MUN Parliamentary

Procedures!

Yaaaay! Lecture time!

The Objectiveof Formal Debate

To PASS or FAIL a resolution.To PASS or FAIL a resolution.

Resolution - Written suggestions for Resolution - Written suggestions for addressing a specific problem or issue.addressing a specific problem or issue.

To pass means to put into effect.To pass means to put into effect.

Look at your handout Look at your handout

Basics

Chair/Secretariat – Person who facilitates MUN debate. Chair/Secretariat – Person who facilitates MUN debate. You cannot speak unless the chair adresses you.You cannot speak unless the chair adresses you.

Gavel - The tool shaped like a small wooden hammer Gavel - The tool shaped like a small wooden hammer that the Chair uses to keep orderthat the Chair uses to keep order

Delegate – That’s YOU! Delegate – That’s YOU! A representative of a country. A representative of a country.

Placard - A sign that identifies your country.Placard - A sign that identifies your country.

Pay Attention Now…

……because this is a muchobecause this is a muchoimportante thing to remember!importante thing to remember!

During formal debate, you must During formal debate, you must ALWAYS ALWAYS refer to yourself in refer to yourself in THIRD THIRD

PERSONPERSON..

For example:For example:“Honorable Chair, the delegate of Costa Rica/this “Honorable Chair, the delegate of Costa Rica/this

delegate/the delegation of Costa Rica would like to delegate/the delegation of Costa Rica would like to raise a point of information.” raise a point of information.”

Another Super Important Thing To Know:

Proper Debate EtiquetteProper Debate Etiquette

DON’T DON’T use slang or casual language during formal use slang or casual language during formal debate!debate!

Acceptable: “Mr./Ms. Chair, ladies and gentlemen of Acceptable: “Mr./Ms. Chair, ladies and gentlemen of the house…”the house…”

NOT Acceptable: “WADDUP MUH HOMIES IN THE NOT Acceptable: “WADDUP MUH HOMIES IN THE CRIB”CRIB”

Remember, you are trying to solve a world issue Remember, you are trying to solve a world issue here. here.

Introductory Procedure:

Roll Call - Attendance at the beginning of Roll Call - Attendance at the beginning of every Model UN session.every Model UN session.

You say “Present and voting!” You say “Present and voting!” Except if you’re Except if you’re Palestine, because they can’t vote Palestine, because they can’t vote

Opening Statement – You have 1 minute to Opening Statement – You have 1 minute to introduce your country, and to state the introduce your country, and to state the position/view you have on the issue being position/view you have on the issue being debated.debated.

Parliamentary Procedure:

The main submitter of the resolution will be given The main submitter of the resolution will be given time to explain and defend the resolution.time to explain and defend the resolution.

Time will be allotted afterward to anybody who Time will be allotted afterward to anybody who wishes to make speeches SUPPORTING the resolution.wishes to make speeches SUPPORTING the resolution.

Time will then move into any speeches AGAINST Time will then move into any speeches AGAINST the resolution.the resolution.

Then voting procedure.Then voting procedure.

(After each speech, you will be given time to ask (After each speech, you will be given time to ask questions, depending on the speaker)questions, depending on the speaker)

Motion:POINT OF INFORMATION

What: These are What: These are questions questions from other delegates from other delegates addressed to the speakeraddressed to the speaker concerning the speech concerning the speech they madethey made. .

When: After a delegate has given a speech in formal When: After a delegate has given a speech in formal debate, he or she may yield time to points of debate, he or she may yield time to points of information. That is when you ask your questions.information. That is when you ask your questions.

You can only ask You can only ask one one question per point of question per point of information.information.

Motion:POINT OF INQUIRY

What: A What: A question question addressed to the addressed to the chair chair regarding the regarding the rules of procedurerules of procedure..

When: When the floor is open (i.e., no other When: When the floor is open (i.e., no other delegate is speaking), a delegate may rise to delegate is speaking), a delegate may rise to a point of inquiry.a point of inquiry.

Motion:POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVELAGE

What: What: Personal concerns Personal concerns of the delegate of the delegate addressed to the chairaddressed to the chair. .

When: When the floor is open, you can voice When: When the floor is open, you can voice personal concerns, meaning physical discomfort a personal concerns, meaning physical discomfort a delegate is experiencing, i.e.delegate is experiencing, i.e.

Inability to hear another delegate’s speechInability to hear another delegate’s speech

The room is too hot, coldThe room is too hot, cold

You need a potty break You need a potty break

Motion:Move Into time For/Against

What: Directed to the What: Directed to the Chair Chair regarding regarding the slow the slow movement of the debatemovement of the debate..

When: When the debate is moving too slow, a When: When the debate is moving too slow, a delegate can request for a motion to move onto delegate can request for a motion to move onto the next phase.the next phase.

If there are no objections, the Chair will If there are no objections, the Chair will suspend that time frame and move into the suspend that time frame and move into the next. next.

Motion:Into Voting Procedure

What: Addressed to the What: Addressed to the chair chair regarding regarding voting voting procedureprocedure..

When: Again, if the meeting seems not to be When: Again, if the meeting seems not to be productive, you may raise your country’s productive, you may raise your country’s name card and say “Motion to move into name card and say “Motion to move into voting procedure”voting procedure”

If there are no objections, then voting If there are no objections, then voting procedure will take place. procedure will take place.

Resolution

Always use evidence from theAlways use evidence from theresolution to support your argument.resolution to support your argument.

1.1. ClauseClause

a.a. Sub-clauseSub-clause

i.i. Sub-sub clauseSub-sub clause

Amendments

Friendly Amendment- Change to the draft Friendly Amendment- Change to the draft resolution that all sponsors agree with. After the resolution that all sponsors agree with. After the amendment is signed by all of the draft amendment is signed by all of the draft resolution’s sponsors and approved by the resolution’s sponsors and approved by the committee director or president, it will be committee director or president, it will be automatically incorporated into the resolution.automatically incorporated into the resolution.

Unfriendly Amendment - Change that some or all Unfriendly Amendment - Change that some or all of the draft resolution’s sponsors do not support of the draft resolution’s sponsors do not support and must be voted upon by the committee. The and must be voted upon by the committee. The author(s) of the amendment will need to obtain a author(s) of the amendment will need to obtain a required number of signatories in order to required number of signatories in order to introduce it (usually 20 percent of the introduce it (usually 20 percent of the committee). committee).

Voting Procedure

This is self-explanatory. You vote on whether the This is self-explanatory. You vote on whether the resolution passes or not. Majority wins! resolution passes or not. Majority wins!

YAAY! Boring lecture over!