Flow of debate
It is sometimes helpful to think of a Model UN conference as if it were a play in which
delegates are the actors and Secretariat members are the directors. The storyline of a stage
show is similar to what Model UNers call the “flow of debate” – the order in which events
proceed during a Model UN conference. Just like scenes in a theatrical performance, debate
unfolds in several different parts. The chart below shows the various stages of debate that
take place during a Model UN simulation. Being familiar with how the action will proceed,
from the first “scene” to the last, is an important way to prepare yourself for a Model UN
conference.
Roll Call
The Chairperson will announce each country’s name. After delegates hear their country,
they should answer "present."
Setting the Agenda
When Model UN committees have more than one topic available, the body must set the
agenda to begin working on one of these issues. At this time a delegate typically makes a
motion, stating "The country of [name] moves to place [topic A] first on the agenda,
followed by [topic B] and then [topic C]." Once the motion has been made, three
delegations must speak in favor of the motion, and three other delegations will speak
against it. These speeches should alternate between those in favor and those opposed.
Once these six speeches have been given, a vote is taken. Setting the agenda requires a
simple majority vote.
Debate
Formal Debate: Formal debate revolves
around a speakers list. The Chair begins by
asking all delegates interested in addressing
the other members to raise their placards. The
Chair then chooses delegates to be placed on
the speakers list. A country may only be on the
speakers list once, but delegates may add their
country to the end of the list after their
speech.
Informal Debate: Informal debate involves
discussion outside of the speakers list.
During moderated caucuses, the Chair
calls on delegates one-by-one so that each
can address the committee in short
speeches. During unmoderated caucuses,
the committee breaks for a temporary
recess so that delegates may meet with
each other and discuss ideas.
1a. When the session begins, speeches focus
on stating country positions and offering
recommendations for action.
1b. After several countries state their
positions, the committee breaks for
caucuses (often in blocs) to develop
regional positions.
2a. After blocs have met, speeches focus on
2b. Writing begins as countries work
describing bloc positions to the entire body.
together to compose draft resolutions.
3a. Delegates now make statements
describing their draft resolutions to the
committee.
3b. Countries and groups meet to gather
support for specific draft resolutions.
4a. Delegates try to garner more support
through formal speeches and invite others to
offer their ideas.
4b. Delegates finalize draft resolutions.
5a. Delegates make statements supporting or
disagreeing with specific draft resolutions.
5b. Draft-resolution sponsors build greater
support for their resolution and look to
incorporate others’ ideas through friendly
amendments.
6a. Delegates present any amendments they
have created.
Close of Debate
Once the speakers list is exhausted, the committee automatically moves to voting. Also,
once a delegate feels that his or her country’s position is clear to others and that there are
enough draft resolutions on the floor, he or she may make a motion to proceed into voting
procedure by moving for the closure of debate.
Voting Procedures
Once a motion to close debate has been approved, the committee moves into voting
procedure. Amendments are voted on first, then resolutions. Once all of the resolutions are
voted on, the committee moves to the next topic on the agenda.
Formal debate
Students participating in LIMUN assume the role of a delegate - representing a Member State of the
UN, an observer or a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Each delegate will be allocated either
individually or in groups of two to a committee specialising in a particular area of international policy
to represent the views of the larger delegation. Head Delegates lead the delegations, co-ordinating
everything from policy research to travel arrangements.
The debate at LIMUN is controlled by the Rules of Procedure. The Rules of Procedure can seem quite
intimidating for the inexperienced. However, they are very easy to pick up through participation and
practice with other members of your delegation.
The Committee Director
Model United Nations debate is co-ordinated by a chairperson, referred to to as the Committee
Director. The chairperson will often be supported by one or more deputies, called the Assistant
Director (known as ‘AD’). It is the chairperson’s main task to ensure that debate follows the Rules of
Procedure. They also advise delegates on policy and on the writing of resolutions and other
documents. LIMUN committees also have a staff member called a Committee Point of Contact
(CPOC). It is his/her job to deal with questions or concerns regarding anything other than the course
of debate.
The chairperson normally begins by calling a Roll Call: a list of the Member States attending.
Delegates respond 'present' when their delegation is called.
The Speakers' List
There are three styles of debate at LIMUN: formal debate (following the Speaker’s List), moderated
caucus and unmoderated caucus.
Following a Speakers’ List is a very formal style of debate and does not allow for discussion of issues
between delegates or the quick exchange of ideas. The speakers’ list is a list of all those delegates
who wish to address the committee.
Each delegate possesses a placard printed with the name of the Member State they are
representing. Placards are used to request the attention of the chair or for voting. On opening a
speakers’ list, the chairperson normally asks delegates to raise their placards if they wish to be
added to the list. Once the chairperson has completed this stage, delegates wanting to be added to
the list normally have to pass a note to the chairperson.
When it is a Member State’s turn to address the committee, the chair will formally recognise the
State. He or she will say, for example, ‘The United Kingdom, you have been recognised’. The
chairperson then gives the speaker a speaking time indicating for how long they may speak.
Speeches are strictly timed and speakers will be interrupted if they exceed this limit. The chairperson
will normally lightly tap the table or otherwise signal if a speaker is within 10 seconds of their time
limit to give them chance to conclude their arguments.
The main speakers’ list is known as the General Speakers’ List for those wishing to speak on the topic
generally. This is opened once the agenda has been set and remains open until the closure of debate
and the resolution is voted upon.
Normally, the speakers’ list is described as ‘open’ meaning that delegates may express opinions both
for and against the item under discussion. However, a speakers’ list is sometimes divided into two
sections: ‘for’ and ‘against’. In this case, the speakers alternate between those ‘for’ the item under
discussion and those ‘against’.
Diplomatic Protocol
Diplomats are required to observe certain formal conventions of language when addressing a
diplomatic forum. Delegates must remain standing while addressing the committee and it is polite to
begin by thanking the dais for being allowed the opportunity to speak: ‘Thank you Mister/Madam
Director’. The delegate addresses their speech to the dais and then the delegates: ‘Mister/Madam
Director, Honourable Delegates’. Delegates always refer to each other as ‘Honourable Delegates'. To
add emphasis to a new part of a speech a delegate may occasionally re-address their speech to the
dais by beginning the new section ‘Mister/Madam Director’.
It is also diplomatic convention never to refer to your own views with ‘I’ or refer to others with ‘He’
or ‘She’. Instead, delegates use the names of their Member States: for example, ‘The United
Kingdom believes’. ‘My’, ‘His’ or ‘Her’ are similarly not allowed. Most MUN conferences also require
that delegates wear business attire – business suits and ties or female equivalent.
Right of Reply
If diplomatic protocol is not followed and a delegate feels that a speech has impugned their personal
or national integrity, the offended delegate may request a Right of Reply at the conclusion of the
offending speech (a Right of Reply cannot interrupt a speaker). Rights of Reply may only address
lapses of courtesy, they cannot be used to challenge false or inaccurate claims regarding policy.
Rights of Reply are granted only at the discretion of the chair and responses to Rights of Reply are
not allowed.
If a delegate has broken the Rules of Procedure, the chairperson declares their actions as out of
order.
Yielding
Once a delegate has finished addressing a committee, they must choose how to hand over the right
to speak, called yielding. A delegate may:
Yield to the dais, where the right to speak normally passes to the next delegation on the speakers’
list;
Yield to points of information, where the delegate accepts questions from other delegations on what
they have said; or
Yield to another delegate, where the delegate yields remaining time to a speaker from another
Member State.
To yield to points of information or to another delegation, there must be enough time remaining.
A point of information is made to elicit information from a speaker. Normally this will be to clarify a
specific area of their stated policy. Points of information must be addressed in a question and must
be kept relatively short. The delegate asking the question must remain standing during both their
question and the answer given by the speaker as a sign of courtesy. Only the speaker’s answers to
questions count against the speaking time.
Informal debate
The Speakers’ List is the most formal style of debate and can be restricting. Less formal styles are the
moderated caucus and the unmoderated caucus.
Caucuses
In unmoderated caucus, delegates may leave their seats and address other delegates in an informal
manner. Its purpose is to allow informal discussion of issues causing deadlock. The purpose of
moderated caucus is to facilitate debate at critical moments in the discussion. In a moderated
caucus, the committee remains in formal debate, but temporarily departs from the Speakers’ List
and the Chair calls upon delegates to speak at their discretion. Delegates raise their placards to
signal their wish to speak.
Points & motions
Motions
To enter either type of caucus, the committee must formally decide to do so during formal
debate. The committee does this by passing a motion to enter moderated caucus or a
motion to enter unmoderated caucus. These are examples of procedural motions.
To propose a procedural motion, delegates raise their placard while the floor is open and
wait for the chair to recognise them (proposing a motion cannot interrupt a speaker). Once
recognised, the delegate tells the chairperson the motion they are proposing: ‘motion to
enter moderated caucus’ or ‘motion to enter unmoderated caucus’. In the case of these
motions, the delegate then proposes for how long they wish the caucus to last for and its
purpose. The committee then votes on the motion by raising their placards either in favour
or against the motion (there are no abstentions on procedural motions). A simple majority
(50% plus one) is required for a motion to enter either type of caucus to pass. In some cases,
the chairperson may consider a motion as not constructive to the conduct of debate and
decide to not put the matter to a vote.
Once time has elapsed for either moderated or unmoderated caucus, debate automatically
returns to the speakers' list.
Points
In addition to motions, a number of points can be made. These are separate from motions
in that they do not effect the course of debate, but ask for clarification or information.
The purpose of a point of information has already been described. In addition, delegates
may make points of personal privilege. A point of personal privilege is the only motion or
point that may interrupt a speaker. These are made to draw the speaker or chairperson’s
attention to something that is impairing a delegate’s ability to participate in the
proceedings. For example, the delegate cannot hear the speaker.
Points of order draw the attention of the chairperson to an instance where the Rules of
Procedure have been broken, while points of parliamentary inquiry allow delegates to ask
questions to the chairperson regarding the Rules. Although most chairpersons are happy to
address simple questions through answers to points of parliamentary inquiry, significant
questions are best discussed outside formal sessions.
Rules of Procedure: Passage of a resolution
This section describes the passage of a resolution through a committee. It introduces a
number of procedural motions in addition to the motions to enter moderated caucus and
moderated caucus as already described. They are proposed in exactly the same manner.
A resolution follows a set route through a committee:
1. Setting the agenda;
2. Introducing working papers and resolutions;
3. Amending a resolution;
4. Passing a resolution.
1. Setting the agenda
Once the roll call has finished at the beginning of the committee session, it is in order to
propose a motion to set the agenda. Most committees have a list of topics on their agendas
of between two and three issues. The first duty of the committee is to decide which topic to
discuss first. The delegate proposing the motion to set the agenda states which issue they
wish to discuss initially and the chairperson will then draw up a speakers’ list divided into for
and against. Delegates are then allowed to debate the motion.
Under normal circumstances, the main arguments for and against will be clearly argued
before everyone on the speakers’ list has had the chance to speak. So as not to waste the
committee’s time rehearing the same arguments, a motion to close debate may be
proposed and requires a two-thirds majority to pass. Motions to close debate are also in
order while discussing any other matter. A motion to close debate ends all further speeches
to the committee and moves the matter under consideration directly to a vote – in this case
the motion to set the agenda.
Once debate is closed, the motion to set the agenda will be voted on and passed by simple
majority. The chairperson will then open the General Speakers’ List.
2. Introducing working papers and resolutions
Having heard the views expressed during speeches to the committee and during lobbying, a
group of countries may work together to write a working paper or resolution. While a
resolution follows set guidelines, a working paper is more of a work in progress and does
not have to follow any particular style. Working papers must be approved by the Director
before distribution, who allocates them a number for ease of referral (working paper 1, 2
and so on). Working papers do not have to be formally introduced for discussion, but the
ideas they contain can be referred to by delegates during speeches.
If a working paper seems to be producing a consensus during debate, delegates may choose
to make alterations so that it follows the strict style of a resolution. Resolutions require a
number of Member States to sign them (normally about 20% of those present) before they
can be formally introduced for consideration by the committee.
Once it has the approval of the dais and numbered, a resolution may be formally introduced
for debate. This requires a motion to introduce a resolution. The delegate will also recite its
draft number (for example, ‘ Motion to introduce Draft Resolution 1’). The committee will
vote immediately on the motion, which passes with a simple majority. More than one
competing resolutions are normally allowed under consideration at the same time. Once
adopted by the committee, one of the signatories reads the operative clauses to the
committee and accepts questions relating to meaning or errors of spelling and grammar.
Debate then returns with the next speaker on the Speakers’ List.
3. Amending a resolution
Resolutions can be amended, adding new clauses, removing clauses or altering the wording
of existing clauses. They normally require the approval of about 10% of States to be
introduced and must be proposed with a motion to introduce an amendment. An
amendment is debated with a separate and new Speakers' List. If passed by a simple
majority in committee, the changes are made to the original resolution. Amendments to
amendments are not allowed, although an amendment can be made to an amended part of
a resolution.
4. Passing a resolution
To end discussion of the resolutions and the topic, a motion to close debate is required. If
passed, the committee enters voting procedures. Voting on resolutions is called the
substantive question. On the substantive question, delegates may choose to abstain,
meaning that they wish neither to vote for or against the resolution. On most topics, a
simple majority is sufficient for a resolution to pass a committee.
On any vote, but particularly given a close vote on the substantive question, the chairperson
may call a roll call vote. This means that a list of the Member States present will be read out
loud and delegates must state ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Abstain’ once their delegation name has been
called.