For novice MUN delegates, the vocabulary and terminology used at your first conference can be overwhelming. Best Delegate published a really helpful article on the twenty terms that are important to know in committee. Those terms are listed below:

GENERAL

1. Dais/Chairs: The chairpersons are seated in the front with their gavel and facilitate the debate. They call on speakers, time speeches, and maintain the rules of procedure. If the conference gives awards, they will also evaluate your performance.

2. Decorum: order in committee. The chair may call decorum if delegates are loud or disrespectful, in order to ask for their attention during committee.

3. Motion: a specific action made by delegates to direct debate in a certain direction.

4. Speaker’s List: a list that contains the order of speakers in the committee. The specific way that the order is determined varies by conference. The Speaker’s List is the default format of debate and committee will proceed with speeches until a delegate makes a motion to change up the debate format.

5. Yield: this is when a speaker decides to give up the remaining time in his or her speech. Typically, the three types of yields are: 1) Yield to the Chair meaning you give up the rest of your time, 2) Yield to another delegate meaning you give up the rest of your time to another delegate, or 3) Yield to questions from other delegates or Yield to comments to your speech by other delegates. Questions are also sometimes called Points of Information.

POINTS

6. Point of Inquiry: used when a delegate has a question about something that is not clearly understood in committee. Use this to ask a question if you don’t understand a term or get what’s going on in committee!

7. Point of Personal Privilege: used when a delegate experiences personal discomfort that hinders their ability to participate in committee. Examples: temperature of room, distractions during committee, can’t hear another delegate, etc.

8. Point of Order (also called Point of Parliamentary Procedure): used when a delegate believes that there was a mistake made regarding the rules of procedure

CAUCUS

9. Moderated Caucus: A debate format that allows delegates to make short comments on a specific sub-issue. Typically, delegates who are interested in speaking will raise up their placards and the Chairs will call on delegates to speak one at a time. In order to move into a moderated caucus, the motion must include the overall speaking time, the time per speaker, and the sub-issue to be discussed. Example: Italy moves for a 5 minute moderated caucus with 30 second speaking time per delegate for the purpose of discussing solutions to women’s rights.

10. Unmoderated Caucus (also called Informal Caucus or Lobbying Sessions): a debate format in which delegates can leave their seats to go and talk to others freely and informally. This is usually when delegates find allies and work on draft resolutions. In order to move into an unmoderated caucus, the motion must include the overall caucus time and preferably the purpose of the unmoderated caucus. Example: Senegal moves for an unmoderated caucus for 10 minutes to complete draft resolutions.

11. Blocs: different groups that have similar ideas and opinions about the topics. In the real United Nations, there are regional blocs, but delegates can choose to build their own blocs in Model UN. These blocs will typically work together to create a draft resolution.

RESOLUTIONS

The goal of committee is to pass a resolution. Although you may not know how to write a resolution yet, it’s important to know the basic terms so you can keep up as they are presented.

12. Working paper: Working papers are just a list of ideas formed by the blocs. They may or may not be written in resolution format. The working paper needs to be approved by the chairs.

13. Draft Resolution: A document written in resolution format, approved by the chairs, and introduced to committee but not yet voted upon is called a draft resolution. Delegates will be spending most of their time writing and amending the draft resolutions. Once a draft resolution is passed by a committee, then it becomes a Resolution.

14. Sponsors: delegates who authored the draft resolution or actively contributed ideas. They support the draft resolution and want to see it get passed, so they should vote for it. All resolutions will require a minimum number of sponsors.

15. Signatories: delegates who wish the see the draft resolution debated but may or may not agree with all of the ideas. However, they think there is some merit to it and want to see it presented. Some resolutions will require a minimum number of signatories.

16. Pre-ambulatory clauses: statements in the first section of the draft resolution that describes the problems that the committee wants to solve as well as previous measures taken to combat the problem. Pre-ambulatory clauses are usually italicized or underlined by not numbered.

17. Operative clauses: statements in the second section of the draft resolution that outlines the specific solutions the sponsors wish to implement. Operative clauses are usually numbered and underlined.

18. Amendment: a change made to an operative clause of a draft resolution. Amendments can add, delete, or change an operative clause in a draft resolution. A Friendly Amendment is an amendment written and approved by all the sponsors to a draft resolution and is automatically included into the text. An Unfriendly Amendment is an amendment not approved by all the sponsors to their draft resolution and must be voted upon before it can be included into the text.

19. Merging: combining two or more draft resolutions to make a bigger or new draft resolution

20. Voting bloc: when delegates vote on the draft resolutions and amendments

NoMUNC Rules of Procedure

We will be using similar parliamentary procedure (outlined below) that is used at conferences like NAIMUN and MUNUC. Most of the substantive discussion and debate will take place during moderated caucuses. Please have a general idea of parliamentary procedure before conference, but the chair and assistant chairs will help facilitate committees and ensure that all questions are answered.

1. Roll Call

Be on time for roll call, which is taken at the start of each committee session. If you are late, send a note to the Dais to let them know of your presence, since it affects voting calculations.

DURING ROLL CALL, YOU MAY VOTE:

• “Present.”

• “Present and voting.” By voting “present and voting,” a delegation may not abstain in any subsequent votes but can only vote yes or no.

2. Setting The Agenda

After the Dais has delivered their introductory information and expectations, the first task of the committee is to Set the Agenda — pick the topic for subsequent debate. Before motions to Set the Agenda will be entertained, the Chair will consider motions to open the Primary Speaker’s List, a perpetuating document the Chair will default to when all other motions fail.

OPENING THE PRIMARY SPEAKER’S LIST

• Requires a motion and a majority vote.

• SAY: “Motion to open the Speaker’s List for the purpose of setting the agenda.”

SETTING THE SPEAKING TIME

• Speaker’s List time runs from one to two minutes.

• Requires two speakers for and two against with a 30-second speaking time.

• Requires a simple majority to pass.

• The speaking time for the Speaker’s List can be changed with a later motion that passes with simple majority.

• SAY: “Motion to set the speaking time at 90 seconds.”

THE SPEAKER’S LIST

• Once the Speaker’s List is open, debate to set the agenda begins.

• The Speaker’s List is a perpetuating document – send a note to the Dais to be added!

• If the Speaker’s List ever expires, committee automatically enters Voting Procedure, so the Speaker’s List must remain populated at all times.

• Example: SPEAKER’S LIST – Jordan, Afghanistan, China, Honduras, Kenya, Germany, Argentina, Romania, United States.

At Chair’s discretion, motions to Set the Agenda will be entertained after a number of speeches off of the Speaker’s List.

SETTING THE TOPIC

• Motion to set the agenda.

• Simple majority to pass.

• Requires two speakers for and two against.

• If the motion to set the agenda to Topic A, for example, fails, Topic B is automatically approved.

• SAY: “Motion to set the agenda to Topic A, Maritime Piracy in the Straits of Malacca.”

OPENING THE SECONDARY SPEAKER’S LIST

• After the agenda has been set, the Dias will discard the Primary Speaker’s List and open the Secondary Speaker’s List that will remain through the duration of the topic.

• The Secondary Speaker’s List is functionally no different than the Primary Speaker’s List— it is a procedural formality following setting the agenda.

3. Yields

A yield is a way to handle remaining speaking time— if a delegate speaks for 30 seconds during a 1 minute speaking time, they may yield the remaining 30 seconds following the procedures outlined below. Yields can only be made when delegates are called from the Speaker’s List, and must be specified before a delegate begins speaking. Yields during moderated caucus speeches are not part of parliamentary procedure. If the delegate fails to specify a yield, the yield is defaulted to the Chair (See A).

A. “I YIELD MY TIME TO THE CHAIR.”

• Remaining time is unused.

B. “I YIELD MY TIME TO QUESTIONS."

• Chair will call on a delegate to ask the speaker a question.

• Speaker can only respond for the amount of time unused.

• No back-and-forth dialogue between delegates is permitted.

C. “I YIELD MY TIME TO [INSERT COUNTRY’S NAME HERE].”

• If a delegate (Oman) yields the remainder of their time to another country (Yemen), that country must accept the yield.

• Double Yields are not allowed: the country yielded to (Yemen) by the original speaker (Oman) cannot make another yield to a third country (for example, Algeria).

4. Points

Points give delegates a voice about administrative matters not related to the substance of the committee. In large committees, delegates should raise their placards and expect to be recognized by the chair before stating a point. In smaller committees, and at the Chair’s discretion, delegates are able to verbalize points without being recognized, speaking up at their own volition.

POINT OF ORDER

• Tool to point out a discrepancy in parliamentary procedure or another delegate’s actions.

• May interrupt a speaker.

• Example: “Point of Order? The delegate is discussing resolution 3, but only 1 and 2 have been presented.”

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

• Tool to ensure that you have the resources necessary for committee.

• May not interrupt a speaker.

• Example: “Point of Personal Privilege? Can the Dais please speak up? We can’t hear the Chair in the back.”

POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY

• Tool to ask the Dais to clarify a motion made, a vote up for consideration, or any other step of parliamentary procedure.

• May not interrupt a speaker.

• Example: “Point of Parliamentary Inquiry? Are we voting on Resolution 1.2 or 1.4?”

5. Caucusing

MODERATED CAUCUS

Moderated caucuses are considered informal debate.

• The moderated caucus allows countries that are low on the Speaker’s List to have the opportunity to speak by temporarily suspending the Speaker’s List and allowing the chair to call on countries at their discretion.

• The delegate who proposed the caucus should specify the topic of discussion, specify the duration (not to exceed 20 minutes), and speaking time per delegate.

• To signal your desire to speak, simply raise your placard.

• Delegates should remain in their seats during a moderated caucus and maintain decorum, as during formal debate.

• SAY: “Motion for a ten-minute moderated caucus with 30-second speaking times for the purpose of discussing __________________.”

UNMODERATED CAUCUS

Unmoderated caucuses are considered a suspension of the meeting.

• A motion for an unmoderated caucus, which requires a majority to pass, allows the suspension of the rules and of formal debate.

• Delegates may leave their seats and discuss topics freely.

• The delegate making the motion must specify a total time for the proposed caucus, not to exceed 20 minutes.

• The Chair reserves the right to rule such a motion out of order.

• This is an ideal time to draft resolutions and develop relationships with fellow countries.

• SAY: “Motion for a ten-minute unmoderated caucus.”

6. Resolutions And Amendments

RESOLUTIONS

Resolutions seek to create innovative solutions to the topics discussed in debate.

• Each delegation can sponsor or sign as many resolutions as they wish.

• Sponsors are countries who agree with, and contribute to the content of the resolution or draft and intend to support it.

• Signatories are countries who would like to see the draft debated but do not necessarily support all the elements of the resolution.

• A signatory of a resolution does not have to vote in favor of the resolution.

• Require 20% +1 of the committee to sign on to a resolution either as a sponsor or as a signatory.

• Each resolution requires at least 2 sponsors.

• Both resolutions and amendments alike require a simple majority to pass.

FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS

• Approved by all sponsors of the resolution.

• Most commonly non-contentious, non-substantive matters. Substantive matters that alter the content of the resolution.

• Automatically added without a vote as soon as they are submitted to the Dais.

UNFRIENDLY AMENDMENTS

• 12.5% +1 of the committee must sponsor or sign before being presented to the Chair.

• Require two speakers for and two speakers against and a majority vote before being added to the draft resolution.

SUBMITTING A RESOLUTION

• Considered a “working paper” until submitted to the Dais.

• Considered a “draft resolution” until presented to the committee.

• Draft resolutions are presented to the committee in the order they were submitted.

• Draft resolutions are named based on the topics being discussed (eg. Resolution 1.1 would be the first resolution submitted for Topic 1).

PRESENTING A RESOLUTION

• Suspension of the rules at Chair’s discretion.

• At the Chair’s discretion, all the sponsors read the resolution to the committee, one sponsor will read the resolution to the committee, the Dias may read the resolution to the committee, or a quiet reading period may be entertained, after which a Question & Answer Panel is held.

Q&A

• A delegate motions for Q&A with a specified length of time. Only Sponsor answers to questions from other delegates fielded by the Chair, detract from this overall time.

• A select number of sponsors, at the Chair’s discretion, will participate in Q&A.

• Non-substantive questions are used to question and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, or to clarify (without changing) any part of a draft resolution.

• Substantive questions wish to question the meaning and intentions of the draft resolution.

7. Voting

MOVING INTO VOTING PROCEDURE

• Requires two speakers for and two against and 2/3 in favor to pass.

• Once the body has voted affirmatively to close debate, the committee immediately moves into voting procedure.

• SAY: “Motion to close debate.”

DURING VOTING PROCEDURE, NO ONE MAY ENTER OR LEAVE THE ROOM DURING THE ENTIRETY OF VOTING PROCEDURE.

• Each resolution is voted on in the order that it was presented unless rearranged through a motion (see below).

• Voting on unfriendly amendments occurs before voting on the resolution as a whole.

• Each resolution is passed by a simple majority.

• May vote yes, no, yes with rights, no with rights, abstain.

  • Voting with rights means that a delegation is voting contrary to its expected vote based on its declared foreign policy. Delegations voting with rights may give a speech at the conclusion of voting giving their reasoning for such a vote. It is not suggested that you vote with rights; rather, vote according to policy!

MOTIONS SPECIFIC TO VOTING

• “Motion for a roll call vote." Roll call votes conduct voting similar to Roll call attendance at the beginning of each session.

• “Motion to reorder the resolutions.” This motion alters the order in which the committee will vote on the resolutions— the order is at the discretion of the delegate who presents the motion.