basic perliamentery procedures

By: Mohammad Ibn Hassan

Parliamentary Procedure

Model United Nations

MUN Decorum

No Vulgarities and slangs (e.g. YOLO, LOL) in council.Formality and respect for one another forms the basic of this council.

Dress formally.

Communicate with each other via note paper. You can only speak when the chair recognizes you.

Yield your time back to the chair when finished.

Speak in third person e.g. “This delegate” or “Country Name”

Address your counterparts as “The delegate of XXX”Never address yourself “the government of XXX” as you are not representing the government of a country.

Flow of Debate

• Role call

• Opening Speeches

• General Debate (No particular focus)

• Moderate Caucus (Specific aspect of the issue)

• Un-moderate Caucus

• Introduction to Resolution

• Debate on Resolution

• Debate on Amendments

• Voting

Role Call

• A means for the chair to retake attendance.

• When the chair calls your country, raise your placard and reply “Present and Voting” or “Present”.

• A delegate responding “Present” have three options when voting on a substantive issue (passing a resolution: in favor, against, or abstain).

• A delegate responding “present and voting” have only two options: in favor or against – in other words, they MUST vote and can’t abstain from it.

Opening Speech

• A means for other countries in the council to know your countries’ position on the issue.

• Start off a speech by thanking the chair, using words like “Thank you Honorable Chair.”

• Reflect:1. Brief history on the issue.

2. How the issue affects your country.

3. Your country's position on the issue.

4. Discuss past UN, member states of NGO action.

5. Your country’s expectations. (e.g. a resolution that…)

General Debate

• For you expound on your opening speech.

• You can also bring points brought up by other delegates and comment on it. +++

• You also can sum up everyone’s stance and reflect the similarities/differences in council. +++

Moderated Caucus

• For the council to focus on a particular aspect of the issue and listen to the stances of all countries.

• A delegate has to mention for an moderated caucus for it to happen, clearly stating the duration, speakers time. (e.g. Motion for a moderated caucus of 5 minutes, speakers time of 30s on the issue of how to involve developed countries in sustainable development.)

• After which, chair will ask the delegate to give a short speech on why this caucus be entertained.

Moderated Caucus

• Delegates will remain seated and order still applies in the council. (ref to un-moderated caucus)

• When this expires the chair will resume general debate.

• Points of information NOT entertained after each speech.

Un-moderate Caucus

• Allows delegates to informally talk to other delegates outside of the debate.

• Delegates are allowed to move around freely.

• Usually, it is used to allow for delegates to introduce resolution / working paper and gain the support of delegates.

• A delegate has to motion for the un-moderated caucus, clearly stating the duration. (e.g. Motion for un-moderated caucus of 20 minutes.)

• When this expires, the chair will move back to general debate.

Introduction to Resolution

• The writer of the resolution has to raise “Motion to Introduce Resolution” for the chair to entertain a resolution.

• When passed, the writer has to read out certain parts of the resolution.

Debate on Resolution

• Chairs will allocate time FOR and AGAINST this resolution

Debate on Amendments

For friendly Amendments,

• The writer will submit the amendment to chair, who will inform the council of the changes.

• No debate necessary.

Debate on Amendments

For unfriendly Amendment,

• The writer of amendment will send it via note paper to the chair and raise “Motion to introduce Amendment”.

• There will be debates for and against the amendment and it will be voted upon.

• Resolution requires ½ majority to pass. Vetoes are only valid in the Security Council.

• Delegates can vote for, against or abstain. In some MUNs, delegates who abstain have to write a note paper to the chair explaining why.

• Delegates can vote “Yes with rights” or “No with rights” but this is only if the resolution goes against their country's position FOLLOWING which the chair will ask the delegate to explain.

Voting on Resolution

Points

1. Parliamentary Points:

a. Points that may interrupt a speakeri. Point of Personal Privilege

ii. Point of Order

b. Points in order only when the floor is open.i.e. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry

Types of Yield

• There are three different types of Yields you can make.

• Please remember, through, that yields only apply to substantive speeches, and yielding precludes any comments.To question: with this yield, the Moderator selects delegates who wish to ask

you question.

To a delegate: when you yield to another delegate, s/he is given your remaining time to speak. You usually opt for this yield when an ally knows a particular idea especially well and would be better able to express.

To the Chair: after you make this yield, the Chair proceeds to the next speaker, unless there are any motions.

Mohammad Ibn Hassan