Platon School MUN. Student O fficer M anual

Transcription

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2 Platon School MUN Student O fficer M anual

3 This guide is based on the Official Student Officers Manual (THIMUN XLII Session), property of the Hague Model United Nations Conference

4 Chapter 1: PS-MUN Rules of Procedure Quorum Roll Call Debate Mode Points & Motions Yielding the floor to other delegations Amendment of the First Degree Amendment of the Second Degree Policy Statements Voting Duties of each Delegate Note-passing Funding Miscellaneous General Debate Overview Overview of the Amendment of the 1st Degree Procedure during Debate Overview of the Amendment of the 2nd Degree Procedure during Debate PS-MUN Rules of Procedure Amendment Sheet Sample Co-submitter Sheet 1

5 Quorum A session may be declared open by the Chairperson of each Committee, once 1/3 of the members are present. We encourage the Chairpersons to keep a close track of their Roll-Call list. Roll Call Roll Call must be taken every time the Committee session adjourns. Delegates who are often late should be reminded to come on time and if the tardiness continues, please inform the Secretariat. Please remember to ask for delegations that have not been called on after roll call. Example: We will now proceed with the Roll Call. Whenever you hear your country s name, please raise your placard high and state present. Debate Mode Open Debate is the mode followed in PS-MUN when debating resolutions. When debating amendments the closed debate mode is followed. Points & Motions Points during debate may NOT interrupt a speaker except for a Point of Personal Privilege, which refers to audibility. Delegates may not just immediately state their point, they must wait until the chair recogniees a Point. Example: Point of Information to the Chair. There has been a point of Information in the house, could the delegate please raise and states his point. Is the Chair aware Points Point of Personal Privilege Refers to the comfort and well-being of the delegate May only interrupt a speaker if it refers to audibility May not refer to the content of a speech Is not debatable Does not require a second Example: Could the windows please be opened? It is very hot in here. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry Point of information to the chair concerning Rules of Procedures May NOT interrupt a speaker Don t simply overrule them because they are unknown 2

6 Example: Could the Chair please explain to the house what is meant by Open debate? -be aware of the fact that delegates can create their own points, but that is not allowed. They can also accidentally use a different wording. Point of Information to the Speaker Always remain standing when the speaker is replying to your Point of Information A question directed to the delegate having the floor, and who has indicated that he/she is willing to yield to points of information Speaker asking the Point of Information may only speak if recognised by Chair Must be formulated in the form of a question, i.e. Is the speaker aware of the fact that A short introductory statement may precede the question Be fair and treat all delegates equally when recognising points of information to a speaker Example: Could the honourable delegate, as she is the main submitter of this resolution, please explain to the house what she implies with clause 3? Point of Information to the Chair A question to the chair May NOT interrupt a speaker Question referring to anything that does not fall under the category of Point of Parliamentary Enquiry, Point of Order or Point of Personal Privilege Chair to answer clearly and swiftly and move on with business Example: At what time do we adjourn for lunch? ALSO: Question asking for a statement by the Chair or clarification on an issue Example: Could the Chair please explain to the house, whether the Darfur Liberation Army has signed the Darfur Peace Agreement? be aware, however, as some delegates might use this in order to get their opinion across. The respective Chair should hold a short statement and swiftly move on with business Point of Order Delegates use this motion when they want to bring the Chair s attention to a speaker s or another delegate s mistake or violation of parliamentary procedure, i.e. if the chair makes an error in the order of debate or in the setting/observing of debate time May NOT interrupt a speaker Is not debatable Can only refer to something that just happened, direct reference, otherwise call it out of order 3

7 If used by delegate simply to cause disorder, again call it out of order Take your time to explain your decision clearly so that all delegates understand your arguments. Example: Is it in order for the delegate to yield the floor to another delegation since the floor was previously yielded to him by Saudi Arabia? Right of reply This is a short statement to a Speech by a delegate who has the floor Entertained only in opening speeches by Student Ambassadors Motions Motion to approach the Chairs When you want to speak to the Chair Motion to move to the previous question Calls for the closure of debate and a vote to be taken on the motion (resolution/amendment) pending When discussing an amendment, in time in favor, this motion means to move to time against the amendment May be moved by the Chair or a delegate, may not interrupt a speaker Requires a second by the house, and is quickly voted upon if an objection is voiced May be overruled by Chair if time needs to be filled Although delegates like to say Motion to move directly into voting procedure the correct expression is Motion to move to the previous question. Remind the delegates of this new wording Chair needs to ask for objections Motion to extend debate time At the chairs discretion/ not debatable Needs a second, if proposed by the house Needs a simple majority or a ruling by the chair to be adopted (e.g. due to lack of time or a guest speaker) Motion to follow up It is used when a delegate wishes the speaker to clarify or elaborate on the answer to the point of information just proposed by the same delegate. A motion to follow up should NOT be used to ask an entirely different question, and the chair must object to one as such. Motion to divide the House It is used when the majority of the final vote on a much-disputed issue comes to a tie to be considered conclusive. The house is then asked to vote again, but this time, with no abstentions allowed. 4

8 Motion to reconsider a resolution (This motion will be entertained only in the Specialieed Agencies) Calls for a re-debate and a re-vote of a resolution that has already been discussed (adopted) Done at the end of all other business Only necessary if no other draft resolutions on the issue are present Needs 2/3 majority (abstentions are not in order) Not debatable Yielding the floor to other delegations The floor may be yielded by one delegation to another consecutively only once Points of Information are in order, even after yielding the floor to another delegation Amendments Amendment of the First Degree An amendment is only in order if it is submitted to the Chair on the official Amendment Sheet before the delegate obtain the floor, and must be easily legible Delegate moves the amendment, but the Chair reads it out slowly and clearly for all delegates to note down Only one amendment per amendment sheet will be in order Delegations can vote for, against or abstain an Amendment Amendment of the Second Degree Can only be submitted in time against the Amendment of the First Degree, and debate on this amendment does not count as time against the Amendment of the First Degree Same procedure as for normal amendments Debate on the Amendment of the First Degree will always be continued, whether the Amendment of the Second Degree passes or fails Voting Only member states of the UN may exercise a vote right. No NGO is allowed to vote, on either amendments or resolutions Delegates voting on a resolution or an amendment may vote in favour, against or abstain Delegates and NGOs voting on procedural matters, may only vote in favour or against During voting procedure, all points and motions are out of order, except the Point of Order 5

9 A resolution will pass if the number for exceeds the number against, regardless of the number of abstentions; i.e. abstentions do not count either for or against the adoption of a resolution; the Chairperson still has to record the number of abstentions A resolution or an amendment with a tied vote fails. Close votes should be followed, upon request through the motion to divide the house (note that abstentions are out of order). Chairs are to be flexible and use common sense by mood of the house if a roll-call vote is really necessary The Chair should not state his/her opinion whether an issue voted on is good or bad; delegates tend to raise to Points of Order stating that the Chair influences voting procedures. General statement such as Passing resolutions is good is in order. A Chair must remain objective. There are NO informal votes at PS-MUN; all votes are real and count! The Chair after voting procedure announce the result: With x votes in favour, with y votes against, and n abstentions the resolution/amendment passes/fails. Clapping is in/out of order. Policy Statements A policy statement is a document that briefly and clearly explain the policies of a country/organieation with respect to the issues dealt with at the conference. There are two important reasons for drawing up this document: Delegates focus on the exact points of view of their country/organieation; Also, it serves as a reference document for delegates during the Conference. Thus, policy statements may provide an excellent tool in the lobbying process; they may also serve as the basis for the opening speech in the Committee A policy statement sets out to answer three basic questions: What is the background of your country s point of view on the issue? What is your country s current position on the issue? What does it hope to achieve in relation to the issue? Duties of each Delegate Speakers need to address each other in the Third Person at all times. Always honorable speaker or fellow delegates ; never You or I Delegates should stand when speaking and should not sit down until after the speaker has finished answering the delegate s question Delegates must not insult any member of the house, guest, member of the Admin/Security Staff or Student Officer physically or verbally Delegates must yield the floor when required to do so by the Chair Delegates should address the Chair and the house before presenting their speech. Example: Dear/Honorable Chair, fellow delegates 6

10 Note-passing Funding Note passing between delegates within a Committee is allowed. However, personal messages with irrelevant content are out of order The Chairpersons of each Committee reserves the right to suspend the notepassing if it gets too noisy in the house Notes to and from the Chairpersons are always in order Note-passing is suspended during voting procedure Funding may be discussed and included in resolutions, but bear in mind rule 13: No resolution can contain financial amounts but can refer to possible financial resources without specifications of exact amounts Example in order: Asks the IMF to fund above mentioned proposal, not in order: Asks the UN to pay $ 50 million out of their Rapid Reaction Fund, and the IMF to sponsor the remaining $ 35,45623 million out of their developing nations fund You can assume that the UN or other payers will find the money to fund the proposal Keep it general and do not go into specifics, and stop endless debates about funding immediately Miscellaneous Mobile phones must be switched off at all times Laptops may be used only during Lobbying procedure Smoking inside the premises is prohibited Refer as Less Economically Developed countries (LEDCs), not Third World or Developing Countries Refer as More Economically Developed countries (MEDCs), not Strong Economically Countries Eating and drinking during debate is not in order; water is an exception Delegates should not raise their placards before the Chair has asked them to do so Clapping is out of order; It is in order when a resolution passes 7

11 General Debate Overview Step 1 The Chairperson calls the House to order Step 2 Reminds and further comments Step 3 State the issue of the debate Step 4 Call upon the Main Submitter to read out the operative clauses Step 5 Set the debate time (i.e. 45 minutes) Step 6 The Main Submitter has the floor. He/she will deliver a speech Step 7 Once the Main Submitter has finished ask him/her whether he/she is open to any points of Information Step 8 The floor is yielded to the Chair or to another delegate Step 9 The Chairperson asks if there are any delegates wishing to speak either in favor or against the resolution. The speaker holds a speech and has points entertained Step 10 The previous step continues until the time for the resolution elapses, then you will move into voting procedure 8

12 Overview of the Amendment of the 1st Degree Procedure during Debate Step 1 The delegate submits an amendment on the official Amendment sheet Step 2 The Chairperson receives the Amendment, and he/she decides if it he/she will entertain it Step 3 The Chairperson reads loudly and clearly the Amendment so the delegates can write it down. He/She also writes the Amendment on the Smartboard Step 4 Step 5 The Chairperson calls the submitter of the Amendment to read the speech. Also, sets speakers for the Amendment (ex. 1 speaker in favour, 1 speaker against) NOTE: The submitter of the Amendment counts as 1 speaker in favour When the speakers (those in favour/against of the Amendment) have delivered their speeches and the point(s) of information(s), the Chairperson shall move into the voting procedure Step 6 The Chairperson informs the respective delegates whether the Amendment passes or fails, and if it passes, he/she urges the delegates to make the necessary changes on the resolution Note You should attach all amendments that have passed to the Resolution Cover Sheet and deliver them to the Secretariat or to the Approval Panel. 9

13 Overview of the Amendment of the 2nd Degree Procedure during Debate Step 1 The delegate submits an amendment on the official Amendment sheet Step 2 The Chairperson receives the Amendment, and he/she decides if it he/she will entertain it Step 3 The Chairperson reads loudly and clearly the Amendment so the delegates can write it down. He/She also writes the Amendment on the Smartboard Step 4 Step 5 The Chairperson calls the submitter of the Amendment to read the speech. Also, sets speakers for the Amendment (ex. 1 speaker in favour, 1 speaker against). NOTE: The submitter of the Amendment counts as 1 speaker in favour An Amendment of the 2nd Degree has been submitted. If there is plenty of time the Chairperson shall entertain it in time against of the Amendment of the 1st Degree Step 6 The Chairperson interrupts the procedure of the Amendment of the 1st Degree and then reads loudly and clearly the Amendment so the delegates can write it down. He/She also writes the Amendment on the Smartboard 10

14 Step 7 The Chairperson calls the submitter of the Amendment to read the speech. Also, sets speakers for the Amendment (ex. 1 speaker in favour, 1 speaker against). NOTE: The submitter of the Amendment counts as 1 speaker in favour Step 8 When the speakers (those in favour/those against of the Amendment) have delivered with their speeches and the point(s) of information(s), the Chairperson shall move into the voting procedure Step 9 After the voting on the Amendment of the 2nd Degree, the Chairperson shall modify the Amendment of the 1st Degree, if the Amendment passes Moves directly to the Amendment of the 1st Degree, without any change, if the Amendment of the 2nd Degree fails Step 10 When the speakers (those in favour/against of the Amendment) have delivered their speeches and the point(s) of information(s), the Chairperson shall move into the voting procedure Step 11 The Chairperson informs the respective delegates whether the Amendment passes or fails, and if it passes, he/she urges the delegates to make the necessary changes on the resolution Note You should attach all amendments that have passed to the Resolution Cover Sheet and deliver them to the Secretariat or to the Approval Panel. 11

15 PS-MUN Rules of Procedure Rule 1 English is the official and working language of this Conference. This rule also applies to the General Assembly, the session in the Committees and all the school premises. Delegates are to speak with civility. Rule 2 For the Conference to achieve its purpose during the Opening Speeches, the General Assembly and during the sessions in the Committees, all mobile phones and electronic devices must be switched off. Laptops are allowed during lobbying. No smoking is allowed on the premises. The conference is formal, so formal business style dress is required. Opennecked shirts, T-shirts, jeans, denim or cloth jackets, extremely high heels, trainers etc. will not be permitted. Rule 3 The Official Opening Ceremony, the Official Closing Ceremony and the General Assembly shall be supervised by the Secretariat. Rule 4 All resolutions shall be checked and approved by the authorieed Approval Panel. The Chairpersons will decide which resolutions of the General Assembly Committees will be discussed in the General Assembly. Rule 5 During all voting procedures in the Committees the guests may stay in the room, the members of Admin Staff must take their place for the voting procedure and the members of the Security Staff must seal the doors. Rule 6 No delegate can obtain the floor until the Chairpersons or President has opened the floor and given them permission to do so. This rule also applies to the General Assembly. Rule 7 The Chairpersons of each Committee set debate time for the subjects which if necessary, can be extended. Rule 8 Each country represented shall only have one vote per voting procedure; NGOs are not allowed to vote. Rule 9 If any delegate finds that it is impossible for them to attend their Committees for any reason they must inform their Chairpersons and their Advisor. Rule 10 All amendments shall be submitted during the Committee sessions on the official amendment sheet. Abstentions will be allowed on both resolutions and amendments. On procedural matters (motions) abstentions are not allowed. 12

16 Rule 11 During the voting procedure delegates raise their placard, to vote in favor of, against or abstain. However, when the motion to divide the house is entertained, abstentions will not be allowed. Rule 12 No motion or point can interrupt the speaker except for the point of personal privilege when it refers to audibility problems. The point of order can only interrupt the voting procedure. Rule 13 No resolution can contain financial amounts but can refer to possible financial resources without specifications of exact amounts. Rule 14 No delegate has the right to question the authority of the United Nations. The decisions of the Secretariat and the Chairpersons are final. Rule 15 The Chairperson decides when the proposals that refer to amendments shall be discussed. The amendment is entertained after the floor has been yielded by the Chairperson to the submitter. Rule 16 If the Committee votes come to a tie then the proposal will be rejected. Rule 17 The Secretariat reserves the right to ban any participant failing to adhere to the rules of the Conference. 13

17 Amendment Sheet Sample 14

18 Co-submitter Sign-up Sheet Sample 15

19 Chapter 2: Lobbying & Resolution Process Lobbying Process Resolution Process Student Officer Perspective Approval Panel Resolution Processing Plan Sample Resolution Resolution Preambulatory/Operatives clauses Plagiarism Resolution Cover Sheet 16

20 Lobbying Process Lobbying is one of the most important components of a MUN Conference, since it is the main process through which draft resolutions are crafted and merged. In PS-MUN, lobbying for the Committees of the General Assembly, the ECOSOC, the Security Council and the Special Conference will take place on the first & second day of the Conference. This process will be an opportunity for the delegates to have an understanding of where they stand with respect to the positions of other delegates, and the Chairs to gain the respect they need to effectively run the debate during the 3-day Conference. This respect will be gained by: Answering all administrative questions, such as ones regarding the rules of procedures, asked by the delegates, Knowing exactly how many resolutions are being circulated, Determining how many resolution should be entertained per topic, Figuring out what resolutions should be prioritieed for debate, Checking for plagiarism, Being helpful, friendly, co-operative and on top of things, and when dealing with the topic they are experts on by: Supporting the delegates in their lobbying efforts, Acting as mediator between parties, Answering all questions by delegates on the certain topic, Being in touch with all different merger-groups, Pioritieing resolutions by quality, based on the criteria including the scope and effectiveness of actions taken by operative clauses. Hence, the Chairs should during the lobbying process: Be actively engaged in lobbying, Have a clear picture of the actions and stances of every circulating resolution; Delete all clauses not in accordance with the UN Charter, Remove all clauses which are inappropriate for a UN resolution, i.e. an incorrect format, or obvious grammar mistakes, Make sure all abbreviations are written out in full the first time they are used in the resolution, Take their time to sit down with merger-groups and discuss all administrative problems and questions; frequently: Where is the Approval Panel and what do I have to do there? What will happen to the resolution when it is approved? What do I have to do if it doesn t get approved the first time? Where are the other delegates in my Committee, especially the Cosubmitters? 17

21 Make sure all delegates show up at the scheduled Committee sessions, Make sure there are enough co-submitter sign-up sheets and amendment sheets, and when dealing with the topic(s) they are experts on: Encourage merger-groups to merge their resolutions into one comprehensive one, as that will give stronger support for the resolution (more cosubmitters), Remind delegates that, although more than one resolution can be approved and be passed per issue on the agenda, there should not be a situation in which two resolutions of contradicting position should pass due to the compliance of delegates to their stances, so encourage merging if resolutions are very similar, Mediate between parties who cannot agree on mergers and the main submitter, Do not hesitate to make their own recommendations, Take their time to sit down with merger-groups and discuss all problems and questions on the respective topic; frequently: What does mean? Would it be against policy, if..? Where are other delegates that will support my resolution? 18

22 Resolution Process Step 1 Draft resolution is brought to the Conference Delegate will obtain a Co-submitter Sheet and will try to force an alliance (remind the delegates the minimum signatories that an alliance must have) Here delegate lobbies, merges resolution and re-types merged resolution Step 2 If the delegate has enough Co-submitters, the draft resolution is checked and signed by the expert Chair of each Committee if it has the right format and complies with the UN Charter, then the delegate registers the draft resolution at the Approval Panel If this is not the case, the resolution will be rejected until necessary changes have been made Step 3 Resolution is read and corrected by Approval Panel. (Major corrections to be done by delegate before re-registering) At the Approval Panel the resolution is given a D-number (D = draft) Step 4 Approval Panel gives the resolution an A-number (A = approved), if the resolution contains no spelling, grammatical and syntax errors Step 5 The Chair of each Committee asks from the Secretariat to photocopy the resolution, before the debate starts. Also, they decide the order of the resolutions to be debated Step 6 Resolutions are debated and amended in the Committee Then he/she asks from the Secretariat to prepare and photocopy the resolution for the General Assembly (this applies to General Assembly Committees) Note It is reminded that the Student Officers of each Committee, must deliver to the Approval Panel all amendments and the Resolution Cover Sheet, in order to be included in the PS-MUN Annual Report 19

23 Student Officer Perspective Student Officer Checks Co-Submitter sheet for signatures (Remember that NGOs are allowed to main and co-submit) Checks if resolution complies with the UN Charter Signs resolutions in order to be corrected in the Approval Panel Prioritises the order of resolutions that will be debated in cooperation with Secretariat Fill in the Resolution Cover Sheet for each Resolution debated in the Committee session and attach to it all amendments that have passed 20

24 Approval Panel Chair s duties Upon receiving a resolution, a Chair must do the following: 1. Gather the Co-submitter sheet and the USB flash which contains the resolution; 2. Check briefly the resolution in terms of: a. Content b. Accordance with the UN Charter, c. Obvious grammar and spelling mistakes, d. Security Council wording (such as Decides, Declares, Condemns, etc) e. Format f. Plagiarism (no thorough check needed) 3. Save it on the USB and send it via Main Submitter to the Computer Room for a D-Number (don t forget the Co-submitter sheet) 4. Send an Admin Staff to check if the resolution is ready and print out After the resolution has been sent to the Computer Room and has received a D- Number, the Main Submitter will bring you a copy of the D-numbered resolution. He/She may proceed with the lobbying. From the Computer Room (D-numbered) the resolution will be sent to the Approval Panel. After all has been checked and the Approval Panel has prepared your copies, you will receive the A-numbered resolution and the number of copies you have requested for. The expert Chair of each topic should be the one to correct the resolution on his/her topic For GA Committees: Resolutions that might be sent to the GA should be prioritieed and the Approval Panel should be informed through the use of an asterisk. (*) Chairs will NOT check the resolutions again after it has received a D-Number 21

25 Resolution Processing Plan After the check: Chairs through the Main Submitter Computer Room (D-Number) through a platform Approval Panel (A-Number) final check for grammar and spelling mistakes copies for the Committee Committee 22

26 Sample Resolution 23

27 Resolution Preambulatory/Operatives clauses Preambulatory clauses Acknowledging Expecting Noting with appreciation Affirming Expressing its appreciation Noting with approval Alarmed by Expressing its satisfaction Noting with deep concern Approving Fulfilling Noting with regret Aware of Fully alarmed Noting with satisfaction Believing Fully aware Observing Bearing in mid Fully believing Pointing out Confident Further deploring Reaffirming Congratulating Further recalling Realieing Convinced Guided by Recalling Declaring Having adopted Recognising Deeply concerned Having considered Referring Deeply conscious Having devoted attention Reminding Deeply disturbed Having examined Seeking Deeply regretting Having received Taking into account Deploring Having studied Taking into consideration Desiring Keeping in mind Viewing with appreciation Emphasieing Noting further Welcoming Operative clauses Accepts Deplores Requests Affirms Designates Resolves Approves Encourages Seeks Asks Endorses Strongly affirms Authoriees Expresses its satisfaction Strongly condemns Calls for Expresses its hope Strongly urges Calls upon Further recommends Suggests Condemns Hopes Supports Congratulates Invites Trusts Confirms Proclaims Transmits Decides Proposes Urges Declares accordingly Recommends Demands Regrets Any of these clauses can be reused by adding further or deeply in front of it All operatives clauses in bold can only be used by the Security Council 24

28 Plagiarism What is plagiarism? Take somebody else s ideas, words and use them as if they were one s own (Oxford Advanced Dictionary, page 943) In MUN delegates must prepare and create their own resolutions, based on information arising in depth research. Unacceptable phrase of plagiarism: The writer has only changed around a few words and phrases, or changed the order of the original s sentence. If you do this, you are plagiarieing. Acceptable phrasing: If a delegate rephrases information and ideas, this is plagiarism. However, if he refers to a source indicating all necessary information (Name, source, etc) this should be Plagiarism during Lobbying If you encounter plagiarieed clauses or entire resolutions, you should demand the main submitter to develop own ideas and totally rephrase their clauses, otherwise that resolution will not be debated. Use the plagiarism programme Viper ( to check resolutions for plagiarism. The programme is free of charge. Plagiarism during debate If a delegate can prove that clauses have been plagiarieed from another UN or MUN document, call on the Secretariat and the Main Submitter of the resolution, immediately. There are 2 possibilities: 1 clause plagiarieed: Call the Main Submitter to modify the entire clause 2 or more clauses are plagiarieed: It is in the Secretariat s jurisdiction to ask Main Submitter to withdraw the resolution 25

29 Resolution Cover Sheet 26

30 Chapter 3: Chairing at PS-MUN Chair Meeting Guideline Chairing Stock Phrases Useful MUN words to know 27

31 Chair Meeting Guideline 1. Roll Call 2. Brief introduction by all Student Officers in the Committee 3. Remind delegates that Ambassadors must deliver their speech during Opening Speeches. Also, they must bring with them their delegation s flag 4. Explain briefly: the Rules of Procedure (no mobiles phones, English language, no active laptops during debate, no smoking), the Points & Motions, what is plagiarism, dress code 5. Absent Delegates (when delegates need to be absent they should write the Chairs a note explaining the reason for their absence. The Chairpersons of each Committee must inform the Secretariat for any delegates that abstain) 6. Explain lobbying procedure: Inform delegates about the topics to be discussed over lobbying Inform delegates about Signatures and Co-submitter sheet Remind the remaining time for each topic Explain to the Main Submitters, the role of the Approval Panel Always keep an eye on the alliances that delegates form 7. Remind the NGOs that they are not allowed to vote during voting procedures (resolutions, amendments). However, they must vote in procedural matters 8. Encourage non-native speakers to be actively involved in debates. 9. Answer any questions 10. Let the PS-MUN Conference begin 28

32 Chairing Stock Phrases Please come to your closing remarks, when the delegate has exceeded the allowed speaking time The speaker has opened himself to points of Information. Are there any points of Information in the House?, after a delegate has opened himself to points of information May the Chair remind the House that delegates are not to speak unless they have the floor, when it is getting too loud in the House Could the House please come to order!, Can I have some order in the House, at the begging of a session or if it is to loud in the House May the Chair remind the House that fellow delegates are to be addressed with honourable Delegate, if a delegate forgot to address a fellow delegate in a polite manner May the Chair remind the House that Points of Information must be phrased as questions, if a delegate makes a statement when he is supposed to ask a question Could the delegate please rephrase the question?, if the speaker does not understood the question being asked, he can ask the Chair to please ask the delegate to rephrase the question Everyone in favour please raise your placard high., Everyone against please raise your placard high., and everyone abstaining, during voting procedures Is the point well taken?, when you want to ensure that the speaker has fully understood the question addressed to him There has been a point of personal privilege, when there has been a point in the House Clapping is (not) in order. When a resolution/amendment passes, the clapping shall be in order, otherwise is overruled The time has elapsed Could the delegate please yield the floor?, when you want the delegate to yield the floor to the Chair The Chair stands corrected, when you have made a mistake. It is important for a Chair to admit his/her error The floor is now open Please raise and state your point I m sorry, but, in the interest of debate, could the delegate please yield the floor? Security Staff please seal the doors, Admin Staff take your voting positions There will be no dialogue between the delegates The speaker will refrain from using unparliamentarily language The speaker will refrain from insulting other delegates 29

33 Useful MUN words to know In the Committee: Decorum: Out of order: Motion/Move: Proper way of acting. Being quiet. Not talking when the chair is talking. Typically heard when the chair is yelling DECORUM DELEGATES! at a committee that will not quiet down after a break. A procedure that cannot be performed at that time. For example, if you are in voting procedure, you cannot ask to suspend the meeting, this would be out of order. Or, it can be a motion that does not exist. The Republic of Korea MOVES for the suspension of the meeting for fifteen minutes. Thank you delegate, there is now a MOTION on the floor for a suspension of the meeting for fifteen minutes. Resolutions: Main Submitter: Co-submitters: Preambles Clauses: Operative Clauses: Those sponsoring the resolution, given that they are the main states working on actually writing the resolution. In each committee there will be a designated number of sponsors, a percentage of the quorum, needed for a resolution to be considered and submitted to the dais. States that support the resolution either, directly believing in what it says, or simply willing to see it debated on the floor. Like sponsors, a certain number of signatories will always be required as well. Clause at the first part of a resolution intended to supply background information/facts/appeals and reasons for the actions/suggestions/recommendations in the operative clauses. These will almost always be something like affirming or recognieing. Clauses in the second half of a resolution that call for specific action and aim to provide solutions to the given problem. These will always be active as well, using words such as calls for or endorses. 30

34 Chapter 4: UN Charter 31

35 Charter of the United Nations Preamble We the Peoples of the United Nations Determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, And for these Ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, Have Resolved to Combine our Efforts to Accomplish these Aims Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations. CHAPTER I PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES Article 1 The Purposes of the United Nations are: 1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;

36 2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and selfdetermination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace; 3. To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and 4. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends. Article 2 The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles. 1. The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members. 2. All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter. 3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered. 4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations. 5. All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action. 6. The Organization shall ensure that states which are not Members of the United Nations act in accordance with these Principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security. 7. Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII. CHAPTER II MEMBERSHIP Article 3 The original Members of the United Nations shall be the states which, having participated in the United Nations Conference on International Organization at San Francisco, or having previously signed the Declaration by United Nations of January 1, 1942, sign the present Charter and ratify it in accordance with Article 110. Article 4

37 1. Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations. 2. The admission of any such state to membership in the United Nations will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. Article 5 A member of the United Nations against which preventive or enforcement action has been taken by the Security Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. The exercise of these rights and privileges may be restored by the Security Council. Article 6 A Member of the United Nations which has persistently violated the Principles contained in the present Charter may be expelled from the Organization by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. CHAPTER III ORGANS Article 7 1. There are established as the principal organs of the United Nations: a General Assembly, a Security Council, an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an International Court of Justice, and a Secretariat. 2. Such subsidiary organs as may be found necessary may be established in accordance with the present Charter. Article 8 The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. CHAPTER IV THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Composition Article 9 1. The General Assembly shall consist of all the Members of the United Nations. 2. Each member shall have not more than five representatives in the General Assembly. Functions and Powers

38 Article 10 The General Assembly may discuss any questions or any matters within the scope of the present Charter or relating to the powers and functions of any organs provided for in the present Charter, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations to the Members of the United Nations or to the Security Council or to both on any such questions or matters. Article The General Assembly may consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments, and may make recommendations with regard to such principles to the Members or to the Security Council or to both. 2. The General Assembly may discuss any questions relating to the maintenance of international peace and security brought before it by any Member of the United Nations, or by the Security Council, or by a state which is not a Member of the United Nations in accordance with Article 35, paragraph 2, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations with regard to any such questions to the state or states concerned or to the Security Council or to both. Any such question on which action is necessary shall be referred to the Security Council by the General Assembly either before or after discussion. 3. The General Assembly may call the attention of the Security Council to situations which are likely to endanger international peace and security. 4. The powers of the General Assembly set forth in this Article shall not limit the general scope of Article 10. Article While the Security Council is exercising in respect of any dispute or situation the functions assigned to it in the present Charter, the General Assembly shall not make any recommendation with regard to that dispute or situation unless the Security Council so requests. 2. The Secretary-General, with the consent of the Security Council, shall notify the General Assembly at each session of any matters relative to the maintenance of international peace and security which are being dealt with by the Security Council and shall similarly notify the General Assembly, or the Members of the United Nations if the General Assembly is not in session, immediately the Security Council ceases to deal with such matters. Article The General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of: a. promoting international cooperation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification; b. promoting international cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion. 2. The further responsibilities, functions and powers of the General Assembly with respect to matters mentioned in paragraph 1(b) above are set forth in Chapters IX and X. Article 14

39 Subject to the provisions of Article 12, the General Assembly may recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among nations, including situations resulting from a violation of the provisions of the present Charter setting forth the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. Article The General Assembly shall receive and consider annual and special reports from the Security Council; these reports shall include an account of the measures that the Security Council has decided upon or taken to maintain international peace and security. 2. The General Assembly shall receive and consider reports from the other organs of the United Nations. Article 16 The General Assembly shall perform such functions with respect to the international trusteeship system as are assigned to it under Chapters XII and XIII, including the approval of the trusteeship agreements for areas not designated as strategic. Article The General Assembly shall consider and approve the budget of the Organization. 2. The expenses of the Organization shall be borne by the Members as apportioned by the General Assembly. 3. The General Assembly shall consider and approve any financial and budgetary arrangements with specialized agencies referred to in Article 57 and shall examine the administrative budgets of such specialized agencies with a view to making recommendations to the agencies concerned. Voting Article Each member of the General Assembly shall have one vote. 2. Decisions of the General Assembly on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. These questions shall include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, the election of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the election of the members of the Economic and Social Council, the election of members of the Trusteeship Council in accordance with paragraph 1(c) of Article 86, the admission of new Members to the United Nations, the suspension of the rights and privileges of membership, the expulsion of Members, questions relating to the operation of the trusteeship system, and budgetary questions. 3. Decisions on other questions, Composition including the determination of additional categories of questions to be decided by a two-thirds majority, shall be made by a majority of the members present and voting. Article 19 A Member of the United Nations which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Organization shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years. The General Assembly may,

40 nevertheless, permit such a Member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the Member. Procedure Article 20 The General Assembly shall meet in regular annual sessions and in such special sessions as occasion may require. Special sessions shall be convoked by the Secretary-General at the request of the Security Council or of a majority of the Members of the United Nations. Article 21 The General Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure. It shall elect its President for each session. Article 22 The General Assembly may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. CHAPTER V THE SECURITY COUNCIL Article The Security Council shall consist of fifteen Members of the United Nations. The Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America shall be permanent members of the Security Council. The General Assembly shall elect ten other Members of the United Nations to be non-permanent members of the Security Council, due regard being specially paid, in the first instance to the contribution of Members of the United Nations to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the Organization, and also to equitable geographical distribution. 2. The non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected for a term of two years. In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of the membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen, two of the four additional members shall be chosen for a term of one year. A retiring member shall not be eligible for immediate re-election. 3. Each member of the Security Council shall have one representative. Functions and Powers Article In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf.

41 2. In discharging these duties the Security Council shall act in accordance with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. The specific powers granted to the Security Council for the discharge of these duties are laid down in Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and XII. 3. The Security Council shall submit annual and, when necessary, special reports to the General Assembly for its consideration. Article 25 The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter. Article 26 In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the Members of the United Nations for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments. Voting Article Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote. 2. Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members. 3. Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members; provided that, in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting. Procedure Article The Security Council shall be so organized as to be able to function continuously. Each member of the Security Council shall for this purpose be represented at all times at the seat of the Organization. 2. The Security Council shall hold periodic meetings at which each of its members may, if it so desires, be represented by a member of the government or by some other specially designated representative. 3. The Security Council may hold meetings at such places other than the seat of the Organization as in its judgment will best facilitate its work. Article 29 The Security Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. Article 30