1. Representation: All councils shall have delegate(s) representing one country/portfolio having one vote. In case of a dispute, Presiding Officer’s decision shall be final and binding.
2. Language: As per schoolhouse policies, English shall be the official working language for the conference.
3. Code of conduct: All delegates are expected to maintain discipline and a high code of conduct, violation of this may result in being barred from committee or disqualification from SMUN;
4. Participation of Non-Members: A guest speaker, expert witness, or representative of an entity that is not mentioned in the committee matrix, may only address the committee with prior approval from the chairperson;
5. General Powers of Executive Boards: The chairperson shall have complete control of the proceedings of a committee. The chairperson will direct discussions, accord the right to speak, put questions, announce decisions, rule on points of order, and ensure that the aforementioned rules are strictly adhered to. The chairperson may allocate duties between the members of the executive board but shall remain the final arbiter of all committee functions;
6. Setting an agenda: The agenda refers to the over-arching topic of debate and the issue to be resolved over the duration of the conference. Since all committees at SMUN have a single agenda, the agenda will automatically be set and delegates will not have to vote or debate to set the agenda as in the case of a committee discussing two topic areas.
7. Quorum: ¼ of the voting members of the committee must be present in order for a quorum to be established. The committee can be opened/called to order only after the establishment of the quorum. Following the roll call, the committee chairperson shall announce the simple and 2/3 majorities of the committee.
8. Courtesy: It is mandatory for delegates to show courtesy and respect towards all other delegates and the executive board. Any delegate who fails to do so may have to face repercussions.
9. Technical Requirements: All delegates are required to have a working electronic device with the zoom application installed on the same.
Rules Governing Debate
10. Agenda: The agenda refers to the over-arching topic of debate and the issue to be resolved over the duration of the conference. Since all committees at SMUN have a single agenda, the agenda will automatically be set and delegates will not have to vote or debate to set the agenda as in the case of a committee discussing two topic areas.
11. Formal Debate: After the agenda has been adopted, the first order of business is to begin formal debate with the general speakers list (GSL). Speakers may speak on their general country policy with regards to the agenda for the default period of 90 seconds (speaker's time may be amended through a procedural vote). Formal debate is the default condition of the committee, unless interrupted by points, motions, caucuses etc;
12. Moderated Caucuses: A moderated caucus is a period of substantive debate that is moderated by the executive board. The purpose of a moderated caucus is to facilitate substantive debate at critical junctures of the committee session.
Each moderated caucus has a specific topic, total time and individual speaker time that must be suggested by delegates while motioning for the said caucus. To suspend formal debate and enter a moderated caucus, a motion should obtain simple majority in the committee. The chairperson may rule a motion dilatory and this decision is not subject to appeal. If such a motion is passed, the chairperson, shall accept speakers for the moderated caucus, subject to the total duration of the caucus.
13. Unmoderated Caucuses: An unmoderated caucus suspends formal debate and allows delegates to informally discuss their ideas in committees. Unmoderated caucuses are instrumental to the discussion on which potential moderated caucus topics must be discussed in the early stages of the committee. However, for the most of part of the conference, they are used for the formation of blocs and thereafter, drafting of documentation.
14. Closure of Debate: A motion for closure of debate may be raised by a delegate at the discretion of the executive board and would be passed given a simple majority.
Rules Governing Speeches
15. Speakers List- The default mode of the committee is formal debate in the form of the general speakers list. Every committee session/ day of the conference shall begin with a few GSL speeches and the committee shall revert to the speakers list in case no other motion passes. At the discretion of the chairperson, speakers may be added to the speakers list upon raising their placards. Delegates may also send a formal request in writing to the executive board to be added or removed from the speakers list. The approval of this request is on the discretion of the chairperson.
16. Speeches- Speeches may be given by delegates during moderated caucuses and formal debate (in the form of general speakers list or special speakers listspeeches). Speeches must not exceed the given time limit; the chairperson shall indicate 10 seconds left with single tap of the gavel and the elapsing of speech time with a double tap of the gavel. No delegate may address the committee without previously having gained the approval of the chairperson. The chairperson is also at liberty to call a speaker to order if their speeches are not relevant to the committee or have offensive content;
17. Speaking Time- While a moderated caucus is being motioned for, the delegate who motioned for such a caucus has to specify both the individual speakers time and total speakers time. The total speakers time must be divisible by the individual speakers’ time. The default individual speakers time for general speakers list speeches is 90 seconds. However, this may be amended by a motion to do so.
18. Yields- Delegates who have not completely elapsed their speaking time, may choose to yield the rest of their time in the following ways-
i. Yield to another delegate: This is when the remaining time is given to another delegate to continue the speech. This delegate may only speak for the time remaining in the previous speaker's speech. Time left after this may not be yielded to another delegate,
ii. Yield to points of information/question: Delegates may choose to yield their time to answering any questions based on their speech. Questions may be entertained only to the limit of the time left in the speech,
iii. Yield to the chairperson: This is used when the delegate has not elapsed his/her time but does not want their speech to be subject to comments or questions. This is in order, but not automatic, when a delegate ends his/her speech.
19. Right of Reply: When a delegate is personally offended by another delegate through a speech, he/she may request the chairperson for the permission to give a speech in response, known as 'Right of reply speech'. The duration of this speech shall be 30 seconds. This is only permissible at the discretion of the chairperson and is a rare occurrence as all delegates are requested to be respectful even during heated committee sessions.
Points
20. Point of personal privilege: Whenever a delegate has a personal discomfort during a committee session, they may raise a point of personal privilege. A point of personal privilege is the only point that may be used to interrupt a speaker, but only in the case that the speaker is inaudible. This must be used at utmost discretion and not for trivial issues.
21. Point of Order: When there is a factual inaccuracy in a delegate's speech, a point of order may be used. Points of order may be raised verbally if the delegate is recognised by the executive board. Otherwise, it is to be sent to the delegate concerned via the EB.
22. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: When a delegate has a query regarding the parliamentary procedure, they may raise their placard to ask a point of parliamentary inquiry. This only entails questions about the rules of procedure and not substantive matters. This may not be used to interrupt a speaker in any case.
23. Point of Information: If a delegate has a substantive question or seeks clarification from a delegate who gave a speech, he/she may raise a point of information. These may be raised if the delegate decides to yield time toquestions. Points of information may also be asked through chits directed to the concerned delegate and sent through the EB so, that you can be marked upon them.
Rules governing Substantive Matters:
24. Working Papers: Delegates may propose to present a working paper after 1-2 committee sessions. However, they will be presented only upon receiving the chairperson's approval. Working papers are meant to aid the committee in the formulation of draft resolutions and hence, need not have any specific format.
25. Draft Resolutions: Draft resolutions may be proposed only after they have at least ¼ of the present delegates as signatories. One draft resolution may not have more than 4 sponsors but it can have any number of signatories. One delegate may be a signatory in multiple draft resolutions but can be a sponsor of only one.
26. Introducing draft resolutions: After a delegate motion to present a draft resolution, the chairperson and other members of the executive board read the document. The chairperson is the final arbiter of which draft resolutions can be approved to be presented before the committee. After a draft resolution is approved by the EB, delegates are given a few minutes to read the document. Thereafter, members of the bloc that made the draft resolution will give a 5-minute presentation explaining the operative clauses of the document, followed by 5-minute question and answer session. In the question-and-answer session, the members of the bloc answer the substantive questions other delegates may have about the document.
27. Amendments: Delegates can submit both friendly and unfriendly amendments to the draft resolution in a formal written format. Amendments can be for changing, adding or deleting a clause from the draft resolution.
i. Friendly amendments- If all the sponsors of the draft resolution agree to a particular amendment, it is known as a friendly amendment. It is not voted upon in committee.
ii. Unfriendly amendments- If even one of the sponsors of the draft resolution doesn’t agree to a particular amendment, it is known as an unfriendly amendment. Thereafter, it is voted upon in committee.
Rules governing Voting:
28. Division of the question- This is one of the rarest and most complicated motions in model UN. If it has to be used, it will be thoroughly explained by your chairperson. It is used when a delegate wants the committee to consider some of the operative clauses of a draft resolution or working paper.
29. Reordering voting of draft resolutions- Resolutions are usually voted upon in the order that they were submitted to the dais. However, delegates can motion for the resolutions to be reordered for voting. If this motion is passed by a simple majority, it is passed.
30. Voting- Once debate is closed, the committee immediately starts with the roll call voting procedure. Before the delegates can motion to reorder the voting of the draft resolutions or divide the question.
Precedence of Points and Motions:
31. Precedence: Precedence of points and motions refers to the order of preference in which these will be presented before the committee. Some points and motions have greater urgency than others and hence, have higher precedence. The following precedence will strictly be followed in SMUN 2022.
1. Parliamentary Points
a. Points that may interrupt a speaker:
i. Points of Personal Privilege
ii. Points of Order
b. Points in order only when the floor is open:
i. Points of Parliamentary Inquiry
2. Procedural motions that are not debatable:
a. Adjournment of the Meeting
b. Suspension of the Meeting
c. Unmoderated Caucus
d. Moderated Caucus
e. Motion to change the speaking time
f. Introduction of a draft resolution
g. Introduction of an amendment
3. Procedural motions that are applicable to a resolution or amendment under consideration:
a. Closure of Debate
b. Postponement of Debate
c. Division of the Question
d. Reordering Resolutions
4. Substantive motions:
a. Amendments
b. Resolution
Annex I – Format for Working Paper
Committee: [Committee Full Name]
Agenda:
[Author names] believe that
1. [Add points]
Annex II – Format for Draft Resolution
Committee: [Committee Full name]
Agenda:
Signatories:
[Committee Name],
[Preambulatory Clauses],
1) [Operative Clauses];
Annex III – Format for Amendments
Author(s): [1 Minimum]
Type: Add/Delete/Replace
Form: Friendly Amendment or Normal Amendment
Clause:
Annex IV – Preambulatory and Operative Phrases
Preambulatory Phrases:
Affirming, Alarmed by, Approving, Aware of, Believing, Bearing in mind, Cognizant of, Confident, Contemplating, Convinced, Declaring, Deeply concerned, Deeply conscious, Deeply convinced, Deeply disturbed, Deeply regretting, Deploring, Desiring, Emphasizing, Expecting, Expressing its appreciation, Expressing its satisfaction, Fulfilling, Fully aware, Fully believing, Further deploring, Further recalling, Guided by, Having adopted, Having considered, Having considered further, Having devoted attention, Having examined, Having heard, Having received, Having studied, Affirming, Alarmed by, Approving, Aware of, Bearing in mind, Cognizant of, Contemplating, Convinced, Declaring, Deeply concerned, Deeply conscious, Deeply convinced, Deeply disturbed, Deeply regretting, Deploring, Desiring
Operative Phrases:
Accepts, Affirms, Approves, Authorizes, Calls for, Calls upon, Condemns, Congratulates, Confirms, Considers, Decides, Declares accordingly, Demands, Deplores, Draws attention, Designates, Emphasizes, Encourages, Endorses, Expresses its appreciation, Expresses its hope, Further invites, Further proclaims, Further remind, Further recommends, Further requests, Further resolves, Has resolved, Notes, Proclaims, Reaffirms, Recommends, Reminds, Regrets, Requests, Resolves, Solemnly affirms, Strongly condemns, Supports, Takes note of, Trusts, Urges
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Rules of Procedure