RULES OF PROCEDURE
General Authority of the Chairs and the Secretary-General
The Secretary General or the chair may make a written or oral statement to the Committee at
any time. They also have the exclusive right to interpret the rules as they see fit.
General Authority of the Chair
The chair will open and close each committee, direct the discussions towards consensus and
generally ensure that the rules are followed. The judge may dismiss motions that are deemed
to be unconstructive except motions which appeal to them. They may also temporarily
transfer their duties to assistants or Secretariat at their discretion. The chair may propose an
alteration of the provisional agenda at their discretion. In exercising these functions the chair
will be subject to the Rules of Procedure and responsible to the Sec-Gen.
Appeal
A delegate may appeal any decision of the Chair unless otherwise stated in the rules in the
form of a motion to appeal the decision of the Chair. This motion requires a second. The
Chair’s ruling stands unless overruled by a two thirds majority. Any secretariat decisions
cannot be appealed.
Language and Courtesy
All attendees are to be dressed in formal business attire and to speak English when speaking
formally. The Sec-Gen may expel any delegate who fails to comply with this rule.
Attendance and Quorum
At the start of the opening session and at the Chair’s discretion, there will be a roll call of all
Member States in alphabetical order. Members will reply ‘present’ or ‘present and voting.’
‘Present and voting’ means that the Member state cannot abstain in a substantive vote.
Setting the agenda
A motion to set the agenda is in order as the first motion during the opening session or once
debate on other items is complete. A motion to set the agenda will be made and the delegate
making the motion will state the order in which the items will be debated. This motion
requires a second. A speaker’s list will be drawn up to debate the motion. On closure of the
debate, the committee will move directly to vote. A simple majority is required for passage. If
the motion fails, the committee will automatically adopt the second agenda item for debate.
Debate and the Speaker’s List
After the agenda has been determined, one continuously open speakers’ list will be
established to debate the agenda item under consideration in general terms. Speakers may
speak generally on the agenda item being considered and may discuss any resolution or
working paper on the floor. Any Member State may add its name to the speakers’ list by
submitting a request to the Chair in writing or raising their placards at the Chair’s discretion.
When a delegate wishes to put a draft resolution or amendment up for debate or voting
procedure, they should call for a motion to do this and specify a time limit for the debate. This
shall be at the Chair’s discretion. There will be an equal amount of time for and against, with
extensions to this time at the Chair’s discretion.
Moderated and Un-moderated caucus
A motion to enter either moderated or un-moderated caucus is in order at any time when the
floor is open. The delegate proposing the motion must briefly explain its purpose and specify a
time limit for the caucus, not to exceed twenty minutes. The time limit for speeches in
moderated caucuses must be mentioned. A majority of members present or present and
voting is required for passage. Once the time has elapsed, a motion to extend the caucus may
be considered at the discretion of the Chair but the extension cannot last longer than the
original caucus. Only 2 extensions per caucus are allowed. The Chair’s decision is not subject
to appeal.
Closure of Debate
A delegate may propose a motion to close debate on the item currently under discussion at
any time when the floor is open and it is in order to do so. If closed, debate ends and the
committee moves immediately to a vote on the matter currently under consideration. A
second is required. Permission to speak may only be granted to two delegates opposing the
closure, after which the motion shall be put to a vote. Closure of debate shall require a twothirds majority of delegates present or present and voting.
Postponement of Debate
Whenever the floor is open, a delegate may motion to postpone debate on a resolution or
amendment currently on the floor. The motion, otherwise known as tabling, requires a
second, a two-thirds vote to pass and will be debatable to the extent of one speaker in favour
and one opposed. No debate or further votes will be allowed on any resolution or amendment
on which debate has been postponed. A motion to resume debate on a resolution or
amendment which has been postponed will require a majority to pass and will be debatable to
the extent of one speaker in favour and one opposed.
Right to Reply
A delegate whose national honour or integrity has been insulted by another delegate may
request a right to reply. A right of reply will not be granted solely in order to correct a
perceived inaccuracy in a speech. The Chair’s decision whether to grant the right to reply is
not open to appeal. The Chair shall determine an appropriate time limit for the reply. A right
of reply to a right of reply is out of order.
Point of Order
A delegate may rise to a point of order to indicate an instance of improper parliamentary
procedure. A delegate may not, in rising to a point of order, speak on the substance of the
matter under discussion. The Chair, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, will
immediately rule upon the point of order. The Chair may rule out those points that are
dilatory or improper; such a decision is not subject to appeal. Points of order may not
interrupt the speech of a delegate or Chair. The Chair may raise questions of order only at the
conclusion of speech or during speech at his or her discretion.
Point of Parliamentary Enquiry
A delegate may rise to a point of parliamentary inquiry to ask the Chair for clarification
regarding the rules. A point of parliamentary inquiry shall not relate to a substantial issue
under discussion, and a point of parliamentary inquiry may never interrupt a speaker.
Working papers
Delegates may propose working papers for consideration. Working papers are intended to aid
the committee in its discussion and need not be written in resolution format. Working papers
are not official documents, but do require the approval of the Chair to be copied and
distributed. Working papers do not require additional sponsors.
Draft Resolutions
A draft resolution may be introduced when it receives the approval of the Chair and is
sponsored by twenty percent of Member States present and voting. Sponsoring a resolution
need not indicate support of the resolution and the sponsor has no further obligations or
ownership of the resolution. Once a resolution has been approved, it has been copied and
distributed, and the agenda has been set, a delegate may propose a motion to introduce a
draft resolution. An immediate vote is taken, with a simple majority required for introduction.
Following agreement to introduce the resolution, the operative clauses are read out loud;
yields are out of order. More than one resolution may be on the floor at any one time, but no
more than one resolution may be passed per agenda item.
Amendments
An amendment is a proposal that adds to, deletes from or revises part of a draft resolution.
Delegates may amend any draft resolution that has been introduced. Amendments shall
normally be submitted in writing and are subject to the approval of the Chair and require
sponsorship of not less than one-eighth of Member States present and voting. If an
amendment is sponsored by all of the sponsors of the draft resolution it is amending, the
amendment is considered a friendly amendment and there will be no vote on the
implementation of the amendment and it will immediately be implemented. Amendments to
amendments are out of order; however, an amended part of a resolution may be further
amended. Preambulatory phrases may not be amended, unless at the discretion of the Chair.
A delegate may motion to introduce an amendment when the floor is open. A vote will be
immediately taken, requiring a simple majority to pass. Upon successful introduction of an
amendment, the general speakers’ list will be temporarily suspended and a new speakers’ list
established for and against the amendment. A motion to close debate will be in order once the
committee has heard at least two speakers for and two speakers against. Once debate is closed
on the amendment, the committee will move to an immediate vote. A passed amendment
shall be treated as an integral part of the draft resolution under debate. Drafting amendments
that do not alter the substance of a draft resolution can be incorporated into the resolution
without a vote at the discretion of the chair.
Voting
All members of the committee, including observers, shall have one vote on procedural
motions including votes on amendments. No abstentions are permitted on procedural
matters. The only substantive question concerns the adoption of resolutions, where only full
Member States may vote. Each vote may be a ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘abstain’. Members present and
voting will be defined as members casting an affirmative or negative vote only. Only a point of
order or a point of personal privilege may interrupt voting procedures and must be made in
connection to the actual voting.
A simple majority requires a greater number of 'yes' votes than 'no' votes. A tie will fail. A twothirds majority requires at least twice as many ‘yes’ votes as ‘no’ votes. Voting shall normally
be by a show of placards, except when the Chair has authorised a roll call vote or where a
motion for a roll call vote has been passed by a simple majority of the committee. A roll call
vote shall be taken in English alphabetical order of the names of the Members, beginning with
a Member State randomly selected by the Chair. Members will respond ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘abstain’ or
‘pass’, where Member States who respond ‘pass’ must respond either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when asked a
second time by the Chair once the roll call has finished. If two or more proposals relate to the
same question, they shall, unless the committee decides otherwise through a motion to
postpone debate, be voted on in the order in which they were submitted.
Voting arrangements in the Security Council: In the Security Council, in order to pass, all
procedural motions will require a simple majority, and all substantive motions will require at
least 9 'yes' votes and that no Permanent Member of the Council votes 'no'.
Division of the Question
After debate on any resolution has been closed, a delegate may move that the operative
clauses be voted on separately. Preambulatory clauses and sub- operative clauses may not be
separated in a division of the question. If there are calls for multiple divisions, those shall be
voted upon in an order to be set by the Chair where the most radical division will be voted
upon first. A motion to divide the question requires a second and shall be voted upon,
requiring a simple majority to pass. Permission to speak on the motion for division shall be
given only to two speakers in favour and two against. If the motion receives the simple
majority required to pass, the resolution will be divided accordingly, and a separate
procedural vote will be taken on each divided part to determine whether or not it is included
in the final draft. Parts of the resolution that are subsequently passed will be recombined into
a final document and then put to a substantive vote.
Order of Precedence
1. Parliamentary points
a. Points that may interrupt a speaker
i. Points of personal privilege
b. Points that are in order only when the floor is open
i. Point of order
ii. Points of parliamentary inquiry
2. Procedural motions that are not debatable
a. Adjournment of meeting
b. Suspension of the meeting
c. Unmoderated caucusing
d. Moderated caucusing
e. Motion to Appeal Decision of the Chair
3. Procedural motions applicable to an agenda item, resolution or
amendment under consideration
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Adjournment of debate
Closure of debate
Postponement of debate
Competence
Division of the question
PREAMBULATORY AND OPERATIVE PHRASES
PREAMBULATORY PHRASES
Acknowledging
Expecting
Noting with appreciation
Affirming
Expressing its appreciation
Noting with approval
Alarmed by
Expressing its satisfaction
Noting with deep concern
Approving
Fulfilling
Noting with regret
Aware of
Fully alarmed
Noting with satisfaction
Believing
Fully aware
Observing
Bearing in mind
Fully believing
Pointing out
Confident
Further deploring
Reaffirming
Congratulating
Further recalling
Realizing
Convinced
Guided by
Recalling
Declaring
Having adopted
Recognising
Deeply concerned
Having considered
Referring
Deeply conscious
Having devoted attention
Reminding
Deeply disturbed
Having examined
Seeking
Deeply regretting
Having received
Taking into account
Deploring
Having studied
Taking into consideration
Desiring
Keeping in mind
Viewing with appreciation
Emphasising
Noting further
Welcoming
OPERATIVE PHRASES
Accepts
Designates
Regrets
Affirms
Encourages
Requests
Approves
Endorses
Resolves
Asks
Expresses its satisfaction
Seeks
Authorizes
Expresses its hope
Strongly affirms
Calls for
Further recommends
Strongly urges
Calls upon
Hopes
Suggests
Congratulates
Invites
Supports
Confirms
Declares
accordingly
Proclaims
Trusts
Proposes
Transmits
Deplores
Recommends
Urges