Mass MUN Session 1Basic Parliamentary ProceduresBy: Zachary Wong (13S47)

Schedule

This week: Parliamentary Procedures by Zachary Wong

Next week: Resolution Writing by Ynez Tan / Wen Rui

2 weeks later: CRISIS!! By Harit Patel / Joel Lee

3 weeks later: Mock MUN

MUN DecorumNo vulgarities and slangs (e.g. YOLO, LOL) in council. Formality and respect for one another forms the basis 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 XXX”

Address your counterparts as “The delegate of XXX”

X Never address yourself “the government of XXX” as you are not representing the government of a country.

Flow of debateRole call

Opening Speeches

General Debate (No particular focus)

Moderated Caucus (Specific aspect of the issue)

Un-moderated caucus

Introduction of resolution

Debate on resolution

Debate on ammendments

Voting

Role Call

A means for the chair to take 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 favour, against, or abstain.

A delegate responding “present and voting” have only two options: in favour or against – in other words, they MUST vote and cannot abstain from it.

Opening SpeechA 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/Madame/Mr.”

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 to expound on your opening speech.

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

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

Moderated CaucusFor the council to focus on a particular aspect of the issue AND listen to the stances of all countries.

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

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

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-moderated Caucus

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

Delegates are allowed to move around freely.

Usually, it is used to allow for delegates to introduce resolutions / 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 into general debate.

Introduction of resolution

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

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

More on this next week.

Debate on Resolution

Chairs will allocate time FOR and AGAINST this resolution.

More on this next week.

Debate on AmendmentsFor friendly Amendment,

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

o No debates necessary.

For unfriendly amendment,

oThe writer of the amendment will send it via note paper to the chair and “motion to introduce amendment”.

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

MORE ON THIS NEXT WEEK

Voting on Resolution

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.

In some MUNs, 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.

PointsPoint of Information: this point can be raised only after speeches by delegates if they want to clarify doubts that they may have on the other delegate’s speech.

- Must be phrased in a question

- Not applicable to be raised during “moderated caucus” or “opening speeches”.

- You can choose to open yourself up to points of information by “Yielding to

Points of Information after your speech”. +++

Point of Personal Privilege: this point can be raised by any delegate at any time when the request concerns the well-being of the delegate.

- Only the Point of Privilege relating to inaudibility can interrupt a speech.

- Other examples include being excused to use the washroom or answer a call.

Point

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: this point can be raised by any delegate at any time, addressed to the Chair, when the delegate wishes to enquire about a parliamentary procedure.

Right to reply: this point can be raised by any delegate at any time, to interrupt a speech, when his/her country has been explicitly insulted through the comments of a delegate.

Point of order: Used to call the chair’s attention to a procedural violation at any time, to interrupt a speech.

Yield

At the end of a speech, you may yield to the following:

a. Yield to chair: the remaining time is given back to the Chair

b. Yield to Points of Information: these are simply questions that the other delegate may ask you.

c. Yield to another Delegate: the remaining time is given to another delegate that you have specified.

http://www.ilmunc.com/pdf/rules.pdf