UNASMUN GENERAL RULES OF PROCEDURE TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: GENERAL RULES CHAPTER 2: DEBATE PROCEDURE CHAPTER 3: POINTS AND MOTIONS CHAPTER 4: RESOLUTION PROCEDURE TERMS USED Dais: The Academic team taking on chairing duties and/or backroom duties for the Committee. The House/Council/Committee: All delegates currently present for Committee Session. Quorum: Number of delegates currently present for Committee Session.
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL RULES 1.1 Delegates shall respectfully refer to each other either as: fellow delegate, 'this delegate' or delegate. 1.2 Members are to speak in third person in conference sessions. 1.3 The working language of UNASMUN 2017 Committees is English, members may communicate in other languages out of Committee Session but English is required for all speeches within Committee Session. 1.4 The UNASMUN 2017 Committee shall be chaired by a Dais of two or three Student Officers; who in their capacity will execute the following rules of procedure (ROP). 1.5 The Committee shall follow the Dais interpretation of the ROP; any motions or points may be subject to veto or alteration at the discretion of the Dais. 1.6 The Dais reserves the right to revoke rights of any delegate at their own appropriate discretion. 1.7 Committee Session will only commence with procedure with the quorum of 1/2, the Dais shall announce the quorum of the council after roll call at the start of each Committee Session. 1.8 The house shall adhere to the following definitions for voting: 1.8.A Simple majority is defined as half plus one of the quorum; 1.8.B Two-thirds majority is defined as two-thirds plus one of the quorum; 1.8.C Consensus is defined as the absence of any No vote. Abstentions do not negate consensus; 1.8.D Procedural voting indicates that no abstentions will be allowed for this round of voting; 1.8.D.I. If there are only seconds but no objections for a motion requiring a procedural vote, it will automatically pass. 1.8.D.II If there are only objections but no seconds for a motion requiring a procedural vote, it will automatically fail. 1.8.E Substantive voting indicates that abstentions will be allowed for this round of voting, and admin staff will be required to seal the doors in order to prevent any changes to the quorum until voting is concluded. CHAPTER 2: DEBATE PROCEDURE 2.1 Debate procedure shall always begin with a Roll Call on delegates present and voting in the Committee. 2.2 Delegates will have to indicate verbally whether they are present and voting. 2.3 Upon setting of quorum, the Dais will announce to the council numbers required for simple majority and two-thirds majority. 2.4 After quorum has been set, the floor will be open to Motions.
2.4.A At this point of time, only Motions to Open the General Speaker s List should be entertained; the Dais should exercise their judgment over the granting of other Motions. 2.4.B The Motion to Open the General Speaker s List requires procedural voting, with a simple majority to pass. 2.5 Once the General Speaker s List (GSL) is open, the Dais will add speakers to the GSL by requesting interested delegates to raise their placards. After which, members shall raise their intention to be added via note-passing unless the Dais re-opens the GSL. 2.6 Before the first speaker, the Dais shall set the individual speaking time of the current speaker s list. 2.7 Upon the exhaustion of the speaker s list, or upon the discretion of the Dais, the Committee will be open to Motions, said motions are limited to the following unless stated otherwise by the Dais: 2.7.A Motion for Moderated Caucus, delegates may use this Motion to change and focus the debate to a particular area, or topic. 2.7.A.I Delegates may raise their placards to raise the motion. After he or she has been recognised by the Dais, delegates will state the topic, total speaking time, and individual speaking time for the intended Moderated Caucus. 2.7.A.II The topic must be of some relevancy to the topic at hand. 2.7.A.III The Dais reserves the right to veto or alter the Moderated Caucus at their own discretion. 2.7.B Motion for Unmoderated Caucus, delegates may use this motion to leave a formal setting in order to engage delegates on a more personal level. 2.7.B.I Delegates may raise their placards to raise the motion. After being recognised by the Dais, delegates will state the total time of the Unmoderated Caucus, and when required, the topic for the Unmoderated Caucus. 2.7.B.II The topic, if required, should be of some relevancy to the topic at hand. 2.7.B.III The Dais reserves the right to veto or alter the Unmoderated Caucus at their own discretion. 2.7.B.IV The member who motioned for the topic must present a 60-second speech on the activities of the House during the Unmoderated Caucus after the time for the caucus has elapsed. 2.7.C Motion for Extension of Moderated/Unmoderated Caucus, this Motion may only be raised if a Moderated or Unmoderated Caucus is currently taking place. 2.7.C.I Delegates may raise this Motion by raising their placard. After being recognised by the Dais, delegates will state the timing of the Extension, and when required, the reasons justifying an Extension of the current Caucus. 2.7.D All Motions covered in 2.8 require procedural voting and a simple majority to pass.
2.8 Utmost respect for delegates presenting their speeches is strictly required. No lobbying, verbal communication, and cross-talking which causes disturbance and distraction to the Committee is allowed during speeches. Strictly only note-passing is in order. 2.9 Motion to Close Debate 2.9.A When the floor is open, a delegate may Motion to Close Debate on the substantive matter under discussion. This may be the current Topic or the Resolution being debated. 2.9.B The Dais may, subject to appeal, rule the Motion out of order. 2.9.C This Motion requires two speakers for and two speakers against to be recognised. Each speaker will have 60 seconds to make their speech, or otherwise determined by the Dais. 2.9.D Closure of debate and movement directly to voting procedures on the Motion is a procedural vote and requires a two-third majority to pass. 2.9.E After the motion passes, the Committee votes on the closure of debate, which is a substantive vote and requires two thirds majority to pass. 2.10 Motion to Suspend Committee Session 2.10.A The Suspension of Committee Session means the postponement of all Committee functions until the next Committee Session. 2.10.B This Motion may only be raised 15 minutes prior to the scheduled end of committee session. 2.10.C This Motion is a procedural vote and requires a simple majority to pass. 2.10.D In case of emergency, to be declared verbally or officially through documents by the Secretariat, all debate will be automatically suspended. 2.11 Motion to Adjourn Committee Session 2.11.A The Adjournment of the Session means all business of the Committee has been completed and will not reconvene, 2.11.B This motion is a procedural vote and requires simple majority to pass. CHAPTER 3: DELEGATE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES 3.1 Every delegate is to be courteous towards all conference staffs and delegates. No speech or debate containing slandering or disrespectful remarks will be entertained. 3.2 Point of Personal Privilege 3.2.A This point may be raised by a delegate for matters concerning personal well-being, such as temperature of the room, requesting a bathroom break, audibility of the current speaker, or any other circumstance the Dais deems appropriate 3.2.B Only a Point of Personal Privilege regarding audibility of the current speaker may interrupt a speech. 3.3 Right to Reply
3.3.A This right may be raised by a delegate immediately after conclusion of a speech and shall be entertained immediately. 3.3.B This right may be raised when a delegate feels his/her country s or his/her personal reputation is blatantly assaulted or misjudged by the speaker. The Dais may require the delegate who raises this right to explain why it is necessary. 3.3.C If the Right to Reply has been deemed by the Dais to be appropriate, the delegate who has made the offending speech will have to deliver an apology to the offended delegate. If the delegate refuses to make an apology or the Dais deems the apology inappropriate, the Dais may undertake any disciplinary action they deem appropriate. 3.4 Point of Parliamentary Inquiry 3.4.A This point may be raised by a delegate to the Dais in order to clarify any queries about Rules of Procedure they may have with the Dais. 3.5 Point of Information 3.5.A This point may be raised by a delegate to the current speaker at the end of his or her speech, if he or she has opened him or herself to Points of Information and the Dais has granted one or more Points of Information from the Committee. 3.5.B The delegate may raise this point by raising his or her placard at the end of a speech. The Dais will recognise one or more delegates who wish to raise a Point of Information in order. These delegates will then state the Point of Information to the current speaker in the order they have been recognised. 3.5.C The Point of Information must come in the form of a question. If this is not adhered to or if the Point of Information is unclear to the current speaker, the current speaker or the Dais may request the delegate to restate his or her Point of Information. 3.5.C Follow-ups to Points of Information may only be allowed at the discretion of the Dais. However, delegates are encouraged to follow up in the form of note passing. CHAPTER 4: RESOLUTION PROCEDURE 4.1 The Resolution is the final result of discussion by the Committee on the topic at hand. Delegates must first submit a Draft Resolution and it must be passed by the Committee for it to be formalised as a Resolution. 4.2 Delegates who wish to submit a Draft Resolution must first write the Draft Resolution in accordance with the format recommended by the Dais, then submit it to the Dais through electronic means for vetting. 4.2.A The Draft Resolution must be in the format of a single sentence, with two main components of the Preambulatory Clauses as well as the Operative Clauses: 4.2.A.I Preambulatory Clauses: This section details justifications for action these may include historic justification or reasons that have been discussed in Committee Session. Each Preambulatory Clause begins with an italicised present participle, otherwise known as a Preambulatory Phrase, and ends with a comma. 4.2.A.II Operative Clauses: This section should be numbered, and details the actions or suggestions that the writers wish to recommend in order to resolve the
topic at hand. Each Operative Clause should begin with an underlined verb, otherwise known as an Operative Phrase, and end with a semicolon except for the last operative clause, which should end with a period. 4.2.B The Draft Resolution must have one Main Submitter, at least two co-submitters, and at least 20% of the Quorum as Signatories for it to be considered. 4.2.C Once the Dais has approved of the Draft Resolution, they shall inform the Main Submitter through notepassing or verbally. 4.3 Once the Main Submitter has been informed that the Draft Resolution may be introduced, only the Main Submitter may Motion to Introduce Draft Resolution. 4.3.A The Motion to Introduce Draft Resolution may be raised when the Committee is open to Motions, or on the recommendation of the Dais. 4.3.B This Motion requires a procedural vote and simple majority to pass. 4.3.C Once this Motion is passed, the Main Submitter will read out the Operative Clauses of the Draft Resolution after which the Dais may grant further reading time for the rest of the Draft Resolution. 4.4 Upon the conclusion of reading time, the Committee will move into Closed Debate on the Draft Resolution. 4.4.A The Dais will recognise two speakers For, then two speakers Against the Draft Resolution. The number of speakers may be changed at the Dais discretion. 4.4.B The Dais will set individual speaking time for each speech. After which, the speakers For will speak first, then the speakers Against. 4.4.C During this time the Dais will open itself up for Amendments to the Draft Resolution. It is not obliged to process all Amendments. 4.4.D Upon exhaustion of speakers For and Against the Amendment, any delegate may Motion to Extend Closed Debate. This Motion requires substantial voting and a simple majority to pass, upon which the Dais may only extend the Closed Debate by one speaker For and one speaker Against. 4.5 Amendments to the Draft Resolution may only be submitted once the Dais is open to any Amendments, and comes in two forms: Friendly and Unfriendly Amendments. 4.5.A Friendly Amendments: These require approval by signature of all Submitters of the Draft Resolution (Main Submitter and all co-submitters), and will automatically pass. The Dais will announce the relevant changes at the first opportunity. 4.5.B Unfriendly Amendments: These do not require approval by Submitters of the Resolution. 4.5.B.I The delegate must submit the Unfriendly Amendment by notepaper or electronically for vetting, after which the Dais will inform the delegate that the Amendment may be introduced.
4.5.B.II The submitter of the Unfriendly Amendment must then raise a Motion to Introduce Unfriendly Amendment. This is a procedural vote and requires simple majority to pass. 4.5.B.III Once the Motion has passed, the submitter will read out the Unfriendly Amendment. Once he or she has done so, Committee will move into Closed Debate on the Unfriendly Amendment. The Dais will recognise one speaker For and one speaker Against the Unfriendly Amendment, or as many as the Dais deems necessary. 4.5.B.IV Upon the exhaustion of all speakers Closed Debate on the Unfriendly Amendment automatically ends, and the Committee votes on the Unfriendly Amendment. This requires substantive voting and a two-thirds majority to pass. 4.5.C Amendments to the Second Degree: These Amendments may be made only when a Friendly or Unfriendly Amendment is currently being discussed, and are secondary amendments made to the current Amendment being discussed. They will only be accepted at the discretion of the Dais, and the rules of procedure will otherwise be the same as those detailed in 4.5.A or 4.5.B whether they are Amendments to a Friendly or Unfriendly Amendment respectively. 4.6 When Closed Debate on the Draft Resolution has ended, the Committee will then enter Open Debate on the Draft Resolution. The Dais will still be open to Amendments during Open Debate on the Draft Resolution. 4.7 Motion to Enter Direct Voting Procedures 4.7.A This Motion may normally only be raised during Open Debate on the Draft Resolution, or may be entertained at any time after Introduction of the Draft Resolution at the discretion of the Dais. 4.7.B This Motion requires a procedural vote and simple majority to pass. 4.7.C Once this Motion has passed, the Dais will direct the admin staff to lock the doors of the Committee room, regardless if any members are outside the House. Voting on the Draft Resolution is a substantive voting, and requires two-thirds majority to pass. 4.8 Motion for Roll Call Vote 4.8.A This Motion may be raised once by the Submitters (Main and co-submitters) upon the failure of a Draft Resolution to pass. 4.8.B This Motion requires procedural vote and a simple majority to pass. 4.8.C Upon passing of this Motion, the Dais will call upon delegates in alphabetical order to declare their vote (For, Against, or Abstaining) on the Draft Resolution. Voting on the Draft Resolution remains a substantive vote requiring two thirds majority to pass. 4.9 Motion to Divide the House 4.9.A This Motion may be raised once by the Submitters (Main and co-submitters) upon the failure of a Draft Resolution to pass. 4.9.B This Motion requires procedural vote and a simple majority to pass.
4.9.C Upon passing of this Motion, the Dais will recommence direct voting procedures on the Draft Resolutions. However, delegates will no longer be allowed to abstain their vote. Voting on the Draft Resolution remains a substantive vote requiring two thirds majority to pass. 4.10 Motion to Divide the Question 4.10.A This Motion may be raised once by the Submitters (Main and co-submitters) upon the failure of a Draft Resolution to pass. 4.10.B This Motion requires procedural vote and a simple majority to pass. 4.10.C Upon passing of this Motion, the Dais will commence voting on the entire Draft Resolution, clause by clause. Voting on each clause of the Draft Resolution is a substantive vote requiring two thirds majority to pass. If at least one Operative Clause is passed, the Draft Resolution is passed in its new form. 4.11 Delegates may introduce further Draft Resolutions on the same topic upon the failure or passing of a Resolution.