Parliamentary Procedure

Author(s): Ian May
Last Updated: 9/25/23

Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure

Parliamentary Procedure (or Parli Pro) is the language of Model United Nations and in order to participate in debate, delegates must learn to speak it. Fluency in Parli Pro can bring a newer delegate to the forefront of debate or be the final thing an experienced delegate is missing to get an award. Being familiar with Parliamentary Procedure often serves former Model UN delegates well after their Model UN careers. It is used to run meetings from college student governments, to city councils, to school boards, to state governments, to The United Nations, and beyond.

This article will tackle the basics of Parliamentary Procedure as well as some more advanced ways to utilize parliamentary procedure to your advantage.

The Basics

Model UN conferences obey specific rules to cultivate equitable and efficient debate. "Parliamentary Procedure" can be a scary word for newer delegates, but it is just the collection of these rules. Model UN Parli-Pro is based on Roberts Rules of Order, a really stuffy old book of rules which you should realistically never have to read for Model UN. Generally, each conference will publish their own Rules of Procedure (ROP) or reference another established ROP. For the purposes of LoboMUN, we use the NMMUN Rules of Procedure, developed for the conferences here in New Mexico.

Raising placards, be recognized by the chair, thank the chair.

Procedural Motions

Starting things off simple, procedural motions control the big picture of debate. Are we starting or stopping? What are we talking about?

Opening & Closing Debate

Setting the Agenda

Suspending Debate

Debate Procedure & Motions

Moderated Caucuses

Round Robins

Consultations of the Whole

Unmoderated Caucuses

Recesses

Extensions

Other Motions

Right of Reply

Straw Polls

The Life Cycle of a Resolution

Voting Procedure

Points

In Parli-Pro, points are similar to announcements: they bring something to the attention of the chair. Due to this, points are the one part of parliamentary procedure where delegates do not need to be recognized by the chair. For example, if the chair violated parliamentary procedure, a delegate may simply say "point of order" and then wait for recognition from the chair. That being said, do not interrupt a speaker unless absolutely necessary. Points should only interrupt debate when they are time sensitive. Generally, it is still proper to wait for recognition from the chair before raising a point. A great way to respect the chair and your fellow delegates with a point is to wait until the chair asks for points or motions, and then simply say "point" into the microphone or out loud and wait for recognition from the chair. This will usually bump your point above the motions, allowing it to be resolved before moving on.

Tips and Considerations

Substantive Discussion: Sometimes, delegates will (often accidentally) include substantive discussion in their points. Be sure to keep points straightforward and save any opinion or context for actual debate.

Point of Personal Privilege

Like all points, a point of personal privilege is divorced from the content of the debate. A delegate would raise this point when something about the structure of the debate, room, or overall experience should be brought to the chair's attention. This is especially pertinent if the point is being raised in regards to your or another delegates ability to debate equitably. You should not raise a point for an emergency (please tell your chair immediately), but you should always raise a point when the circumstances of the committee lead to an unfair debate. Additionally, if you have a need that you don't want to address with the rest of committee, you can always send a paper note to the chair.

Example Points of Personal Privilege

Delegate: "Point of personal privilege."
Chair: "The chair recognizes The People's Republic of Korea."
Delegate: "It is hot in the building, do you think we can turn the heat down?"
Chair: "Are their any points at this time?"
Delegate: "Point of personal privilege. I am having trouble hearing the other delegates. Do you think we could rearrange the room or turn up the microphones?"

Point of Information

Point of Inquiry

Also called

Point of Order

By the end of this article, you will be such a skilled parliamentarian that you can raise points of order with the chair. Points of order bring attention to a moment in debate where the rules of parliamentary procedure were not followed correctly and the chair didn't catch it. In most cases, this is because the chair made the mistake themselves. When making a point of order, there are two important things to keep in mind. First, be respectful and remember that your chair is human and bound to make mistakes sometimes. Second, the chair still has final say: sometimes they will break procedure for the sake of speeding up or simplifying debate. Do not argue with the chair. If you believe they violated procedure in a way which was unfair or entirely improper, bring it to the attention of the Secretary General, your Advisor, or another conference organizer.

Example Points of Order

Chair: "Thank you, delegation of China."
Delegate: "Point of order"
Chair: "Germany"
Delegate: "Thank you chair, I believe our delegation was supposed to be next on the speaker's list but we just heard a speech from China. I think our delegation may have been skipped."
Delegate: "Point of order."
Chair: "Yes, Myanmar?"
Delegate: "The motion you just accepted from Mexico did not have a speaking time, just a total time."

Intricacies of Parli-Pro

Dilutory, disruptive. Always thank the chair, speaker's list. Example order of debate.

Tips & Tricks

Using Parli-Pro to your advantage.

Definitions

Rules of Procedure -

Substantive Discussion -