Right of Reply shallimmediately (after the speech is completed) raise hisplacardandasktheChairtheauthorizationtousetheRightofReply.IftheChairdeemsthatsucharequestisinorder,theDelegatemay reply ina thirty seconds time-limitandstatewhytheDelegatefeelsthattheremarkisincorrectorunjustified. ARight of Reply can only be used during theGeneralSpeaker’sList.

TheChair’sdecisionwhethertogranttheRightofReplyisnotopentoappeal. ARightofReplytoaRightofReplyisoutoforder.


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VI. RULESCONCERNINGPOINTS

25. RAISINGPOINTS

AnyofthepointsbelowmayberaisedbyanyDelegateatanytimeaslongasitdoesnotdisruptaspeaker(withtheexception of a Point of Personal Privilege in extremecircumstances).ADelegatewishingtoraiseapointshall,atthepropertime,raisetheirplacardandstatethepointtheywishtoraiseandthenwaitfortheChairtoaskthemtostateitfully.TheChairshallthentakeanyactionnecessaryasperthe Rules below. Points shall be recognized before anyMotionorspeakers.

26. POINTOFPERSONALPRIVILEGE

If there is a circumstance impeding a Delegate fromparticipatingintheproceedingstotheirfullestability,oriftheDelegateisinpersonaldiscomfort,heorshemayraiseaPointofPersonalPrivilege.

For instance, Points of Personal Privilege may be raisedwhentheDelegatecannothearwhathasbeensaid, if theDelegatecannotseesomethingbeingprojectedonascreen,oriftheDelegateisnotcomfortablewiththetemperatureintheroom.

APointofPersonalPrivilegemayonlyinterruptaspeakeriftheDelegateraisingthepointcannothearthespeaker.Ifappropriate,theChairwillrequestthatthespeakerspeakmore clearly or louder or take any other action they feelappropriate.

PointsofPrivilegeforanyothersituationmaynotinterruptaspeaker.

27. POINTOFORDER

Duringthediscussiononanymatter,aDelegatemayraiseaPoint of Order to point out a case of improperparliamentary procedure either by the Chair, or by aDelegatethathasescapedtheattentionoftheChair.

ADelegatemaynot,whenraisingaPointofOrder,speakonthesubstanceofthematterunderdiscussion,andaPointofOrdermayundernocircumstancesinterruptthespeechofafellowDelegate.

ThePointofOrderwillbeimmediatelyruleduponbytheChair in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. ThedecisionoftheChairisopentoappeal.

28. POINTOFPARLIAMENTARYINQUIRY

When the floor is open, a Delegate may raise a Point ofParliamentaryInquirytoasktheChairaquestionregardingthe Rules of Procedure. A Point of Parliamentary Inquirymayneverinterruptaspeaker.

Delegates with questions not regarding the rules ofprocedure,i.e.substantivequestionsrelatedtothecontentofthedebate,shouldnotraisethisPoint,butshouldinsteadapproach the Committee Staff with the question duringcaucusorsendthemawrittennote.

VII. RULES CONCERNING WRITTENPROPOSALS

29. WORKINGPAPERS

WorkingPapersareintendedtohelptheCommitteeinitsdebateandneednotbewritteninResolutionformat.

DelegatesmaysubmitWorkingPaperstotheCommittee’sattentionbyraisingaMotiontoIntroduceaWorkingPaper.WorkingPapersarenotofficialdocuments,butdorequirethe approval of the Chairs before a Motion to introducethem is raised. The procedure to raise thisMotion is thesameasoutlinedinRule13. Numberofrequiredvotes:½majority.

Working Papers do not require the signatures of any Committee members. They will be displayed on screens where possible, but will not be printed bytheSecretariat.

DelegatesshouldtakenotethattheWorkingPaperisnotamandatoryprerequisitetotheDraftResolution.DelegateswishingtointroduceaDraftResolutionmaydosodirectlywithout trying to first introducetheDraftResolutionasaWorkingPaper.


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30. DRAFTRESOLUTIONS

A Draft Resolution may be introduced through theprocedureunderlinedinRule31,onceithasbeensignedbyone-fifth of the number of members present (includingObservers)andhasreceivedpriorapprovalfromtheChairs. ThislistshouldincludebothSponsorsandSignatories,eachto be listed in alphabetical order. A Delegate counts as aSponsor only if the Delegate has authored, or helped towritetheDraftResolution.TheroleofaSponsorindicatessupport of the Draft Resolution and no more than fourDelegatesshallsponsoranyDraftResolution.

ADelegatecountsasaSignatoryiftheDelegatehasagreedtosigntheDraftResolution.SigningaDraftResolutionneednot indicate support of the Draft Resolution, and theSignatoryhasnofurtherobligations.NotethatSponsorsofa Resolution do count towards the total number ofSignatories.

ObserversmaybothsignandsponsorDraftResolutions.

DraftResolutionsshallbewritteninthestyledeterminedatthediscretionoftheChairswithregardstoform,grammarandpunctuations.

31. INTRODUCINGADRAFTRESOLUTION

Once a Draft Resolution has been accepted aspredeterminedaboveandhasbeenmadeavailable to theCommittee,aDelegatemayproposeaMotiontointroducetheDraftResolution.


TheoperativeclausesoftheDraftResolutionshallbereadout loud. More thanoneDraftResolutionmaybeon thefloor at anytime, but only one final Resolution may bepassedperAgendaitem.

Once a Draft Resolution on the floor has been passed by the Committee, or all the Draft Resolutions have been put to a vote, the CommitteewillmovetodiscussthenextAgendaitem.

32. PANELOFAUTHORS

After a Draft Resolution has been introduced, any of itsSponsors may call for a Panel of Authors to answerquestionsraisedbytheCommitteewithregardstotheDraft

Resolution. The granting of a Panel of Authors shall bedecidedat thediscretionof theChair.Thedecisionof theChairisnotopentoappeal.

Ifgranted,theChairshallsetatimelimitoftwentyminutesmaximumduringwhichmembersofthefloormayaskshortquestionstotheSponsorsforthesolepurposeofclarifyingthe content or meaning of the Resolution. Both the timetakenforquestionsandforanswerscounttowardsthetimelimit.

Delegates should note that the Panel of Authors is not meant for the debate of principles, but is insteadaforumforstrictclarificationofthedetails ofaDraftResolution.

33.AMENDMENTS

AnAmendment is aproposal that simplyadds to,deletesfromorrevisestheoperativeclausesofaDraftResolution.DelegatesmayamendanyDraftResolutionwhichhasbeenproperlyintroduced.

InorderforAmendmentstobeconsidered,theyshouldbesubmittedinwritingtotheChairsforapproval,alongwiththe names of one-eighth of the Committee memberspresent, as Signatories of the Amendment. Amendmentsshall have one Sponsor exactly, counting towards therequirednumberofSignatories.

The Chairs may, at their discretion, approve theAmendment for transmission amongst the Delegates.Provided thatanAmendmenthas receivedapproval fromthe Chairs, it may be formally introduced by a Signatorywhen the floor is open. Amendments to an Amendmentcurrentlyunderdebateareoutoforder;althoughpartofaDraft Resolution which has previously been successfullyamended may be further amended through a separateamendment. Amendments may not affect preambulatoryclauses.

34. INTRODUCINGANAMENDMENT

Once an Amendment has been approved, one of itsSignatories may raise a Motion to introduce theAmendmentasperRule13.AftertheMotionisentertainedby theChair, theDelegate shall readout theAmendment.TheMotiontointroducetheamendmentisputtovote.



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Delegates should note that the vote on the Motion toIntroducetheAmendmenttothefloorisseparatefromthevoteonwhethertoincorporatetheAmendmenttotheDraftResolution. MerelyvotinginfavourofintroducingtheAmendmenttothefloordoesnotmeansupportfortheAmendmentitself. The Chair shall then form a Speakers’ list,with SpeakersbothforandagainsttheAmendmentsoasthereisanequalnumber of speakers on both sides. This Speakers’ listcannot have more than six Delegates (i.e. a maximum ofthree Speakers for and three Speakers against). Themaximum time-limit for these speeches is determinedbytheChair.

Once the Speakers’ list has elapsed on both sides, anyDelegate may raise a Motion to extend the number ofspeakers by up to three for and against the Motion. TheChairshallruleonthisMotionwithoutavote.

Once all the speeches on an amendment are over, theCommitteeshallvoteonmakingtheAmendmentpartoftheDraftResolution.


If an Amendment fails, it cannot be re-introduced on anidenticalclause(s).

35. FRIENDLYAMENDMENTS

If anAmendment is signedby all the sponsors of aDraftResolutionandonce ithasbeenapprovedby theChair, itmay be introduced as a Friendly Amendment at thediscretion of the Chair. Friendly Amendments do notrequireavotetobeintroducedtothefloornortotheDraftResolution.

VIII. RULESGOVERNINGVOTING

36. DEFINITIONOFMAJORITY

Asimplemajority isdefinedasmorevotes infavourthanagainst. A tie is taken as a failure. A two-thirdsmajorityrequiresatleasttwiceasmanyvotesforasagainst.

37. PROCEDURALVOTING

BeforeanyMotioncanbeconsideredbytheCommittee,theChairwillcallfor“Seconds”and“Objections”.IfnoSecondsare heard, the Motion will not be considered. If noObjections are heard, the Motion will be automaticallyadopted. If there are both Seconds and Objections, theMotionwillbevotedonbytheCommittee.All states must vote either in favour or opposed onproceduralmatterssuchassetting thespeaking timeandclosingdebate.Delegatesmayvotebyraisingtheirplacards.Delegates must vote for or against in procedural votes;abstentionsarenotinorder.

38. SUBSTANTIVEVOTING,ROLLCALLVOTE

A substantive vote is taken only on passing a DraftResolution: it corresponds to the final vote on the topicwhichhasbeenonthefloor.AsubstantivevotecanonlybeprocessedthroughaRollCallvote.

BeforemovingintoaRollCallvote,aMotionforClosureofDebatemustbeintroducedandapprovedbytheCommitteeasstipulatedinarticle18.ADelegatemaythenMotionforaRollCallvote.TheChairwillproceedtocallonMemberStatesinalphabeticalorderthereafter.

Inasubstantivevote,membersmayvotebystating “Yes”,“No”, “NowithRights”, “Pass” or “Abstain”;memberswhostated they were ‘present and voting’ cannot abstain, asstipulatedinRule10.Observersmaynotvote,inaccordancewithRule5.

Any representatives replying “Pass” must, during thesecondandfinalroundofvoting,respondwitheither“Yes”or“No”andmaynotpassagainorabstainfromvoting.

Anyrepresentativesreplying‘Nowithrights’canafterthesecondroundofvotingbrieflyexplaintheirvoteagainsttheproposal.Thespeakingtimecannotexceedthirtyseconds.

AftertheChairhasannouncedthebeginningofvoting,noDelegate can interrupt the voting except on a Point ofPersonal Privilege or a Point of Order relating to theconduct of voting. Delegates may not enter or leave theroomwhilevotingistakingplace.


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39. REORDERING THE VOTE ON DRAFTRESOLUTIONS

IftwoormoreDraftResolutionsareonthefloor,theywillbe voted on in the order in which they were submittedunlessaMotiontoreorderthevoteispassed.AMotionto

reorder the proposal may be in order immediately afterClosureofDebate,butpriortoenteringvotingprocedure.Such amotionmust specify a desired order. Once such aMotion has been proposed, the Chairs will acceptalternative proposals for ordering. This Motion takesprecedence over a Motion to Divide the Question on aResolution.Proposalswillbevotedonintheorderinwhichtheywerereceived.


Onceaproposalhasbeenpassed,allothersarediscardedandresolutionswillbevotedoninthatorder.

40. DIVISIONOFTHEQUESTION

AfterdebateonanyResolutionhasbeenclosed,aDelegatemaymovefortheoperativeclausesoftheDraftResolutiontobevotedonseparately.Thisshouldberaisedafterdebatehasbeenclosedbutbeforesubstantivevotinghasstarted.Divisionof thequestionmaynot separatepreambulatoryclausesandoperativeclauses.

If therearemultipleMotionsfordifferentdivisions, thoseshallbevotedoninanordertobesetbytheChairwherethemost radical divisionwill be votedon first. ThemostradicaldivisionisconsideredtobetheonethatseparatestheDraftResolutionintothelargestnumberofdivisions.AMotiontoDividetheQuestionisaproceduralmatter.


If the Motion passes, the Resolution will be dividedaccordingly.Partsof theResolution thataresubsequentlypassedwillbecarriedintotheseparatedfinalvotesontheproposal. If all of the operative parts of a Resolution arerejected, the proposal will be considered to have beenrejectedasawhole.

41. VOTINGINTHESECURITYCOUNCIL

General procedural rules for voting apply. Each MemberState has one vote. Decisions of the Security Council onproceduralmattersshallbemadebyasimplemajorityofninemembers.

Decisions of the Security Council on substantive mattersshall be made by a simple majority of nine membersincludingtheconcurringvotesofallpermanentmembers.VetoisheldbythefivepermanentMembersoftheSecurityCouncil: The People’s Republic of China, the FrenchRepublic, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom ofGreatBritainandNorthernIrelandandtheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Vetoappliesonlytosubstantivematters,thereisnovetoduringproceduralmatters.


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RESOLUTIONWRITINGGUIDE1

A resolution contains all the proposed solutions to a topic. Learning to write a resolution is very important because the ultimategoalofthecommitteesessionsisfordelegatestocomeupwithwrittensolutionstotheproblemstheyaretryingtosolve. The primary authors of the resolutionwill also be recognized as the leaders in the committeewhich distinguishes them from everyoneelseforawards.

I. BASICSOFARESOLUTION

1. Who

Whowritesaresolution?Anydelegateinthecommitteecanwritearesolution(anobserverstateisnotallowedtodirectlywritearesolution).Theauthorofaresolutioniscalledasponsor.Mostresolutionshavemultiplesponsorsbecauseittakesagroupofcountriestosharegoodideasandtocometoaconsensus.Someconferencesallowdelegatestosponsormultipleresolutionsforeachtopicwhileothersonlyallowdelegatestosponsoronepertopic.

2. What What isaresolution?Aresolution isadocument thatcontainsall the issues that thecommitteewants tosolveandtheproposedsolutionstotheseissues.It’scalledaresolutionbecausethat’swhattheUnitedNationscallsthedocumentstheyproduce.Technically,theresolutionshouldbecalledadraftresolutionbeforeitisvoteduponandthencalledaresolutionafteritissuccessfullypassedduringvotingprocedure.

3. When/Where Whenandwhereareresolutionswritten?Mostconferencesrequirestudentstowriteresolutionsduringtheconference.Specifically, resolutionsareusuallywrittenduringunmoderatedcaucuseswheredelegatesare free toroamaroundthecommitteetocollaborateonideaswitheachother,andsometimesstudentsworkoutsideinhallwaysorcomputerlabsaswell.Resolution-writingbecomesmorefocusedduringthelattersessionsofcommitteewhendifferentcountrypoliciesareclearanddifferentideashavebeenmentionedalready.

4. Why Theultimatepurposeofacommitteesessionistopassaresolution.Allthespeeches,debate,negotiation,andteamworkissupposed to lead up to a resolutionwhich contains all the proposed solutions to the issue. The resolution(s) that themajority of the committee agrees upon will be passed during voting procedure and the sponsors will be informallycommendedforbuildingconsensusongoodideas.Mostconferencesallowmultipleresolutionstopassaslongastheydonotcontradicteachother,butafewconferencesallowonlyoneresolutiontopass(thatisthecaseinthe2017editionoftheSPRIMUN°.


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II. HOWTOWRITEARESOLUTION

1. Heading

Theheadingcontains fourpiecesof information: thecommitteename, thesponsors, thesignatories,andthe topic(notnecessarilyinthatorderdependingoneachindividualconference’srules).

Thecommitteenameandtopicshouldbeself-explanatory.Thesponsorsaretheauthorsoftheresolution.Thesignatoriesareotherdelegatesinthecommitteewhodonotnecessarilyagreewiththeresolutionbutwouldliketoseeitdebated.Mostconferencesrequireaminimumnumberorpercentageofsponsorsandsignatories(oracombinationofboth)beforearesolutioncanbepresented—thisencouragesconsensus-building.Youwillalsonoticesomenumbering(onthetoprightcornerintheexample).Thisisusuallyprovidedbythecommitteechairandisjustawaytonumberthedifferentresolutions—usuallybytheordertheyarereceivedorapproved—sothatdelegatescaneasilydifferentiateorreferencethem.

2. Preambulatoryclauses Thepreambulatoryclausesstatesalltheissuesthatthecommitteewantstoresolveonthisissue.Itmaystatereasonswhythecommitteeisworkingonthisissueandhighlightpreviousinternationalactions.Theycaninclude:

– PastUNresolutions,treaties,orconventionsrelatedtothetopic;

– Pastregional,non-governmental,ornationaleffortsinresolvingthistopic;

– ReferencestotheUNCharterorotherinternationalframeworksandlaws;


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– StatementsmadebytheSecretary-GeneralorarelevantUNbodyoragency;

– Generalbackgroundinfoformationorfactsaboutthetopic,itssignificance,anditsimpact.

It’sverysimpletowritepreambulatoryclauses.First,takeastatementthatyouwanttowriteabout(perhapsanissueyouwanttosolveoraspecificfactfromoneofthefivebulletpointsabove).Youthentakethatstatement,combineitwithanunderlinedpre-ambulatoryphrase,andenditwithacomma.

Forexample,mycountrywantstoaddresstheissueofhowHIV/AIDShasspreadrapidlyinsub-SaharanAfrica.Ipick apre-ambulatoryphrasefromabove—I’lluse“Alarmedby”—andthenIcombineittosay:Alarmedbythe17% increaseinHIV/AIDScontractionamongsub-SaharanAfricancountriesinthepastfiveyears,[…] StrategyTip:Ingeneral,youwantfewerpre-ambulatoryclausesthanoperativeclauses.Moreoperativeclausesconveythatyouhavemoresolutionsthanyouhaveproblems.

3. Operativeclauses Operativeclausesstatethesolutionsthatthesponsorsoftheresolutionproposetoresolvetheissues.Theoperativeclausesshouldaddresstheissuesspecificallymentionedinthepre-ambulatoryclausesaboveit.


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Itisverysimpletowriteanoperativeclause.First,takeasolutionthatyouwanttoincludeinthedraftresolution.Youthentakethatsolution,combineitwithanunderlinedoperativephrase,andenditwithasemicolon(thelastoperativeclauseendswithaperiod).Operativeclausesarealsonumbered.Thisdifferentiates them frompre-ambulatoryclauses,helpsshowlogicalprogressionintheresolution,andmakestheoperativeclauseseasytorefertoinspeechesandcomments.

Forexample,myfirstsolutionistodistributelow-costmedicinesforHIV/AIDStosub-SaharanAfricancountries.Ipickanoperativephrasefromabove—I’lluse“Callsupon”—andthenIcombineitandnumberittosay:

1.Calls uponthe developed countries and major pharmaceutical countries to provide low-cost, generic medicines forHIV/AIDStosub-SaharanAfricancountries;

StrategyTip:Usuallymoredetailsinanoperativeclausewillmakeitstrongeroratleastmaketheideaclearertootherdelegates.Asimplewaytostrengtheneachoperativeclauseistoanswerthe“who,what,when,where,why,andhow”ofeachresolution.Thesedetailscanactuallybebrokendownintosub-operativeclausesunderneaththemainoperativeclause.


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4. Amendments Approveddraftresolutionsaremodifiedthroughamendments.Anamendmentisawrittenstatementthatadds,deletesorchangesanoperativeclauseinadraftresolution.Theamendmentprocessisusedtostrengthenconsensusonaresolutionbyallowingdelegatestochangetheoperativeclauses(thepreambulatoryclausescannotbemodified).Therearetwotypesofamendments:

a) Afriendlyamendmentisachangetothedraftresolutionthatallsponsorsagreewith.Aftertheamendmentissignedbyallofthedraftresolution’ssponsorsandapprovedbythecommitteechair,itwillbevoteduponbytheCommitteeandthenincorporatedintotheresolution.

b) Anunfriendlyamendmentisachangethatsomeorallofthedraftresolution’ssponsorsdonotsupportandmustbe voteduponby theCommittee.This also refers todelegateswhodidnotwrite this resolution at all but seepotential in itas longasseveralchangesaremade to it.Thesponsorsof theamendmentwillneed toobtainarequirednumberofsignatoriesinordertointroduceit.Priortovotingonthedraftresolution,thecommitteevotesonallunfriendlyamendments.

Writinganamendmentisverysimple.Allyouhavetodoismakeanoperativeclausethatadds,deletes,orchanges anoperativeclauseinadraftresolution.Examplesinclude:

- Adds an operative clause that reads “14. Encourages all Latin American countries to…”

- Deletes operative clause 9.

- Changes operative clause 1 to read “1. Calls upon the Red Cross to provide low-cost medicines…”

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