RULES OF PROCEDURE

RULES OF PROCEDURE
 RULES OF PROCEDURE

Table of Contents
Contents
1. GENERAL REMARKS
2. SETTING OF AGENGA
3. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
4. YIELDS DURING FORMAL DEBATE
5. POINTS DURING MUN
6. INFORMAL DEBATE AND CAUCUSING
7. OTHER MOTIONS
8. INTRODUCTION TO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS
9. AMENDMENT PROCEDURE
10. VOTING PROCEDURE
11. LIST OF CLAUSES
12. SAMPLE DRAFT RESOLUTION
13. SAMPLE AMENDMENTS
14. EXPLAINATION ABOUT CHITS IN MUNS
 RULES OF PROCEDURE

GENERAL REMARKS
REMARK 1: SCOPE

• The Rules of Procedure contained in this document are applicable to almost

all United Nations committees during Model UN.

• The Executive Board of each committee has the right to alter the Rules of
Procedure (ROP’s) if it deems fit for the purpose of facilitation of committee
debate or addressing certain unanticipated situations etc.

REMARK 2: LANGUAGE

• The official language for the purpose of the conference shall be ENGLISH at
all times, including both formal and informal debate.

REMARK 3: DECORUM

• The Delegates are supposed to maintain diplomatic conduct at all times and treat
other delegates, the Secretariat and the Executive Board with utmost respect.

• The Executive Board can call to order or suspend a delegate if he or she fails
to adhere to this rule.

REMARK 4: REPRESENTATION

• Each member state shall be represented by only one delegate as per the country
matrix of the committee. Each delegate has one vote in each committee.

• The Secretariat or Executive Board can allow observer countries to participate

during committee debate. However, observer countries are not allowed to vote
on the final Resolution.

REMARK 5: PROCEDURAL VOTING

• Procedural votes pass by simple majority i.e. more than 50% of the
committee must vote in favor for a motion to pass.
• It is compulsory for each delegate to raise their during placards during procedural
voting i.e. voting on motions. Abstention from procedural voting is not allowed.
 RULES OF PROCEDURE

• If there are abstentions during procedural voting, then the Executive Board
is required to re-conduct the vote on the procedural matter.

FORMAL PROCEDURES
RULE 1: ROLL CALL

At the beginning of the opening session and other sessions, the Executive Board will
call on Member States in English alphabetical order to state their attendance.
Members can respond in 2 forms: PRESENT or PRESENT AND VOTING.

PRESENT: Present means the delegate can abstain on substantive voting i.e. voting
on resolution

PRESENT AND VOTING: Present and Voting means that the delegate has to vote
either YES or NO during a substantive vote. This means a delegate cannot abstain on
a substantive vote.

NOTE: Observer countries can only vote in PRESENT.

RULE 2: SETTING THE AGENDA

Once the Roll Call has been done, the committee then has to set the agenda for the
committee to debate upon. Therefore, delegates need to raise a motion to set the
agenda for the committee.

Motion to Establish the agenda: The Delegate of India would like to raise a motion
to set the agenda as “ State the agenda”

Example: The Delegate of India would like to raise a motion to set the agenda as “Human
Trafficking”

Once the motion has been raise, the committee is going to vote on the motion. If
the motion passes, the committee adopts the agenda.
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CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
RULE 3: ESTABLISHING THE GENERAL SPEAKERS LIST

Once the agenda for the committee has been established, the chair opens the floor for
establishing the General Speakers List. The General Speakers list is for the purpose of
general debate on the agenda at hand. To establish the General Speakers List, the delegate
needs to raise a motion for it.

Motion to Establish the General Speakers List: The Delegate of India would like
to raise a motion to Establish the General Speakers List.

Delegates wishing to speak on the General Speakers List are supposed to raise their
placards. The Chair shall then select a number of speakers on the list at his or her
discretion.

RULE 4: MOTION TO CHANGE TIME OF GSL (OPTIONAL)

The default time for General Speakers List is 90 seconds. But this time can be changed at
the start of the committee before the list of speakers is decided.

Motion to Change Time limit of GSL: The Delegate of India would like to raise
a motion to Change to Time limit of the GSL from 90 seconds to 60 seconds or 120
seconds.

RULE 5: YIELDS DURING FORMAL DEBATE

Once a delegate completes his or her speech, the delegate needs to YIELD in one of the
3 ways:

1. Yield to Chair: The delegate gives the floor back to the Executive Board. The
Executive Board calls the next speaker on the list to make a statement.

2. Yield to another delegate: His or her remaining time is given to another

delegate.

3. Yield to Points of Information: Other delegates can ask questions to the

speaking delegate. The chair shall select the questioners as per his discretion.

If a delegate exceeds his or her time limit, the floor goes back the to Executive Board
automatically. He cannot Yield to another delegate or Yield to Points of Information.
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POINTS
RULE 6: POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVLEDGE

Delegates can raise a Point of Personal Privilege in case of personal discomfort in

the committee. It can disrupt a speaker and the Chair must address it immediately.

You can raise a Point of Personal Privilege if:

• Feeling Hot or Cold

• Cannot hear other delegates

• Need to be excused from the committee

• Need logistical support such as pens, notepad, chit pad etc.

RULE 7: POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

Delegates can raise a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to get their doubts cleared about
the Rules of Procedure. This point cannot disrupt a speaker and is not allowed during a
moderated caucus. This Point is not allowed during Informal Debate i.e. Moderated
Caucus and Unmoderated Caucus.

RULE 8: POINT OF ORDER

Delegates can raise a Point of Order in case of a procedural error on part of the Executive
Board or a factual mistake committed by another delegate in his or her speech.

Procedure for raising a Point of Order:

• Raise Point of Order and wait for the Executive Board to recognize you.

• Once recognized, state the point of order as “Incorrect Statement” and

then “Correct Statement”.

This Point is not allowed during Informal Debate i.e. Moderated Caucus
and Unmoderated Caucus.

Sometimes the Executive Board might require legitimate proof to rule on the Point of
Order raised in the committee. It is recommended that delegates ask their Executive
Board about Proof’s in committee.
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INFORMAL DEBATE
Upon the recommendation of the Chair or other delegates, the committee can decide to
suspend Formal Debate (General Speakers List) and enter into Informal Debate.
There are 2 forms of Informal Debate i.e. Moderated Caucus and Unmoderated
Caucus. The Executive Board can entertain multiple motions at one point of time.

Such a motion is then put to vote before the committee. If the motion passes, the
committee enters into either Moderated Caucus or Unmoderated Caucus.

If the motions before the fail, the committee goes back to the General Speakers List.

RULE 9: MODERATED CAUCUS

Moderated Caucus is for the purpose of splitting the agenda into more specific sub-topics
and then discussing these sub-topics in greater detail. Moderated Caucus is a speech
delegates give on a specific subtopic of the agenda.

Motion for Moderated Caucus: The Delegate of India would like to suspend formal
debate and raise a moderated caucus on the topic State sub-topic for a total time period
of 10/15/20 minutes and each speakers time being 30/45/60 seconds.

It is important to mention all 3 parts of a Moderated Caucus i.e.

• Topic

• Total Time (maximum is 20 minutes)

• Each Speakers Time (maximum is 60 seconds or in some cases 90 seconds)

Once a moderated caucus passes, the delegates state speaking about the specific
subtopic of the caucus. The person who raises the moderated caucus is the first speaker.
Other delegates are then recognized on the discretion of the Executive Board.

Note: The Point of Personal Privilege is allowed in a Moderated Caucus.

Note: Other Points such as Point of Order or Point of Information are not permitted in
a Moderated Caucus.

RULE 10: UNMODERATED CAUCUS

Unmoderated Caucus is for the purpose of gather consensus in committee, doing

negotiations and drafting resolutions. During an Unmoderated caucus, delegates are
free to roam around in the committee hall.

Motion for Unmoderated Caucus: The Delegate of India would like to suspend formal
debate and raise an Unmoderated caucus for a total time period of 10/15/20 minutes.

The maximum time for an Unmoderated caucus is 20 minutes.

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OTHER MOTIONS
RULE 11: MOTION FOR TABLING DEBATE OR RESUMING DEBATE

Sometimes delegates can suspend discussion on one item under discussion or one
agenda under discussion and shift to another agenda. This happens in committees having
2 agenda’s for debate. Please not that in this conference, each committee has just one
agenda.

Motion for Tabling Debate: The Delegate of India would like to raise a motion for
tabling of debate on the current agenda “Name of the agenda”.

Once an agenda is tabled, delegates can come back to the agenda again through a Motion
for Resuming Debate.

Motion for Resuming Debate: The Delegate of India would like to raise a motion
for resuming debate on the agenda “Name of the agenda” .

RULE 12: MOTION FOR SUSPENSION OF MEETING

In order to break for lunch, the delegates need to raise a motion for suspension of the
meeting. Once a meeting is suspended, delegates can come back and resume the meeting.

Motion for Suspension of Meeting: The Delegate of India would like to raise a
motion for suspension of meeting.
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INTRODUCTION TO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS

The most important part of an MUN is drafting a resolution. The process of a successful
resolution is goes through 3 stages. Sometimes delegates tend to skip the first stage i.e.
making working papers and jump to the second stage of making a draft resolution.

Stage I: Working Paper (can be skipped)

Stage II: Draft Resolution
Stage III: Resolution

WORKING PAPERS

Delegates can propose working papers for the consideration of the committee. These
papers then aid in the formulation of draft resolutions. Therefore working papers can
contain problems and solutions to the agenda being discussed.

These are not official documents hence need not be in Resolution Format.

DRAFT RESOLUTION

Draft Resolution is an official document has a specific format. It contains the

solutions the delegates propose in committee.

There are some important ingredients of a Draft Resolution i.e.

1. Committee Name
2. Topic of Discussion
3. Sponsors
4. Signatories
5. Preambulatory Clauses
6. Operative Clauses

RULE 13: SPONSORS AND SIGNATORIES

Delegates can become part of draft resolution either as sponsors or signatories.

Sponsor: Sponsor of a draft resolution is the principal author of the resolution and
agrees to each clause contained in the resolution. Sponsors in effect control the content
of a draft resolution. One can be a sponsor of just one resolution.

Signatories: Signatories are those delegates that might or might not agree with the
substance or content of a draft resolution but want the resolution to be discussed or
debated upon in committee. One can be signatory to multiple resolutions at once.

Note: For a draft Resolution to be accepted, it must have 10% of the committee
strength as signatories.
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RULE 14: PREAMBULATORY AND OPERATIVE CLAUSES

There are 2 types of clauses that constitute a draft resolution. A draft resolution must
contain both Preambulatory and Operative clauses.

Preambulatory Clauses: These clauses are used to state the reasons why a committee is
addressing an issue and referring to past international action on the issue. Preambulatory
clauses might refer to the UN Charter or past UN Resolutions, statements made by the
United Nations Secretary General or just some facts about the agenda.

Preambulatory clauses must start with a Preambulatory Phrase and must be

separated using comma’s.

Operative Clauses: Operative Clauses are used to highlight specific recommendations or

actions the UN committee should undertake to address the issue at hand. Operative
clauses must start with an Operative Phrase and must be separated by a semi colon.

RULE 15: DISCUSSION ON DRAFT RESOLUTION

Once the draft resolution has been accepted by the Executive Board, delegates can
discuss the draft resolution in the committee. For this, the committee has to introduce
the draft resolution on the floor of the committee through a motion.

Motion for Introduction of Draft Resolution: The Delegate of India would like to raise
a motion to Introduce Draft Resolution 1.0 or Draft Resolution 2.0 etc.

This motion is then put to vote in the committee. If it passes by simple majority, the draft
resolution is officially introduced on the floor and can be discussed.

Debate on draft resolutions can take place in the 3 forms. The most popular is a Clause by
Clause discussion.

1. Clause by Clause discussion: In a clause by clause discussion, the sponsors

come on the podium and read out a clause of the resolution. Delegates can then
ask questions on these clauses. Then the sponsor reads out the second clause and
so on and so forth.

2. Moderated Caucus: Draft resolution can be discussed through a moderate

caucus too.

3. Provisional Speakers List: A Provisional Speakers List is the same as a

General Speakers List. The main difference is that a PSL can end and has a
particular topic. Other rules such as of General Speakers list are applicable as it
is.
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RULE 16: AMENDMENTS TO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS

An amendment is a proposal that either adds a clause, deletes a clause or modifies a

clause in a draft resolution. Signatories or other delegates in committee and send
amendments to the draft resolutions. Please note that all amendments are sent
through chit.

There are 3 types of amendments:

1. Addition amendment: It adds a clause to the current resolution.

2. Deletion amendment: It deletes a clause from the current resolution
3. Modification amendment: It changes the wording of a clause from the
current resolution.

Examples and Samples of amendments are offered in Appendix C to this document.

VOTING PROCESS FOR DRAFT RESOLUTION

Once all draft resolutions have been discussed in the committee and all amendments have
been passed or rejected, the committee can enter the voting process. In order to enter into this
process, delegates must close debate through a motion called Closure of Debate.

Motion for Closure of Debate: The Delegate of India would like to raise a motion for
closure of debate. Once debate has been closed, the Executive Board can entertain some
other motions such as Motion to Reorder the Draft Resolutions or Motion for Division of
Question.

RULE 17: REORDERING DRAFT RESOLUTIONS

By default, the draft resolutions are voted upon in the order they are received i.e., Draft
Resolution 1.0 is voted upon first and then Draft Resolution 2.0 and so on. But
delegates can raise a motion to re-order the draft resolutions before entering into final
voting process.

Motion for Reordering Draft Resolutions: Delegate of India would like to raise a
motion to re-order the draft resolutions.

RULE 18: DIVISION OF QUESTION

Division of Question means splitting a resolution into multiple sub- parts and then
voting upon each part separately. But please note that one has to raise this motion
immediately after closure of debate.

Motion for Division of Question: The Delegate of India would like to raise a motion for
Division of Question.
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For this split to happen, the motion for division of question must pass through simple
majority. If it fails, the draft resolution remains unaltered and is voted upon as a whole.

Note: Some committees allow the person raising the motion to mention which clauses he
wishes to vote upon separately. Some committee’s vote upon each clause alone i.e. clause
by clause voting of a resolution.

RULE 19: VOTING

Once all the procedure’s are complete, the last thing in a Model UN conference is voting
on the resolutions.

• During voting, delegates with their roll call as Present can respond in YES or
NO or ABSTAIN.

• During voting, delegates with their roll call as Present and Voting can respond in
YES or NO
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APPENDIX A: PREAMBULATORY AND

OPERATIVE PHRASES

Preambulatory Phrases Operative Phrases

Affirming Having considered Accepts Reaffirms

Alarmed by Having considered further Affirms Recommends
Approving Having devoted attention Approves Regrets
Aware Of Having examined Authorizes Reminds
Bearing in Mind Having heard Calls (For UNSC) Requests
Believing Having received Calls upon (For UNSC) Strongly condemns
Confident Having studied Condemns Supports
Contemplating Keeping in mind Confirms Takes note of
Convinced Noting with deep concern Congratulates Transmits
Declaring Noting with regret Considers Trusts
Deeply concerned Noting with satisfaction Declares accordingly
Deeply conscious Noting with approval Deplores
Deeply disturbed Observing Designates
Deeply regretting Reaffirming Draws the attention
Desiring Realizing Emphasizes
Encouraging Recalling Encourages
Emphasizing Recognizing Endorses
Expecting Referring Expresses its appreciation
Expressing its appreciation Seeking Expresses its hope
Expressing its Satisfaction Taking into account Further invites
Fulfilling Taking into consideration Further proclaims
Fully alarmed Taking note Further reminds
Fully aware Viewing with appreciation Further recommends
Fully believing Welcoming Further requests
Further deploring Further resolves
Further recalling Has resolved
Guided by Notes
Having adopted Proclaims
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APENDIX B: SAMPLE DRAFT RESOLUTION

Sponsors: United States, Austria and Italy

Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Japan, Canada, Mali, the Netherlands and Gabon
Topic: "Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex
emergencies"

The General Assembly,

Reminding all nations of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity, equality and
inalienable rights of all global citizens, [use commas to separate preambulatory clauses]

Reaffirming its Resolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages Governments to

work with UN bodies aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of
humanitarian assistance,

Noting with satisfaction the past efforts of various relevant UN bodies

and nongovernmental organizations,

Stressing the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is
in need of reform, particularly in the humanitarian realm,

1. Encourages all relevant agencies of the United Nations to collaborate more

closely with countries at the grassroots level to enhance the carrying out of
relief efforts; [use semicolons to separate operative clauses]
2. Urges member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of
Humanitarian Affairs to streamline efforts of humanitarian aid;
3. Requests that all nations develop rapid deployment forces to better enhance the
coordination of relief efforts of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies;
4. Calls for the development of a United Nations Trust Fund that encourages
voluntary donations from the private transnational sector to aid in funding
the implementation of rapid deployment forces;
5. Stresses the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the
political, economic and social situations and events of all countries;
6. Calls upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidated appeals
for humanitarian assistance; and
7. Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post-conflict
assistance through reconstruction and development. [end resolutions with a
full stop]
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APPENDIX C: SAMPLE AMENDMENTS

Amendments must be in proper format to be entertained by the Executive Board. Here
I am emulating the format of an amendment along with instructions. Please note that
one chit can contain just one amendment.

ADDITION AMENDMENT

An addition amendment adds a new clause to an existing resolution. In order to do so,

the delegate needs to send c Board containing the new clause in proper format. Just like a
normal clause, the addition clause also starts with an Operative Phrase and ends in a
semi-colon.

To: EB
FROM: INDIA

AMENDMENT
DRAFT RESOLUTION NO: 1
TYPE: ADDITION AMENDMENT

Requests all member states to enable safe unimpeded access to

humanitarian aid and humanitarian aid personnel in conflicts zones ;

DELETION AMENDMENT

Deletion amendment is used to delete a clause from a resolution. One just needs to
mention the clause number that needs to be deleted. No justification for deletion is to
be offered.

To: EB
FROM: INDIA

AMENDMENT
DRAFT RESOLUTION NO: 1
TYPE: DELETION AMENDMENT

Delete Clause 5
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MODIFICATION AMENDMENT

Modification amendment is used to alter the wording of one the clauses in an existing
resolution. For this, the delegate must write the original clause, then write the
modified clause and highlight the modified part.

To: EB
FROM: INDIA

AMENDMENT
DRAFT RESOLUTION NO: 1
TYPE: MODIFICATION AMENDMENT

Requests all member states to enable safe unimpeded access to

humanitarian aid and humanitarian aid personnel in conflicts zones ;

Requests all member states to enable safe unimpeded access to

humanitarian aid and humanitarian aid personnel in conflicts zones
pursuant to UNSC Resolution 2401;
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APPENDIX D: EXPLAINATION ABOUT CHITS

Chits are an effective way of communication with the Executive Board or other
delegates. Sometimes delegates are unable to complete their speeches and time runs
out. Sometimes delegates have a lot of research but do not get a chance to speak on al
the sub-topics.

Therefore, in Model UN, delegates use chits to send their research to the Executive Board
or other delegates. There are 2 forms of Chits:

1. Substantive Chit : Substantive Chits are used to send research to the Executive
Board. Most of these chits should highlight a delegate’s logical assessment of the
problem, its causes and possible solutions.

Tip: Do not send a chit of more than 1 page.

Tip: Chits should not just contain numbers, statistics. It should contain logical
assessment of the problem or causes and some solutions for the agenda.

Tip: Most of the Chits in Model UN either contain problems, or causes, or

solutions or all 3.

To: EB
FROM: INDIA

Problem: One of the major problem children face in armed conflicts is military
use of schools. Schools are used for recruitment of children into armies after
proper training.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, 30 incidents of such use
were recorded in 2015, compared with 9 in 2014. A total of 20 incidents were
recorded in Afghanistan, 40 in South Sudan, 34 in Ukraine and 51 in Yemen.
Under international laws, all parties in a conflict must not target civilian
objects such as schools.

Solution: Since the Oslo Conference on Safe Schools, in May 2015, more than
50 States have endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration and committed
themselves to better protecting educational facilities, pupils and teachers from
attack, including by incorporating the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and
Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict into national legal and
operational frameworks. I encourage all Member States to endorse the
Declaration."
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2. Via EB Chits: Delegates can send chits to other delegates to ask questions or send
replies. If you want the Executive Board to take into account your question
through chit or your response through chit, then please send the chit through the
EB.

TO: Thailand (via EB)

FROM: INDIA

What are the policies Thailand’s government has implemented to combat

human trafficking in Bangkok ? Have these policies resulted in fall in human
trafficking in Thai fishing industry ?