Rules of Procedure Guide

last updated: March 9th, 2022

Quorum

Quorum refers to the number of delegates present needed to open debate and must be established for any committee session to begin. This is established when one-third of the committee is present.

Roll Call

Roll Call will be conducted at the beginning of each committee session. Delegates may indicate “present and voting” or simply “present”. “Present and voting” means that delegates may not abstain from any substantive voting while “present” allows a delegate to abstain.

If a delegate arrives at a committee session late, they should send a message to the dais team to indicate whether they are “present and voting” or “present”.

Points

There are four points a delegate can raise at any point in time of the committee session. The four points are as followed:

1. Point of Personal Privilege
   If a delegate is experiencing any discomfort due to external physical conditions, they may raise a Point of Personal Privilege for it to be adjusted.
2. Point of Order
   A delegate may raise a Point of Order if they believe that the Dais has made a mistake in executing Rules of Procedure.
3. Point of Inquiry
   A Point of Inquiry may be raised if the delegate has questions regarding a topic at hand, Rules of Procedure or the Conference itself. Delegates cannot use Points of Inquiry as speaking time for the topic or as a rebuttal to another delegate.
4. Right of Reply
   A delegate may move for a Right of Reply if they feel like their national sovereignty and personal integrity has been attacked by another delegate. The Dais may grant the Right of Reply at their discretion.

Open Debate

After Roll Call is completed, the dais will open the floor for points or motions. At this time, delegates should motion to “open debate” for the committee session to officially begin. This motion will require a simple majority to pass.

Secondary Speaker's List

As the debate has been opened, a motion for opening “Secondary Speaker’s List” should be presented and voted on. This also requires a simple majority to pass. Delegates who wish to be added to the list should raise their placard (or virtual hand) after the dais requests so.

Speeches are usually one minute long and allow delegates to voice their general opinion on the topic being discussed. Their country’s stance and aspirations for the conference are usually mentioned in this speech. Delegates may use this opportunity to establish a strong first impression for their dais and fellow delegates.

Yields

Delegates who choose to speak during the Secondary Speaker’s List must yield their time in one of the four ways after finishing their speech. The four ways are listed below:

1. Yield to the Chair
   The remaining time in the delegate’s speech will be absorbed by the Dais team. This is the most common way of yielding if the delegate does not wish to yield to another party or questions and comments.
2. Yield to Another Delegate
   The delegate speaking may choose to yield their remaining time to another delegate present in the committee. The delegate being yielded to may choose to accept or decline this yield. If the delegate chooses to accept, then the Chair will allow them to speak for the remaining time. If the yield is declined, the remaining time will be absorbed by the Dais.
3. Yield to Questions
   Delegates may choose to yield their remaining time to questions, during which the Chair will select delegates to offer one question per time. When a question is being offered, it will not count towards the remaining time. The delegate being questioned may choose to refuse a question when deemed necessary.
4. Yield to Comments
   Similar to yielding to questions, the Chair will select a commenter to speak for around 15-20 seconds. The comments will count towards the remaining time and the Chair will permit a delegate to finish their comment if the time elapses.

Moderated Caucus

A Moderated Caucus is when delegates engage in 1-minute speeches on a specific aspect of the topic. Moderated Caucuses can be motioned for at any point in time, provided that debate has been opened. A delegate that wishes to motion should specify the duration of the caucus, the time limit for each speech as well as the topic they wish to be discussed. A general motioning format is as followed: “delegate of [country] motions for a [duration of the caucus] to [time limit for each speech] moderated caucus on the topic of [concise topic name]”

A Moderated Caucus requires a simple majority to pass, and once passed, the delegate that motioned may choose to reserve first speaker or last speaker’s rights. First Speaker’s rights will automatically be assumed if the delegate does not specify otherwise, and the delegate will have the first minute of this caucus to speak. Last Speaker’s rights should be requested by delegates and the last minute of the caucus will thus be reserved for them to speak.

Unmoderated Caucus

An Unmoderated Caucus is when delegates can discuss freely in a more informal setting without being called upon by the Dais team. Delegates may motion for an Unmod at any point, given that at least three moderated caucuses have been previously discussed. A delegate motioning should specify the duration of the Unmod, as long as it does not exceed 15 minutes.

A general motioning format is as followed: “delegate of [country] motions for a [duration of the caucus] unmoderated caucus”

This motion also requires a simple majority to pass and delegates may take this opportunity to collaborate with others on working papers or draft resolutions.

Presenting Draft Resolutions

A Draft Resolution that has enough signatories should be presented to the Dais for approval before presenting. Once approved, a delegate may motion to “Introduce Draft Resolution”. A simple majority is again required for this motion to be passed.

If the motion is passed, the Chair will give the floor to sponsors to formally introduce their draft resolution. Delegates would usually read out the resolution verbatim, meaning clause by clause.

Multiple Draft Resolutions may be presented in the committee and allowed for debate. Debate for these draft resolutions introduced can be in the form of a moderated caucus or a Secondary Speaker’s List.

Amendments

Delegates may choose to amend any draft resolution that has been introduced in two ways: Friendly and Unfriendly Amendments.

A Friendly Amendment should be first submitted to the Dais for approval before being presented to the sponsors of the resolution. This amendment must be unanimously approved by the sponsors for it to be automatically incorporated into the resolution.

An Unfriendly Amendment will also be submitted to the Dais for approval, but fails to be unanimously approved by the sponsors. In this case, the Unfriendly Amendment must have support from at least one-fifth of Quorum in order to be voted upon. If the amendment passes with a simple majority, it can then be included in the draft resolution.

Substantive Voting

To enter Substantive Voting, a delegate must first motion to “Table Debate”. This motion will need a two-thirds majority to pass. Substantive Voting includes voting for both Unfriendly Amendments and Draft Resolutions. There are multiple ways for voting that a delegate may motion for, but bearing in mind our conference schedule, only two options will be allowed:

1. Voting by Placard
   When Voting by Placard, the Chair will call delegates to indicate their votes by raising their placard (or virtual hand) separately in three categories: “Yes,” “No,” and “Abstain”.
2. Voting by Roll Call
   When Voting by Roll Call, the Chair will call on each delegate in alphabetical order. Each delegate may indicate “Yes,” “No,” or “Abstain” (if they were only “present” during Roll Call at the start of the committee session).

Close Debate

If one resolution has been passed by the committee, all other Draft Resolutions will be cancelled. At this point, delegates may motion to “Close Debate” to end the committee session.