Lahore Grammar School Islamabad

Rudimentary Rules of Procedure

Table of Contents
I. Introduction to Model UN

II. What is meant by ‘Rules of Procedure’

III. Motions

IV. Caucuses

V. Points

VI. Yields

VII. Documents

VIII. Standard order of how a committee operates

Preamble:-
This document is a basic reference guide to be used by students as a quick refresher for the
standard rules of procedure that operate within an MUN committee. It is not to be used for the
purposes of an elaborate refresher but merely to get the gist of the standard rules of procedure.
PART I
Introduction to Model UN
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization formed after the dissolution of the
League of Nations post World War II. The aims and objectives of the UN are to maintain
peaceful global relations, maintain international peace, security and cooperation, undertake
infrastructural projects for the development of 3rd world and affected countries, up hold
international law on human rights and to advance sanctions against perpetrating countries. The
entire role of the UN is beyond the objectives stated above.
Model United Nations (MUNs) are a simulation of the UN where individuals represent countries
as their diplomats/head of states in a particular committee on a particular agenda/topic to its
fruition. The structure of an MUN conference is broken down into numerous committees with
their own agendas and the participants are referred to as delegates that speak in the 3rd person as
opposed to using personal pronouns.
 PART II
What is meant by ‘Rules of Procedure’
Rules of procedure are a set of guidelines against which a delegate is expected to conform with.
In addition, how a committee is to operate and how members of the dais (inclusive of chairs,
committee directors and assistant committee directors) are expected to behave and co-ordinate
the debate within their relevant committee. At any time, a breach of rules of procedure can be
called out and the respective individual may be penalized for the breach.
PART III
Motions
Motions are a formal way of giving direction to the committee, whether it be in the form of
debate or whether it be in the form of any procedural technicality related to the debate such as
resumption, suspension of debate etc. The language used within an MUN conference is
extremely formal and likewise in order to raise a motion, a particular set of words and language
has to be used.
Examples: Pakistan would like to raise a motion for a moderated caucus to discuss the
socio-political effects of demilitarization of North korea….
The delegate of Pakistan would like to raise a motion for roll call to be initiated.
We would like to raise a motion for the establishment of the general speakers list.
Motions cannot be raised out of the blue. Motions will only be entertained when the chair or a
member of the dais in charge of the committee “opens the floor for motions”. This phrase is a
common cue for the delegates to raise any motion they see fit within the confines of the
committee rules of procedures.
It is pertinent to note that a delegate may only speak within the committee if:
1) They have been recognized by the chair
2) For a point (explained later under V)
Some typical motions include:
● Motion for roll call
● Motion for commencement of debate
● Motion to establish a primary speakers list (PSL)
● Motion to establish a general speakers list (GSL)
● Motion for a moderated caucus
● Motion for an un-moderated caucus
● Motion for reverting back to the GSL
● Motion to suspend debate
● Motion to adjourn debate
● Motion to introduce working papers/draft resolution
● Motion to discuss working paper/draft resolution
● Motion to vote upon draft resolution
 PART IV
Caucuses
Caucuses are extensions attached to motions through which further direction is given to the
committee. Caucuses can be used either to specify and breakdown debate or they can be used to
break formal session for the purposes of committee direction and discussion. Caucuses are
namely of two types:
i) Moderated Caucuses
ii) Un-moderated caucuses
Moderated Caucuses
Moderated caucuses are formal caucuses through which debate is continued. As an alternative to
the General Speakers List (GSL) the moderated caucuses usually have an agenda attached to
them so as to specify the debate and have a targeted discussion on a particular sub-topic
branched out from the main topic.
Moderated caucus General speakers list

Formal portion of debate in which a specific No specific agenda, delegates are free to say
sub-agenda or sub-topic is debated upon anything they want

Time parameters have to be defined which Time parameters are not defined. The
includes maximum time and individual maximum time is on the discretion of the dais
speakers time however an individual speaker’s time exists.

There are no yields in a moderated caucus Delegates must yield the remainder of their
time

Moderated caucuses can only be introduced GSL is established initially and can be
when the floor is open for motions reverted back to in the absence of a valid
caucus and or on the discretion of the dais

A moderated caucus is a formal, debate oriented caucus which has to be arranged in a particular
format. When you raise a moderated caucus, it should include:
● Motion for a moderated caucus (the phrase)
● The agenda/topic of the caucus
● The total time of the caucus
● The individual speakers time for the caucus
Example: The delegate of Russia would like to raise a motion for a moderated caucus to discuss
the adverse consequences of herd immunity as a strategy for the COVID pandemic, for a total
time 15 minutes and an individual speakers time of 1 minute.
Un-moderated caucus
Un-moderated caucuses (un-mods) are raised to bring the committee into an informal atmosphere
and the standard rules of procedure are not observed. The chair(s) exits the committee room and
the delegates are no longer in a formal setting for the duration of the un-mod. An un-mod does
not have a specific topic/agenda attached to it and can be simply raised. This caucus is used
primarily for the following reasons:
i) Informal discussion between members
ii) Creation of blocs/groups
iii) Strategizing
iv) Document drafting
v) Deciding the direction of the committee
vi) Lobbying etc
Procedure for raising an un-mod:
● Motion for an un-moderated caucus (the phrase)
● Total time of the caucus
Example: The delegate of France would like to raise a motion for an un-moderated caucus of
total time 15 minutes.
Part V
Points
Within an MUN conference, there are specific points that you can raise while in a formal session.
The points represent a formal question/query/observation/reservation that you would like to
raise. It should be noted however that a point should only be raised when a delegate is not
speaking. There are three points that can be raised:
i) Point of Parliamentary inquiry
ii) Point of Personal Privilege
iii) Point of Order

● A point of parliamentary inquiry is raised when a delegate has a question pertaining to

the debate or to the procedure. Such a point can be raised to inquire into the nature of the
topic, any ambiguities or questions related to time etc
Example: *raising plac card* point of parliamentary inquiry – (if accepted) – Could the
chair please inform how much time is left in the current caucus?

● A point of personal privilege is raised when a delegate has a question pertaining to the
surroundings they are placed in or if there is a personal concern that they want to cater to
(such as a phone call or an emergency that requires them to leave the committee room).
This point includes but is not limited to: asking for something, leaving the committee
room, attending a phone call etc.
 Example: *raising plac card* point of personal privilege – (if granted) – Could the Air
conditioning be turned off. (If you need to go out of the room, simply raise the point and
if accepted just leave the room).

● A Point of Order is raised when the Chair or any member of the dais has breached the
rules of procedure. The breach could either be in disciplinary terms, procedural terms or
in any other way that violates the rules. An instance could be that, while a delegate is
speaking, the chair is either eating food, or talking or busy on his phone etc.

Example: *raising plac card* point of order – It is against the rules when a delegate is
speaking and the chair is eating/cross talking/busy on his phone as this is considered
disrespectful to the delegate.
Part VI
Yields
A yield is a concept through which a delegate dispenses the remainder of their time. A yield is
only applicable in a ‘General Speakers List’ – and not in any other way. Where a delegate has
time left and they have finished speaking they may either yield their time to the chair, a delegate
or to questions, following which the remainder of the time would be transferred if it is accepted.
i) Yield to chair – where a delegate has time left and does not wish to speak anymore, they
may simply yield their time to chair/dais and sit down.

ii) Yield to delegate – where a delegate has time left and does not wish to speak anymore,
they may yield their time another delegate, that delegate may then utilize the remainder
of the time to speak, if they accept.

iii) Yield to questions – where a delegate has time left and does not wish to speak anymore,
they may yield their time to questions. The committee members may then question the
delegate and the delegate would make use of the remainder of the time to answer those
questions.
Example: …Thank you, the delegate of USA would like to yield the rest of their time to the
chair/delegate of…/to questions.
Part VII
Documents
There are specific documents that are required or are a part of the proceedings of an MUN
conference. Each document has its own importance.
i) Position paper – a position paper is a document that is submitted before the start of the
1st committee session (in many cases) to the chair. The position paper seeks to summarize
the position of a country on a particular topic while touching upon the history, current
issues and solutions.
 ii) Working paper – a working paper is drafted in between the committee sessions (or when
the chair directs the committee to) and is a summary of all major points that were
discussed within the sessions. A working paper is an extremely important document
because the things listed in the working paper form the basis of the draft resolution.
Anything that is not discussed/stated in the working paper cannot be a part of the draft
resolution.

iii) Draft resolution – a draft resolution is the most important document in a committee
proceeding. It is the amalgamation of all issues discussed within the committee and the
solutions proposed by the committee to address those issues. If the draft resolution fails,
the committee will also fail. Once the draft resolution passes, it takes the shape of the
‘Resolution’ adopted by the committee. It is an extremely formal document and any
inconsistencies in the format are very strongly penalized.
Part VIII
Standard order of how a Committee operates
i) Motion for roll call – quorum is established for simple majority and super majority

ii) Motion for commencement of debate

iii) Motion for agenda setting (if two or more topics exist)

iv) Motion to establish General Speakers List (if only one topic exists or the agenda has been
selected)

v) Motion for a moderated/un-moderated caucus (depending upon the working of the

committee)

vi) Motion for suspension of debate (at the end of every committee session)

vii) Motion for resumption of debate (at the start of every committee session except the 1st
session)

The motion for the adjournment of debate is made before the introduction of the draft resolution.
Prepared by: Muhammad Afraz Khan
Model United Nations Coach
Lahore Grammar School Islamabad