2. RULES GOVERNING DEBATE
2.1 Overview
When the conference commences, the Committee will begin Roll Call and setting of the agenda. Roll Call takes place at the beginning of every session, while setting of the agenda only takes place at the first session of every topic discussion.
Debate consists of two main parts: Formal Debate and Informal Debate.
Formal Debate is the debate according to the General Speaker’s List (GSL), which proceeds throughout the session. The GSL is to remain open unless a motion to close the Formal Debate is passed. If the given GSL is exhausted, the Formal Debate automatically ceases at that point of the conference. In other words, there must be at least one member on the GSL at any point of time in order to sustain the Formal Debate. Once the Formal Debate is closed, no motions except the motion to adjourn or suspend the conference may be in order.
Informal Debate is debate in the form of Caucuses, interspersed in the flow of Formal Debate. It comprises of Moderated Caucus and Unmoderated Caucus.
In the event when an Unfriendly Amendment is on the floor, debate concerning the amendment and voting will take place during debate.
When the stipulated time for the conference is almost exhausted, delegates may motion to close the Formal Debate and enter voting procedure for Draft Resolution(s), or enter the discussion for the next agenda, or adjourn the conference, according to the progress of debate.
During the conference, all procedural and substantive motions require voting. Delegates are not to interrupt during voting procedures, unless under special circumstances.
2.2 Roll Call
At the very beginning of each session, the Committee starts with the Roll Call. During this phase, the Rapporteur will read aloud the name of each Member State and Observer Entity of the Committee in alphabetical order. Delegates should raise their placards when the Member States or Observer Entities they represent are called.
After the Roll Call, the Rapporteur will announce the Simple Majority, Two-thirds Majority, and Twenty Percent based on the number of delegations present.
For reference, the Simple Majority, Two-thirds Majority and Twenty Percent will be calculated in the following manner:
- Simple majority
- 1/2 of the (total number of delegations present + 1), rounded off to the nearest integer above it;
- Two-thirds majority
- 2/3 of the (total number of delegations present), rounded off to the nearest integer above it;
- Twenty Percent
- Twenty Percent of the (total number of delegations present), rounded off to the nearest integer above it;
For example, in a Committee where 46 delegations are present, the Simple Majority is 24 (1/2 x 47 = 23.5, rounded off to 24); the Two-thirds Majority is 31 (2/3 x 46 = 30.67, rounded off to 31); the Twenty Percent is 10 (0.2*46=9.2, rounded off to 10).
2.3 Setting of Agenda
If the Committee has more than one topic to discuss, the Committee should set the agenda in the first session after the Roll Call.
When the Moderator announces the commencement of the setting of agenda, a motion to set the agenda on the selected topic will be in order.
Two speaker’s lists will be established after the motion is raised, one “for” and one “against” the motion. Speakers “for” will speak in support of the selected topic, speakers “against” will speak in favor of the other topic(s) in an alternating manner. Each speaker will have 60 seconds to speak unless a delegate motions otherwise. The Moderator will recognize at least 2 speakers from each speaker’s list, if there are more delegates who wish to speak, the Moderator should add speakers in an alternating manner to ensure an equal number of speakers on both speaker’s lists.
There will be no yielding of time when delegates speak during this phase. No motions will be in order during this phase except for motions to close the debate on the agenda or to change the speaking time.
A motion to close the debate on setting the agenda will be in order after the Committee has heard from two speakers for the motion and two against the motion. The Moderator will recognize up to two speakers against closing the debate on setting the agenda. Each speaker will have 60 seconds. A Simple Majority is required for closure of debate on the agenda. If the speaker’s list on setting the agenda is exhausted, the debate will automatically be closed.
When the debate is closed, the Committee will proceed to an immediate vote on the motion to put a topic first on the agenda. This is a procedural motion and requires a Simple Majority to pass.
In the event of two topics, when the motion fails, the other topic will automatically be placed first on the agenda. In the event of more than two topics, a motion to set the agenda for the remaining topic(s) will be in order, thereby repeating the necessary procedures.
If a voting procedure on the first topic is concluded with a Draft Resolution being passed, the Committee will automatically proceed to the second topic, if time permits.
In the event of more than two topics, a motion to set the agenda must be made to decide the next topic. A “for-against” speaker’s list as described above is necessary.
If all Draft Resolutions on the first topic fail, a motion to set the agenda is in order; delegates may place the first topic back on the agenda again, or place one of the remaining topics on the agenda. Again, a “for-against” speaker’s list as described above is necessary.
In the event where all Draft Resolutions fail in a single-topic Committee, a motion to set the agenda is in order; delegates may place the topic back in the agenda again or may motion to adjourn the conference.
2.4 Formal Debate
2.4.1 Establishment of General Speaker’s List
The Formal Debate commences after the agenda has been determined, a General Speaker’s List (GSL) will be established for the topic being discussed. The GSL is to remain open unless a motion to close the Formal Debate is passed.
The Moderator may call for delegations to be added to the GSL at any time during the Formal Debate. When the Moderator calls for additions to the GSL, delegates wishing to speak will request to be added by raising their placards. Added to the GSL, names of delegations will be displayed to notify the order of prospective speeches. A country may add its name to the GSL by submitting a page to the Dais at any time, provided that the country is not already on the GSL. Similarly, countries may remove their name from the GSL by submitting a page to the Dais at any time.
During the conference, the Formal Debate will continue until the Committee has passed the motion to close the Formal Debate or until all the Delegations on the GSL have completed their statements and no one apply to join the list.
The GSL for the remaining topics will not be open until the Committee has proceeded to that topic.
2.4.2 Making of Speeches
During the Formal Debate, speakers may speak generally on the topic being discussed and may address any Working Papers, Draft Resolutions and other documents that have been approved by the Director. Speakers may not refer to any document that has not been formally introduced to the Committee.
The Moderator may call a speaker to order if his/her remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion or are offensive to other delegates or to the Dais.
All speakers on speaker’s list will be given 90 seconds to speak. When a delegate exceeds the allotted time for speeches, the Moderator may call the speaker to order. Delegates can motion to change the length of speaking time in the Formal Debate.
2.4.3 Yields
After a delegate has finished his/her speech within the allotted time, the Moderator may allow for the remaining time to be yielded. Yielding of time may only take place during Formal Debate. The remaining time will be yielded to the Dais by default if it is less than 30 seconds. Note that only one yield is allowed. There are four types of yields：
Yield time to the dais.
Upon yielding time to the Dais, a delegate chooses to forego his/her remaining time and the Moderator will proceed on with the rest of the proceedings.
Yield time to another delegate.
Once a delegate chooses to yield his/her time to another delegate, the Moderator will ask the delegate who has spoken to select a specific country. The delegate of this country may then choose to utilize the remaining time to speak.
Yield time to questions.
Once a delegate chooses to yield his/her time to questions, the Moderator will ask for delegates who wish to ask questions to raise their placards, and select one delegate to pose his/her inquiries. The selected delegate should raise all the questions at one time. The time taken by the selected delegate to pose questions is not included in the remaining time of the previous speech, however questions posed should be concise and specific. The delegate who has yielded his/her time can use the remaining time to answer all the questions posed.
Yield time to comments.
Once a delegate chooses to yield his/her time to comments, the Moderator will ask for delegates who wish to comment on the contents of the speech just completed. Delegates will raise their placards, and the Moderator will select one delegate to comment. The time taken by the selected delegate to comment is included in the remaining time of the previous speech, comments should be concise and specific. However, the delegate who has yielded his/her time would not be allowed to express his/her opinions again or response to the comments in this same time frame. The Moderator can rule out any comments that do not pertain to the previous speech.
2.5 Informal Debate
During the Informal Debate, the Moderator will temporarily depart from the General Speaker’s List and call on delegates to speak at his/her discretion. The Informal Debate consists of Moderated Caucus and Unmoderated Caucus.
2.5.1 Moderated Caucus
The purpose of the Moderated Caucus is to facilitate substantive debate (discussions on issues and solutions directly related to the topic) at critical junctures in the discussion. A motion for a Moderated Caucus should contain the discussing topic, the length of total time and each speaker’s speaking time.
The Moderator may recognize speakers to add to the speaker’s list at his/her discretion, while ensuring the total speaking time does not exceed the time limit for the Moderated Caucus.
The Delegation that raised the Moderated Caucus will be considered to give the speech at the first place by default. The Dais have the right to decide whether the delegation’s special request for changing the order should be allowed.
Delegates who have delivered their speech may be re-added to the speaker’s list of the Moderated Caucus. When the total time of the Moderated Caucus is exhausted, or no delegate wishes to speak during the Moderated Caucus, the Moderated Caucus shall immediately closed. The Dais has the right to end a Moderated Caucus early at their discretion.
No motions are in order during a Moderated Caucus.
2.5.2 Unmoderated Caucus
The purpose of the Unmoderated Caucus is to enter a temporary recess where delegates leave their seats to speak freely in small groups. A motion for an Unmoderated Caucus should specify a time limit for the Unmoderated Caucus, not exceeding 20 minutes.
Once the motion for an Unmoderated Caucus passes, the Committee enters a temporary recess and delegates may discuss freely in small groups.
When the total time of the Unmoderated Caucus is exhausted, the Unmoderated Caucus shall immediately end and delegates must return to their seats and maintain order.
The Dais has the right to end an Unmoderated Caucus early at their discretion. No motions are in order during an Unmoderated Caucus.
2.6 Introduction and Discussion of Documents
2.6.1 Working Paper
Working Paper does not require any specific procedure of introduction or discussion. It is considered to be introduced by default after being reviewed and released by the Director. Delegates may discuss Working Papers approved by the Director through Formal Debate, Moderated Caucus, and Unmoderated Caucus.
2.6.2 Draft Resolution
Draft Resolution has specific procedures of introduction and discussion. It requires a motion to introduce after being reviewed and released by the Director. Delegate may raise the motion to introduce a certain Draft Resolution. With the motion passed, the Draft Resolution will be considered “introduced” or “on the floor” so as to be open for discussion and amendment. Draft Resolution not introduced by the motion can not be discussed nor amended.
After the introduction, delegates may discuss the given Draft Resolution through Formal Debate, Moderated Caucus, and Unmoderated Caucus.
2.6.3 Friendly Amendment
Friendly Amendment will be directly applied to the targeted Draft Resolution after being reviewed and released by the Director. The Dais may read out the Friendly Amendment clause by clause.
Friendly Amendment does not require any specific procedure of introduction or discussion. Delegates may discuss the Friendly Amendment through Formal Debate, Moderated Caucus, and Unmoderated Caucus after the Dais release it.
2.6.4 Unfriendly Amendment
Unfriendly Amendment has specific procedures of introduction and discussion. It requires a motion to introduce after being reviewed and released by the Director. Delegate may raise the motion to introduce a certain Unfriendly Amendment.
With the motion passed, the Dais may distribute the printed version of the introduced Unfriendly Amendment or read it clause by clause. Delegates should complete all procedures (reading, discussion, and vote) related to the introduced Unfriendly Amendment at one time.
Multiple Unfriendly Amendments can be distributed at a time, but should be disposed one by one.
2.7 Motions
The Moderator may open the floor to points and motions after at least one speaker or at most three speakers from the GSL have delivered their speech, unless the Moderator decides otherwise. Every motion requires a second before it is put to vote.
The Moderator may recognize one to three motions, depending on the number of delegates wishing to raise them at a time. In the event of more than one motion, each will be voted on based on precedence. When any one of these motions passes, the remaining motions will be considered to have failed.
2.7.8 is a list of motions that delegates may raise, in order of precedence.
2.7.1 Adjournment or Suspension of Conference
When the floor is open, a delegate may motion for the adjournment of the conference to cease all Committee functions for the duration of the Conference. A motion to adjourn will only be in order after three-quarters of the time allotted for the last session of the Committee has passed. A delegate may also motion for a suspension of the conference to temporarily suspend all Committee functions.
The Dais may at their discretion, rule such motions out of order, or suggest appropriated changes before accepting it. Once in order, such motions will not be debatable and will be immediately put to a vote, barring any motions taking precedence.
This motion requires a second and a Simple Majority to pass.
2.7.2 Unmoderated Caucus
A motion for an Unmoderated Caucus is in order at any time when the floor is open. Delegates who raise this motion should specify a time limit for the Unmoderated Caucus, not exceeding 20 minutes. The Dais may at their discretion, rule the motion out of order, or suggest appropriated changes before accepting it.
This motion requires a second and a Simple Majority to pass.
2.7.3 Moderated Caucus
A motion for a Moderated Caucus is in order at any time when the floor is open. Delegates who raise this motion should specify the topic of intent for the Moderated Caucus, a time limit not exceeding 20 minutes, and a time limit for the individual speech. The Dais may at their discretion, rule the motion out of order, or suggest appropriated changes before accepting it.
This motion requires a second and a Simple Majority to pass.
2.7.4 Changing the Speaking Time
Delegates may motion to change the individual speaking time in the GSL at any time.
This motion requires a second and a Simple Majority to pass.
2.7.5 Introduction of Draft Resolution
Once a Draft Resolution has been reviewed and released by the Director, delegates may motion to introduce the given Draft Resolution.
This motion requires a second and a Simple Majority to pass.
Once passed, the Committee will be given three minutes to read the Draft Resolution. Thereafter, the authors will decide on up to three sponsors to introduce the Draft Resolution, summarizing its contents, not exceeding three minutes.
The introduction of the Draft Resolution will be followed by a free-flowing brief question and answer (Q&A) session, not exceeding five minutes. Delegates who wish to pose questions may raise their placards, and the Moderator will select delegates to pose questions. Questions are to be concise and specific, distinct from comments. Each delegate only has one chance to pose questions. Both questions and answers are counted into the time limit. The Moderator may limit the length of time for these sessions at his/her discretion.
2.7.6 Introduction of Unfriendly Amendment
Once an Unfriendly Amendment has met been reviewed and released by the Director, delegates may motion to introduce the given Unfriendly Amendment. Only one Unfriendly Amendment may be introduced at any given time. This motion requires a second. This is a procedural motion and requires a Simple Majority to pass.
Once passed, the Committee will be given three minutes to read the Unfriendly Amendment. Thereafter, delegates may discuss the given Unfriendly Amendment through Moderated Caucus. The Moderated Caucus can be prolonged as long as no further opinions are to be raised.
After the Moderated Caucus, the Committee will proceed to an immediate vote on the given Unfriendly Amendment. This is a substantive voting and requires a Two-thirds Majority to pass. Thereafter, the Committee may proceed to dispose other Unfriendly Amendment or return to Formal Debate.
2.7.7 Closure of Debate
Delegates may raise the motion to close the debate on the topic under discussion. Once raised, the Moderator may recognize up to two speakers against the motion, with a speaking time of 60 seconds each.
This motion requires a second and a Simple Majority to pass.
2.7.8 Precedence
When the floor is open, the Moderator may recognize up to three motions. Once there is more than one motion on the floor, the Committee will vote in order of precedence.
- Adjournment of the Conference
- Suspension of the Conference
- Unmoderated Caucus
- Moderated Caucus
- Changing the Speaking Time
- Introduction of Draft Resolutions
- Introduction of Unfriendly Amendments
- Closure of Debate
If there is more than one motion of the same category on the floor, the Committee will vote in order of the motion raised.
For reference, if a 10-minute Unmoderated Caucus has been raised, followed by a 20-minute Moderated Caucus, followed by a 20-minute Unmoderated Caucus. The 2 Unmoderated Caucuses will be voted first, in the order of 10-minute Unmoderated Caucus, followed by 20-minute Unmoderated Caucus. The 20-minute Moderated Caucus will be voted at last.
When any one of the motions passes, the remaining motions will be considered to have failed. If a delegate wishes to raise the same motion which has failed subsequently, he or she will need to raise it again when the floor is open.
2.8 Points
Points are requests raised by a delegate to the Dais for information or for an action relating to himself or herself. They may be raised throughout the duration of the conference. All three forms of points take precedence over motions.
2.8.1 Point of Personal Privilege
Whenever a delegate experiences any personal discomfort, which impairs his/her ability to participate in the proceedings, he or she may raise a Point of Personal Privilege or may submit in writing to request that the discomfort be corrected.
This is in order even in the middle of a speech, but this right should be exercised with utmost caution and discretion.
2.8.2 Point of Order
When a delegate feels that the Dais or another delegate has made an error in the Rules of Procedure, he or she can raise a Point of Order to indicate an instance of improper use of parliamentary procedure.
This is in order only when the floor is open, and cannot interrupt a speech unless the speech itself is out of order. The Moderator may rule out of order those points that are dilatory or improper. This right should similarly be exercised with caution and discretion.
2.8.3 Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
When the floor is open, a delegate may raise a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to ask the Moderator a question regarding the Rules of Procedure.
A Point of Parliamentary Inquiry may never interrupt a speaker. Delegates with substantive questions, or questions directly related to the contents of a speech, should not raise this point, but should approach the Dais at an appropriate time.
2.9 Right of Reply
Whenever a delegate who feels that his/her personal or national integrity has been insulted by another delegate, he/she may submit a Right of Reply through a page to the Director.
The Director has the discretion to decide whether the Right of Reply should be granted. The Moderator will read the submission out if the Director accepts the Right of Reply.
Thereafter, delegates who raise the Right of Reply and who are targeted do not necessarily have the opportunity to speak, but under the discretion of the Director.
2.10 Closure of Formal Debate
At the Moderator’s discretion, a motion to close the Formal Debate may be in order. If the given General Speaker’s List is exhausted, the debate will automatically be closed at that point of the conference.
When the Formal Debate is closed, the Committee will proceed to vote on the Draft Resolution(s) that have already been introduced. In the event where there are no Draft Resolutions on the floor, delegates may raise the set the agenda or adjourn the conference.