Rules of Procedure

Flow of Debate

Roll Call

The committee's chair will call for each delegation's country to confirm their presence. This must be answered with "present" or "present and voting", meaning that they will always vote and will not abstain.

Setting the agenda

If a committee has multiple topics (usually 2-3), delegates can discuss and vote on which topic to address first.

Unmoderated Caucus (Lobbying)

During lobbying formal rules of speaking are suspended, and delegates are allowed to move around and engage in informal discussions to:

Build alliances with other countries
Discuss and merge similar ideas to draft one resolution (the people involved in this tend to be the co-submitters)
Delegates should also look around the committee for signatories, as some conferences have a minimum number of co-submitters and signatories, for a drafted resolution to be accepted.
Once delegates have their drafted resolution, they should submit it to the chair. The chair will then review it to ensure that it follows the proper structure.

Introducing Resolutions

Once lobbying time has ended, and drafted resolutions have been sent and approved, the main submitter (once called up from the chair) of a resolution must go up to the stage and:

Start by reading pre-ambulatory clauses
Then read only the operative clauses, no sub-clauses.
Finalize by reading their opening speech. Delegates have the option to agree to any or a specific number of Points of Information (POI's) that other delegations may have regarding their resolution.

Open debate

During open debates, delegates may speak in favor or against the resolution as a whole.
If delegates wish to make a speech in favor or against, they must raise their placards after the chair(s), tells the committee to raise their placards.
Delegates can also send amendments to strike a clause, change a clause, etc.

Closed debate

During closed debate, delegates debate about amendments submitted for that resolution.
Speeches in closed debate are either for or against that clause. For example, the chair might say, "Now we are moving into closed debate for this amendment submitted by ....", meaning that only speeches in favor of that clause or amendment will be entertained.
In closed debate, there are usually a set number of speeches for and against, allowing both viewpoints to be considered equally.
After the debate on the individual clause, a voting procedure must be entertained before moving on.

Voting procedure

After closed debate, the committee goes back to open debate, followed by delegates voting for the resolution as a whole, delegates may vote in favor, against, or abstain from voting.

Motions and Points

Motions are the formal way of asking for requests in MUN. A delegate is allowed to motion for various things, in order for the debate to go a specific way. (e.g. motion to move to voting procedure)
A point is a way for delegates to ask questions, make requests or raise procedural requests in a MUN setting.

List of Points

1. Point of Information: A question, normally after a delegate has delivered his speech. This is your chance to attack or enhance the speech made by a delegate.

2. Point of Personal Privilege - Questions that may address your immediate needs. e.g. "point of personal privilege, may I go to the bathroom" or "point of personal privilege, audibility" (stating a point for audibility is the only time you may interrupt a delegate during their speech.

3. Point of Parliamentary Procedure: When you think something is outside or proper parliamentary procedure.

4. Point of Inquiry: A question directed to the Chairs about the MUN procedure.

5. Point of Clarification: A point normally made by the Chairs to clarify something, such as a fact.

List of Motions

1. Motion for a Moderated Caucus: A form of continuous debate in which speakers give their positions on the topics at hand. Normally, you must give a purpose, speaking time, and total time when making this motion.

2. Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus: An informal form of debate where delegates are free to leave their seats and discuss with other delegates. This motion is normally made when it is time to merge or write draft resolutions.

3. Motion to Move into Time Against: This motion is to made when those planning on speaking against a resolution wish to speak.

4. Motion to Move into Time For: This motion is made when those planning on speaking in favor of a resolution wish to speak.

5. Motion to Move into Voting Procedure: When a delegate feels the topic has already been thoroughly discussed, he motions to move into voting procedure so that whatever was being discussed is put to a vote.

6. Motion to Table a Resolution: This motion is to put aside the resolution at hand to discuss it at a later time. This is normally done if the resolution isn’t producing debate or if the committee is running out of time and you want your resolution to be discussed.

7. Motion for Division of the House/ Motion to Vote by Roll Call: This motion is granted by the Chairs if voting by placards seems inaccurate or if the vote was very close. Delegations vote one-by-one and abstentions are not in order.

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