Rules of Procedure

Letter From The Secretary General

Hello all. As the Secretary General of Bilnet Schools Model United Nations I would like to welcome
you all to our conference.

As Bilnet Schools it is our first time organizing a Model UN but I am very pleased to serve all of you
an efficient Model UN experience.

As the Secretariat we are eager to serve all of you a productive, amusing, professional and informative
conference.

Down below, you will find a document explaining the rules of the procedures those should be
followed in a committee written by the Secretary General.

I recommend all of you to read these instructions in order to understand the procedures of our
conference.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our Secretariat.

Best regards,
Hilal Öztürk
Secretary General
hilalozturk6@icloud.com
 GENERAL RULES

RULE 1: SCOPE
These rules are for the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Specialized
Agencies and Funds are self-sufficient and apply to the first annual session of Bilnet Model United
Nations, except for the modifications provided by the Secretariat or Directors and will be considered
adopted in advance of the session. No other rules or procedures are applicable.

RULE 2: DELEGATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Each member will be represented by one delegate, one head of state and one vote on each commitee.
The Secretariat, Committee Staff, Directors and Delegates are required to wear the BILMUN’24
badge at all times during the conference.

RULE 3: LANGUAGE
The official language is English in the conference. If a delegation wants to address an issue or to
present any kind of document related to the topic, this speech or document may be in English. If a
delegation tries to make a speech in any language other than English, the chairboard may intervene.
Delegates may not carry any documents related to the committee’s topic in any other language than
English. Delegates should speak in English in the official sessions of their committee, including
unmoderated caucus.

RULE 4: DIPLOMATIC RULES

Every delegate should be respectful to the Committee Directors and other delegates in the conference.
If a Committee Director appoints an action against this rule the Committee Director shall intervene
and call to order immediately.
Every member in the committee, including administrative staff, should respect the Committee
Director’s actions and decisions.
Speeches and questions should be directed to the Chairboard at all times.
Every delegate should wait for the recognition of the Chair before they start their speech.
When a delegate is delivering a speech, any other delegate may not intervene in the speech. Point of
Personal Privilege is an exception.
Cross talking is out of order all times.
A delegate may not show approval or disapproval signs at any times.

RULE 5: ELECTRONIC DEVICES

It is prohibited for delegates to use mobile phones, computers or any kind of electronic devices in
official sessions. Exceptions may occur in a committee. For example the Chair may allow the usage of
dictionaries etc. in an official session.

RULE 6: GENERAL TASKS FOR COMMITTEE STAFF

Committee staff should announce every official session’s beginning or ending. The Chair should
direct speeches, motions and debate in session.
If the Chair appoints an interruption of the debate or a procedural issue, the Chair has a right to
intervene and make clarifications in the committee. Also the Chair should control the flow of the
debate.
Committee staff holds the right to overrule motions or suspend them.
A member of Committee Staff may transfer his/her duties to another member of the Committee Staff.
RULE 7: ABSENCES TO THE COMMITTEE
If a delegate is not present during the roll call of the committee, this delegate will be considered as
absent until he/she sends a message stating that they are present to the Chair. In order to receive
Certification of Attendance or any kind of awards, delegates should attend every session. If a delegate
misses three or more sessions, this delegate may not receive a Certification of Attendance.

RULE 8:THE SECRETARIAT

All of the members should respect the Secretariat's decisions at all times.
Under Secretary General is responsible for his/her committee.

RULES FOLLOWED DURING FORMAL MEETINGS

RULE 9: QUORUM
The quorum is the number of Member States who need to be present for the Chairboard to open a
meeting and for General Assembly to make decisions.The quorum for opening a GA meeting is one-
third of the Member States in the Plenary and one-fourth of the Member States in the Main
Committees.The quorum for the adoption of the decisions and elections is a simple majority of
Member States.
Committee sessions may only begin when the quorum is met.

RULE 10: AGENDA ITEM

The Agenda Item decides which topics will be discussed in a committee. For this reason the first
matter of the Committee is setting the agenda. In single topic committees the Chair may use his/her
authority to set the agenda to the certain subtopic of the committee. If the Chair will not set the
agenda to certain subtopics, the agenda item will be automatically set. Voting procedure of setting the
agenda item requires a simple majority of the Member States to pass.

RULE 11: DEBATE

After setting the agenda item, delegates should open the debate by giving a motion. This motion is not
debatable and requires a simple majority of the Member States.

RULE 12: ROLL CALL

In the beginning of every session, the Committee requires a roll call.
The Chair will start a roll call after he/she continues with the official session. Chair will call out every
country’s name in alphabetical order. Delegates should raise their placards and state that ‘Present’ or
‘Present and voting’.
If a delegate is late to the committee and missed the roll call, they should state their presence by
sending notes to the Chairboard.

RULE 13: GENERAL SPEAKERS’ LIST

In a committee there always should be an open Speaker List. In this list there should be at least 3
Member States at all times for the convenience of the Committee. If there are not enough delegates in
the General Speakers’ List, the committee will be considered as failed.
If delegates wish to add their country’s name to the General Speakers’ List, delegates shall state this
wish by raising their placards with a request of the Chairboard. Also they can add their names by
sending message to the dais.
The setted individual speaking time for General Speakers’ List is 90 seconds. Delegates may change
the setted speaking time by giving a motion.
The delegates who have remaining time after finishing their speeches shall yield their time. Yielding
may be done in three ways:
a) Yielding to the Chair
The Chairs will continue with the next speaker on the General Speakers’ List.

b) Yielding to another delegate

Delegates may yield their remaining time to another Member State for this State to speak.
Delegates who are yielded have two options: accepting or rejecting the remaining time. If the
yielding fails, the original speaker should yield his/her time in different ways. If the yielding
passes the new speaker takes the floor.

c) To Points of Information
If delegates open themselves to questions, other delegates have a right to ask the delegate
questions about their speech. The delegates who have questions may raise their placard and
when the Chair allows the delegate, they may raise and ask their question. After the question,
the Chair shall ask the original speaker if he/she accepts the question. If the delegate accepts it
the delegate may answer the question with their remaining time.

If delegates do not have any remaining time the floor will be automatically yielded to the Chair.

RULE 14: MODERATED CAUCUSES

When the Chair asks for motions and points from the floor, delegates may give motions to have
moderated caucuses. In this situation delegates shall raise their placard and state that if it is a motion
or a point. When the Chair grants the motion or point, delegates shall raise and give their point or
motion. They should specify the topic and duration, including the individual speaking time. The total
time for a moderated caucus may not be more than 20 minutes.

If this motion passes the Chair shall ask the sponsor of the motion if the sponsor of the motion would
like to be the first speaker or the last speaker. According to the answer of the sponsor, the moderated
caucus shall begin.
In the case of multiple motions, the Chair will rank the motions in order of the length. If lengths are
the same then the Chair will rank the motions by the number of individual speakers.
For a motion to pass, there should be at least half majority.
Delegates who raise for making a speech upon a motion they should speak about the motion. If a
delegate makes a speech irrelevant to the topic of the motion, this delegate will be interrupted by the
Chair and the delegate may be ruled out of order.
The Chairs will ask if there are any delegates wishes to make a speech about the certain topic. If a
delegate wants to speak upon the motion he/she should raise their placard and when the Chair allows
the delegate to talk, the delegate may raise and deliver their speech in the setted limited time. Yielding
the remaining time is not in order in moderated caucuses.
When the total duration of the moderated caucus elapses, the floor will be open again and the
Committee will automatically move on with the General Speakers’ List.
A moderated caucus may be extended only once. It may not exceed 20 minutes.
RULE 15: UNMODERATED CAUCUSES
Delegates may give a motion to have an unmoderated caucus when the floor is open.
Before taking an unmoderated caucus at least one moderated caucus has to be taken.
The delegate who is giving the motion for an unmoderated caucus shall specify the time limit. The
time limit may not be more than twenty minutes.
When an unmoderated caucus’ motion has been given, this motion will be immediately voted in the
committee. This motion requires a simple majority to pass.
In the case of multiple unmoderated caucus motion, motions will be ranked according to time length.
The Chair has a right to overrule an unmoderated caucus motion.
An unmoderated caucus may be extended only once. However, extension motion may not be more
than the original unmoderated caucus and the extension may not be more than twenty minutes.
In an unmoderated caucus official language is English as mentioned in the previous rules. Delegates
may raise from their seats and cross talking between delegations are in order. Usage of electronic
devices will be allowed or prohibited according to the Chairs.
Unmoderated caucuses do not require limited topics.
When the time for an unmoderated caucus elapses, the committee will automatically move on with the
General Speakers’ List.

RULE 16: RIGHT OF REPLY

A delegate may raise a right of reply when he/she feels whose national, personal integrity has been
compromised by another delegate. The Chair may allow or reject this right of reply.
Right of reply may only be submitted after the speech in question is completed. Submitting a right of
reply long after the speech in question is not in order.
Submitting a right of reply to a right of reply is certainly not in order.

RULE 17: TIME LIMIT ON SPEECHES

The Chair may limit the time for per speaker. The time limit may not be shorter than ten seconds.
When a delegate exceeds his/her time limit, the Chair shall call the delegate to order immediately.
However, the Chair may use their authority for delegates to finish their speech before calling
delegates to order.

RULE 18: SUSPENSION OF DEBATE

Suspension of a meeting means postponing all of Committee functions until the next meeting.
Whenever the floor is open, a delegate may raise a motion to suspend the current meeting. This
motion generally will be given when the committee session’s setted time is nearing the end.
The Chair may overrule a motion to suspend a meeting. When in order, this kind of motion shall be
voted immediately. Suspension of debate motions require a simple majority to pass.

RULE 19: CLOSURE OF DEBATE

Whenever the floor is open, delegates may raise a motion in order to move on with a closed debate.
This may include a general topic, agenda item or an amendment.
When the debate is closed on the topic, the committee will move on with voting procedure on draft
resolution.
The Chair has a right to overrule a motion to close the debate.
Closure of debate requires a two thirds majority of the Member States to pass.
The Chair shall ask delegates who are against for the closure of the debate. If there are any rejections,
closure of debate automatically passes. When the debate is closed, the committee will immediately
move on with substantive voting procedure.

RULE 20: ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

Adjournment of a meeting means postponing all of the committee functions until the next conference.
Whenever the floor is open, a delegate may raise a motion to adjourn the current meeting. This motion
generally will be given when the conference’s setted time is nearing the end.
The Chair may overrule a motion to adjourn a meeting. When in order, this kind of motion shall be
voted immediately. Adjournment of debate motions require a simple majority to pass.

RULES REGARDING POINTS AND MOTIONS

The floor will be open to any kinds of points or motions periodically. When the floor is open,
delegates may raise their placards and state that if they are raising a motion or a point. Delegates who
are raising a point or a motion should wait for the Chair’s recognition at all times before stating their
motion or point. When the Chair recognizes a delegate to state a motion or point, the delegate shall
raise from her/his seat and state their motion or point.
Motions or points may be overruled by the Chair.
Motions or points may not be similar to a previous point or motion. If a delegate tries to state a
motion or a point which has been given before the Chair shall interrupt the delegate. The delegate
who has given an exact same motion or a point which has been given earlier by another delegate
should modify his/her motion or point.
All motions or points shall be entertained and/or voted.
In the voting procedure of motions the Chair shall ask for seconds and objections. If there are not any
objections, this motion will be automatically passed. If there are objections a procedural voting shall
be held in the committee. In this procedural voting, all delegates should vote in favour or against.
Staying abstain in a procedural voting is not in order.
A delegate may not vote against when the motion is his/hers. Withdrawing motions is in order.

RULE 21: POINT OF ORDER

At any moment of an official session, delegates raise a point of order if they believe an error has been
made in the Rules of Procedure by the Chair. The point of order shall be immediately decided by the
Chair according to the Rules of Procedure.
Raising a point of order when another delegate is making a speech is in order. Delegates may
interrupt other delegates.

RULE 22: POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

Delegates may raise a point of parliamentary inquiry when they have confusions about the rules of
procedure. In this case, the Chair shall make clarifications about the rules of procedure.
A point of parliamentary inquiry may not interrupt another speaker.

RULE 23: POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

When a delegate feels discomfort, he/she may raise a point of personal privilege. Point of personal
privilege may interrupt another speaker.

RULE 24: POINT OF INFORMATION

Point of information is only in order when a delegate opens his/herself to points of information on the
General Speakers’ List. Delegates shall raise their placard if they wish to raise a point of information.
However, as mentioned before, delegates should wait for the Chair’s recognition before raising from
their seats and stating their point.

RULE 25: RECONSIDERATION

Delegates may raise a motion to reconsider a draft resolution when a draft resolution or an
amendment has been recognized or rejected.
For reconsideration of a draft resolution, there should be a two thirds majority for the motion to pass.
The Chair shall move on with voting procedure for this kind of motion immediately.
If the reconsideration of draft resolution motion passes, the committee will immediately move on with
a substantive voting for the questioned resolution or amendment. This voting will be conducted
without any further debate.

RULE 26: APPEAL

An appeal shall only be made to procedural matters, excluding substantive ones.
Delegates may appeal the decisions of the Chair. However, as mentioned before, appealing a
substantive decision is not in order.
Delegates may appeal a decision only after a decision has been made by the Chair.
Delegates who has appealed a ruling has 30 seconds to explain the reason for the appealing.
In this situation the Chair may make clarification about the ruling. Afterwards, appeal shall be put to a
vote.

RULES REGARDING PATH TO A DRAFT RESOLUTION

RULE 27: WORKING PAPER
Delegates may use working papers as an aid in the committee. Using working papers that are not
approved and allowed by the Chair is not in order. Delegates shall submit all of the working papers to
the dais before introducing these papers in the committee.
Working papers are not required to be written in resolution paper format.
Delegates may give a motion to introduce a working paper when the floor is open.
If this motion passes, the mentioned working paper should be distributed to all delegates in the
committee by the Chair.
Working papers are not official documents and they do not require submitters and signatories.

RULE 28: DRAFT RESOLUTION

Draft resolutions and decisions are proposals submitted by one or more members of the Commissions.
There may be more than one draft resolution on the floor.
A draft resolution may be introduced when it has been approved by the Chair.
Signing a draft resolution does not indicate support for the draft resolution and the signatory has no
obligations. Signing a draft resolution only indicates a wish for the draft resolution to be discussed
and debated in the committee.
Signatories of the Member States in the committee shall be listed in alphabetical order in every draft
resolution.
A draft resolution requires at least a simple majority to pass.
Only one draft resolution may pass per Topic.
There are not official sponsors of a draft resolution.
A draft resolution should follow a specific format which is detailed below:
a) a draft resolution shall contain the following details at the top of the first page
1. Name of the conference
 2. Name of the committee
3. Topic of the committee
4. Signatories
b) the draft resolution shall include articles focused on specific areas, the articles should be
relevant to the committees topic
c) the articles should be detailed by specific solutions. These articles may contain subclauses:
1. all of the clauses should start with operative clauses.
2. all of the clauses should end with a comma. However, the last clause should end with
a full stop
3. excluding the preambles, all of the clauses should be numbered

RULE 29: INTRODUCTION OF DRAFT RESOLUTIONS

When a draft resolution is approved, delegates may proceed with the introduction of the draft
resolution. For a draft resolution to be introduced in the committee, the dais should approve it and
they shall ensure that the draft resolution is suitable to the Rules of Procedure. When the floor is open,
delegates shall raise a motion to introduce the draft resolution. If the motion passes, the draft
resolution should be distributed to all of the delegates in the committee by the dais. After the
distribution of the draft resolution, delegates will have a certain limited time, which will be decided
by the Chair, to read the draft resolution. No delegates may refer to the draft resolution before it is
officially introduced in the committee.

RULE 30: AMENDMENTS

Delegates may give a motion to make amendments to a draft resolution that has been introduced.
Giving more than one amendment at one time is not in order.
An amendment should be approved by the Chair and the Member States who have signatories in the
draft resolution.
Making amendments to amendments is not in order. However, an amended draft resolution may be
further amended.
As mentioned before, there are no official sponsors to the draft resolution and the amendments that
are implied.
Making amendments to preambulatory phrases is not in order.
Final vote of the amendments is substantive and the Observer Nations may not vote upon the
amendments.
When the floor is open, delegates may raise a motion to introduce an approved amendment. After this
motion, the Chair shall read the amendment aloud within a certain time period. This motion requires a
simple majority to pass. After voting the motion, general debate will be suspended and Speakers’ List
shall be established for and against the amendment.

RULES OF VOTING
RULE 31: PROCEDURAL VOTING
Excluding voting for draft resolutions and amendments, every other matter requiring a vote is
procedural vote. Every member of the committee must vote in procedural voting. Staying abstain is
not in order. A simple majority will be considered achieved when there are more ‘Yes’ votes than
‘No’ votes.
Procedural votes need one-third of a quorum of the Member States. A simple majority of the present
states may be required for a procedural voting to pass.
In a procedural voting delegates may vote in favour or against.
RULE 32: SUBSTANTIVE VOTING
This kind of voting will be implied on draft resolutions and amendments. When the committee closes
the debate on the specified topic, it will continue with the substantive voting.
In substantive voting, exits and entries to the committee venue are not in order. No interruptions are
allowed.
After moving on with substantive voting, there are limited motions in order which are:
1. Motion to divide the question
2. Motion to reorder draft resolution
3. Motion for roll call vote
In substantive votes there should be a quorum of half of the member states.
In substantive votes two-thirds majority of the member states is required for a substantive voting to
pass.
In a substantive voting delegates may vote in favour or against. Also delegates have a right to stay
abstain in a substantive voting.

RULE 33: REORDERING DRAFT RESOLUTIONS

Draft resolutions and amendments shall be voted.
Delegates may raise a motion to reorder the draft resolutions to change the order in which the
resolutions are voted upon.
This motion requires a simple majority to pass.
Only one motion to reorder draft resolutions may pass for each round of voting procedures.

RULE 34: DIRECT VOTING PROCEDURE

Delegates may raise a motion in order to move on with the direct voting procedure after discussing
draft resolutions and amendments.
If this motion passes, the committee moves on with a closed debate on draft resolution and
amendments.
Two speakers will be called upon to make a speech in favour of the document and two speakers will
be called upon to make a speech against the document.
Delegates who wish to make a comment upon the document may raise their placards and wait for the
Chair’s recognition.
All delegates who wish to make a speech will have 90 seconds.
After finishing the closed debate, the committee will move on with the substantive voting upon the
draft resolution.
As mentioned earlier in the document, in substantive voting cross talking, note passing, exit or entry
to the committee’s venue is out of order.
The delegates who stated themselves as ‘Present and Voting’ are obligated to vote upon the draft
resolution or amendments. Delegates may say ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Abstain’.
The delegates who stated themselves as ‘Present’ may not vote upon the draft resolution or
amendments.
In the Security Council, the five permanent members have the right to ‘Veto’ a draft resolution or an
amendment. If any of those members says ‘No’ in the Security Council, this will be considered as
veto and the draft resolution will be considered as failed.
If the direct voting procedure fails, the committee will automatically move on with the General
Speakers’ List.
RULE 35: DIVISION OF THE HOUSE
Delegates may raise a motion to divide the house if direct voting procedure fails.
If the motion passes, the committee will move on with the substantive voting upon the draft resolution
or amendments.
As mentioned earlier in the document, in substantive voting cross talking, note passing, exit or entry
to the committee’s venue is out of order.
The delegates who stated themselves as ‘Present and Voting’ are obligated to vote upon the draft
resolution or amendments. Delegates may say ‘Yes’, ‘No’. Staying abstain is out of order.
The delegates who stated themselves as ‘Present’ may not vote upon the draft resolution or
amendments.
If the substantive voting fails, the committee will automatically move on with the General Speakers’
List.

RULE 36: DIVISION OF THE QUESTION

Delegates may raise a motion to divide the question if direct voting procedure fails.
This motion requires a simple majority to pass.
If this motion passes, the committee will conduct a substantive vote on every clause of the draft
resolution or amendments.
Preambulatory clauses and sub-operative clauses may not be altered by division of the question.
As mentioned earlier in the document, in substantive voting cross talking, note passing, exit or entry
to the committee’s venue is out of order.
Articles will be voted in chronological order.
Articles that pass remain in the current document.
Articles that fail will be divided.
A procedural vote will be conducted on each divided part to decide whether or not it should be
included in the final draft resolution.
Dividing clauses to subclauses for voting is not in order.
If all of the operative clauses will be rejected in substantive voting, draft resolution will be considered
as rejected.

RULE 37: ROLL CALL VOTE

Delegates may raise a motion to divide the question if direct voting procedure fails.
This motion requires a simple majority to pass.
If this motion passes, the committee will conduct a substantive roll call vote of the draft resolution or
amendments.
As mentioned earlier in the document, in substantive voting cross talking, note passing, exit or entry
to the committee’s venue is out of order.
In a roll call vote, the Chair shall call members in alphabetical order.
The delegates who stated themselves as ‘Present and Voting’ are obligated to vote upon the draft
resolution or amendments. They may say ‘For’, ‘Against’, ‘pass’ or ‘Abstain’, ‘Yes with rights’, ‘No
with rights’.
The delegates who voted ‘Pass’ must vote in the second sequence of the roll call vote. For the
delegates who passed, staying abstain or voting pass again is out of order.
Delegates who voted upon either ‘Yes/No with Rights’ have the right to explain their vote.
Delegates may vote either ‘Yes with rights’ or ‘No with rights’ when there is contradiction with the
delegate’s policy in the draft resolution.
The delegates who stated themselves as ‘Present’ may not vote upon the draft resolution or
amendments.
If the substantive voting fails, the committee will automatically move on with the General Speakers’
List.