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DGKISMUN’24
RULES OF PROCEDURE
RULES OF PROCEDURE
➢ APPLICABILITY:
The below mentioned rules are applicable to all the Indian Committees, United
Nations Committees, Other Governmental Simulations unless specific
instructions have been provided for in the rules. Any deviation from the rules
mentioned requires written permission from the Secretariat.
➢ DECORUM:
Delegates are to obey instructions given by UNA-USA MUN staff. Those who
do not obey directions will be dismissed from the conference. The delegates are
expected to maintain highest level of professionalism and decorum during the
proceedings of the council. If a delegate is not behaving in a parliamentary
fashion, on chat, video, audio, or any other platform as shared, he/she can be
barred from the session(s), temporarily (put in the waiting room) or
permanently.
➢ STANDARD RULES:
1. Representation: All councils shall have delegate(s) representing one
country/portfolio having one vote. Non-governmental Organisations &
Special Observers will be allowed to vote on Amendments and
Declarations that pertain to them, in an agenda which is directly
concerning them. On all other agendas they will be allowed to vote on all
issues except Amendments and Declaration. In case of a dispute,
Presiding Officer’s decision shall be final and binding.
2. Language: The delegates can utilise only English for the conference.
3. Attire: Delegates and the Presiding Officer(s) are expected to wear the
dress code as per the conference itinerary.
4. Technical Requirement(s): Delegates can have a working electronic
device compatible and equipped with the said software, internet
connectivity and the other required prerequisites as mentioned. However,
delegates are NOT allowed to use internet during general speaker’s list
and moderated caucus and found using strict actions will be taken.
5. Recognition: The delegates shall utilise the ‘Raise Hand’ or any other
such feature as provided, in order to be recognised, at any point, during
the session. The delegates shall ‘Lower Hand’ once the purpose of raising
their hand has been met. This or any other feature as mentioned, shall be
treated as delegate’s placard and must only be used when required. The
delegates may also utilise chits in order to communicate with the council
as a whole or to a delegate/Presiding Officer, privately.
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➢ RULES REGARDING THE DEBATE:
1. Quorum: It is the minimum number of members required to be present in
the council to begin its proceedings. The Quorum should be at least 1/5th
of total committee strength. When verifying the Quorum, delegates shall
answer in either one of the two options: ‘Present and Voting’ or ‘Present’.
2. Setting an Agenda: A committee shall decide for the Setting of an
Agenda in the following manner:
a) The Presiding Officer shall call for any Points or Motions on the floor, to
which a delegate can rise to a ‘Motion to Set the Agenda to [Topic]’.
b) The Presiding Officer shall call only for those who are against the
Motion. If there is any opposition then there shall be One for, One
Against the topic area, both to a maximum of one minute each.
c) This shall be followed by a Formal Vote with a Simple Majority for the
motion to pass. If the motion fails then the second topic area
automatically is set for discussion and if there is no second agenda, then
the council moves into an Emergency Debate.
3. Limitation of Speaking Time: The Chair may limit the time allotted to
each speaker. However, delegates can motion to increase or decrease the
speaking time, which will be voted upon by the committee or council.
The timing options begin from 60, 90 to the maximum of 120 seconds.
The choice for the same should be voted upon and applied to the
Speaker's list.
4. General Speakers’ List: A Speakers’ List is automatically opened and
remains open throughout the discussion of the topic area unless the
committee chooses to move into a Moderated Caucus or an Unmoderated
Caucus. A General Speakers’ List is a place where a delegate expresses
his/her country’s stand on the topic area. The time limit is set to 60
seconds per delegate.
5. Yielding Time: The delegate may yield any time following their remarks
after their speech. Yields may be made in three ways:
a) Yield to another delegate. His/her remaining time shall be given to
another delegate.
b) Yield to questions. Delegates shall be selected by the Chair to ask one
question per speech. The Chair has the right to call order to any delegate
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whose question is, in the opinion of the Chair, not designed to elicit
information. Answers to questions are limited to the time remaining in a
delegate's speech.
c) Yield to the Chair. Such a yield should be made if the delegate does not
wish his/her speech to be subject to comments. The Chair shall then move
on to the next speaker.
6. Points:
a) Personal Privilege: This can interrupt a speaker and is used when a
delegate is facing technical difficulties and cannot hear the speaker or is
experiencing mental or physical discomfort.
b) Information: Delegates may Raise their Hand if they wish to clarify any
factual inaccuracy in a delegate’s speech. If one finds that another
delegate has misstated a particular fact after the completion of the
delegate’s speech, one may ask for valid documentation supporting the
delegate’s facts.
c) Order: During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may raise a Point
of Order and the Chair shall immediately consider the request. A Point of
Order must relate to the observance of the rules of the committee or to the
way the Chair is exercising his or her power. A delegate raising a Point of
Order may not speak on the substance of the matter under discussion. The
Chair may refuse to recognize a Point of Order if the delegate has not
shown proper restraint and decorum governing the use of such a right, or
if the point is dilatory in nature.
d) Parliamentary Inquiry: This is exercised when a delegate wants to
know anything about the proceedings from the Executive Board.
7. Right Of Reply:
The Chair may recognize the Right of Reply only in instances of a grave
personal insult. Rights of Reply must be submitted in writing to the Chair,
and may only be granted after a speech is completed. The Chair shall
inform the Secretary-General of the circumstances surrounding the Right
of Reply. No ruling on this matter is subject to appeal.
8. Appeal to the Chair’s Decision:
An appeal is made when a delegate feels that the Chair has made an
incorrect ruling. The delegate formally challenges the Chair in writing by
sending a note to the dais, moving to appeal the Chair's decision. The
appeal will be taken to the Secretary General who will decide if the
appeal will be considered. Once the motion is acknowledged, the
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Secretary General will hear from both the delegate and the Chair before
making a wise decision.
9. Moderated Caucus: The recommendation for a moderated caucus must
include a time limit for delegate remarks and a time limit for the entire
caucus (e.g. “Motion to move into moderated caucus for [Topic] with the
total time being [Total time in minutes] and per speaker time [Per speaker
time in seconds]"). During a moderated caucus, the chair shall recognize
delegates for remarks without the use of a speakers list and yields shall be
out of order.
10.Unmoderated caucus: The recommendation for an unmoderated caucus
requires a time limit to be made (e.g. "Motion to move into unmoderated
caucus for [Reason] with the total time being [Total time in minutes]").
Unmoderated caucuses allow delegates to have informal discussions.
11.Motion to Table Debate: During the discussion of any matter, the
committee may consider a motion to table debate on the item under
discussion at the recommendation of the Chair or any delegate. If the
motion is seconded, two representatives may speak in favour of and two
against the motion. Then, the motion shall immediately be put to a vote.
A two-thirds majority is required for passage. If a motion to table debate
is passed, the topic is considered tabled and no further actions or votes
will be taken on it. A topic may be reintroduced to the committee so that
debate can resume through the same process. The motion to resume
debate on a tabled topic shall also require a two-thirds majority for
passage.
12.Motion to Suspend Debate: A delegate may at any time move for the
closure of debate on the item under discussion, after which debate will
end and all draft resolutions and amendments will be put to an immediate
vote. Permission to speak on the closure of debate shall be accorded only
to two speakers opposing the closure, after which the motion shall be
immediately put to a vote. This motion requires a two-thirds majority
decision. Upon passage of this motion the Chair shall declare the closure
of debate and immediately move into voting procedure on the substantive
proposals introduced and pending before the committee. The committee
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shall also close debate and move into voting procedure when the speakers
list has been exhausted.
13.Adjournment of the Meeting: During the discussion of any matter, a
delegate may move for the adjournment of the meeting. Such a motion
shall not be debated but shall be immediately put to a vote. After
adjournment, the committee shall reconvene at its next regularly
scheduled meeting time; adjournment of the final meeting shall adjourn
the session.
14.Draft Resolution: A Draft Resolution is the solution to the entire agenda.
A Draft Resolution before being introduced requires the prior ratification
of the Executive Board (submitted document for ratification is a working
paper). In case of multiple Draft Resolutions being brought to the
Executive Board at the same time, the one with more number of
signatories shall be put first to the committee for voting.
a) Authors: An Author is a person who writes the Declaration, structures
and ideates over it. He/she has to abide by the Draft Resolution. A
minimum of 1 Author is required for the Draft Resolution and the
maximum of 5. An Author cannot vote against the Draft Resolution.
b) Signatories: Signatories are those who give consent only to discuss the
Draft Resolution in the council and can exercise his/her voting rights the
way he/she pleases. A minimum of 3 signatories are required for the Draft
Resolution to be considered for ratification.
15. Amendments: All amendments need to be written and are submitted to
the Executive Board via chit. There are two forms of Amendments, which
can be raised by raising a ‘Motion for Amendment’ once the Executive
Board has given an approval:
a) Friendly Amendments: An amendment, which is agreed upon by all the
Author/’s and does not require any kind of voting.
b) Unfriendly Amendments: Author/’s does not require any kind of voting.
An unfriendly amendment must have the approval of the author and the
signatures by 20% of the committee.
16.One For One Against: This is when the committee cannot decide on a
particular issue or is divided on the question and therefore before the final
vote needs to hear both sides of the argument. This can be extended to a
Two For and Two Against. The Time limit for each speaker is 1 minute.
17.Formal Voting: This is required only for passing a Draft Resolution and
takes place in three rounds. No observer other than those who have been
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bestowed the Right to Vote or the Administration staff is allowed to be
present during voting. A Draft Resolution passes if it has a Special
Majority. The three rounds of voting are:
Round 1: All delegates have an option between choosing: a)
Yes
b) No
c) Yes with rights
d) No with rights
e) Abstain
f) Pass
• Round 2: All delegates who have opted for rights, get to justify their
positions. This round is entered only if there is a Pass and a Yes with
Rights or a No with Rights.
• Round 3: Delegates have to cast their Final vote and the two choices they
have are: a Yes or a No.
18.Methods of Decision: All procedural decisions, except for the closure
and adjournment of debate, shall be made by a simple majority of the
delegations present. Delegations physically present in the committee may
not abstain on procedural motions. Decisions on draft resolutions and
amendments shall require a simple majority in favour. However, the
passage of all resolutions and amendments in the Security Council
requires nine affirmative votes and an affirmative vote or an abstention on
the part of all permanent members (People's Republic of China, France,
Russian Federation, United States of America and United Kingdom).
19.Voting Rights: Each vote may be a Yes, No, or Abstain. On procedural
motions, members may not abstain. Members “present and voting” shall
be defined as members casting an affirmative or negative vote (no
abstentions) on all substantive votes.
20.Conduct While in Voting Procedure: After the Chair has announced the
beginning of voting, no representative may enter or leave the room, nor
shall any representative interrupt the voting except on a Point of Personal
Privilege, Point of Inquiry, or a Point of Order in connection with the
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actual conduct of the voting. Communication between delegates is strictly
forbidden. A member of the staff shall secure the doors during voting
procedure.
21.Method of Voting: Delegations may vote in favour of or against a
proposal or may abstain from voting. The committee shall normally vote
by show of placards, but any delegate may request a roll call vote on
substantive matters. The roll call vote shall be taken in alphabetical order
of the English names of the countries present.
During a roll call vote, delegations may answer with an affirmative vote,
a negative vote, an abstention (when appropriate) or may pass.
Delegations passing in the first round of voting will be called upon
alphabetically in a second round, at which time they may only answer
with an affirmative or negative vote. Delegations that appear to be voting
out of policy, while casting an affirmative or negative vote, may reserve
the right to explain their vote by Voting with Rights. Delegations must
announce that they are Voting with Rights at the time they cast their vote.
The Chair may permit delegations Voting with Rights to explain their
votes after voting has concluded but before the decision has been
announced.
22.Order of Draft Resolutions: If two or more draft resolutions relate to the
same question, the committee shall vote on the resolutions in the order in
which they have been submitted.
23.Voting on Unfriendly Amendments: During the voting procedure on a
substantive proposal, unfriendly amendments to a resolution shall be
voted on first. When two or more amendments are proposed to a
resolution concurrently, the committee shall first vote on the amendment
that creates the greatest change to the draft resolution, as deemed by the
Chair, and then the amendment that creates the second greatest change to
the resolution. This process continues until all amendments are voted
upon. Where, however, the adoption of the amendment necessarily
implies the rejection of another amendment (as decided by the Chair), the
latter amendment shall not be put to a vote. If one or more amendments
are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be voted upon. Amendment
voting is a substantive procedure and adoption requires the simple
majority consent of the delegations present.
24.Passage of Resolutions: If a vote does not result in a simple majority* in
favour, the resolution shall be regarded as rejected. A simple majority
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requires fifty percent of the members present during the last roll call, plus
one. Example: 99 members present requires 49.5 (50%) + 1= 50.5=51
affirmative votes.
Exceptions: The United Nations Security Council requires nine
affirmative votes for the passage of resolutions and amendments. In
addition to the nine affirmative votes, an affirmative vote or an abstention
on the part of all permanent members (People's Republic of China,
France, Russian Federation, United States of America and United
Kingdom) is required for the passage of all resolutions and amendments.
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