Procedures
1. Quorum
A mojority of voting members answering to the roll at each day's first meeting shall constitute a quorum for that day. A quorum will be assumed unless questioned through a Point of Order(see Rule 5).
2. Powers of the Committee Director
In addition to exercising the powers which are conferred elsewhere in these Rules, the Director shall:
- Declare sessions opened and closed.
- Direct all discussions in the body.
- Ensure observance of the Rules of Procedure and provide interpretations of the Rules.
- Put questions and announce decisions to the Committee.
- Rule on Points of Order and have control over all proceedings to insure the smooth functioning of the body unless specified in the Rules.
- Limit the number of speakers and the time allotted to each speaker.
- Limit the number of times a representative may speak on a question.
- Declare necessary recesses.
3. Speaker's List
The Committee Director shall keep a Speaker's List for each topic (not each resolution or amendment). Resolutions will be debated simultaneously using a singular Speaker's List. The Speaker's List may be closed upon a motion from the floor. Permission to speak shall be accorded to one speaker for and one against. A simple majority is required for passage. The vote will be by placard. The Committee Director may refuse to entertain a motion of closing the Speaker's List at the Director's discretion. If delegates are absent when they are called upon to speak, they will lose their position on the Speaker's List and must be recognized by the Director to be placed on it again. A delegate may only be present on the list once, but may re-enter after he/she has spoken.
4. Yields
If a delegate completes a speech within a pre-designated time limit, the remaining time may be yielded to another delegation. There will be no yields when a time limit has not been set. A delegate who yields speech time also yields questioning time. Tields apply only to substantive matters and remaining time may only be yielded once.
5. Points of Order
Points of Order will only be recognized for the following items:
- To complain of errors on voting, tabulation, or procedure.
- To question incorrect placement on the Speaker's List.
- To question a quorum.
A Point of Order may interrupt a speaker, and it is to be used sparingly.
Points of Personal Privilege
If there is no discussion on the floor a delegate may direct a question to the Committee Director or to another delegate. Any question directed to another delegate may only be asked immediately after the delegate has finished speaking on a substantive matter. The question must conform to the following format:
Country A: Raises placard to be recognized by the Committee Director.
Director : "To what Point do you rise?"
Country A: "Point of Personal Privilege."
Director : "State your Point."
Country A: "Will the delegate from Country B yield to a question?"
Director : "Will the Delegate Yield?"
Country B: "I will." (If not, return to the next business item).
Country A: asks a single question that must NOT be rhetorical.
Country B: The Delegate may choose to repsond to a question or to decline to answer.
Points of Personal Privilege are also used to move an amendment, request information or clarification, and all other business of the body except those specifically designated as Points of Order.
****Please note: The Director may refuse to recognize Points of Order or Points of Personal Privilege if the Committee Director believes the decorum and restraint inherent in the exercise has been violated, or if the point is deemed dilatory (unnecessary) in nature.
7. Rights of Reply
AT the Committee Director's discretion, any member nation or observer may be granted a Right of Reply to answer serious insults directed at the dignity of a country represented. This procedural motion must be submitted to the Director in writing. The Director has the ABSOLTE AUTHORITY to accept or reject Rights of Reply, and the decision is NOT SUBJECT TO APPEAL. Delegates who feel they are being treated unfairly may take their complaint to any member of the Secretariat.
8. Appealing the Decision of the Committee Director
A delegate may appeal any ruling of the Committee Director except: those in regard to the granting of roll-call votes, explanation votes, rights of reply, and all other decisions specifically exempted elsewhere. The appeal must be put to an immediate vote. The Director's ruling shall stand unless overruled by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.
9. Resolutions
Resolutions must be co-sponsored by one-sixth of the quorum, or a minimum of five nations, whichever is greater.
10. Caucusing
A caucus may be called for by the Delegates or the Director. A caucus' time limit is determined solely by the Director.
11. Amendments
Any member nation may propose an amendment to a resolution during debate. Amendments must be submited in writing to the Director. Any amendment may be proposed from the Speaker's List, or on aq Point of Personal Privilege. The Director may request that members submitting similar attempts try to achieve a common one. Amendments must be co-sponsored by one-sixth of the quorum, or a minimum of five nations, whichever is greater. A vote must be taken on an amendment before any other amendment may be proposed. Amendments themselves are not amendable. Amendments will be debated requiring 2 speakers for and 2 speakers against.
12. Friendly Amendments
Friendly amendments may be accepted to a resolution under debate, but must be approved by all sponsors. It is immediately incorporated into the resolution.
13. Withdrawal of Sponsorship
Sponsorship of a resolution may be withdrawn at any time. If and when this occurs, any other nation present may assume sponsorship. If the number of sponsors falls under the required amount, the resolutionin question will be withdrawn and debate will continue.
14. Closure of Debate
A motion for closure of debate, bringing an issue to an immediate vote, is in order only after there have been three speakers on a substantive motion. Permission to speak shall be accorded to two speakers in favor and two against closing debate.
15. Adjournment of Debate
A motion of Adjournment of debate, if successful, allows the delegates to end debate on one topic without having to vote on the resolutions for tha ttopic. This motion is in order only after there have been eight speakers on a substantive motion and requires a simple majority to pass. The delegates may return to the topic if there is a successful motion to adjourn off a different topic and return to the original one.
16. Voting
Voting will be conducted by placard or roll call. The type of voting will be at the discretion of the Director, but any member nation may request a roll call vote on any substantive question. Inthe General Assembly, amendments to resolutions shall require a simple majority, while resolutions shall require the affirmative supposrt of 2/3 of the member nations present and voting.
a majority vote requires the concurrence of 50% plus one of those member nations voting yes and no. A 2/3 vote requires the concurrence of 67% or more of those members voting yes and no. Abstentions are not included in the calculation of the vote.
17. Conduct During Voting
After the DIrector announces the beginning of vote, there will be no moving, speaking, passing notes, or caucusing until the vote is over and has been announced by the Director. The one exception is on a Point of Order in connection with the actual conduct of the vote. Repeated violations of this rule shall constitute grounds for expulsion.
18. Explanation of a Vote
A member nation, at the discretion of the Director, may explain its vote after a roll call vote has been taken. This must be requested at the time the nation announces its vote. Length of time allowed for an explaination will be set by the Director,, and is NOT appealable.
19 Change in Vote
A nation may change its vote only when the Director asks if there are any such changes. A change in vote may only be called for roll call votes on resolutions and amendments.
20. Motion in Writing
All motions that are in writing must be delivered to the Director prior to being moved.
21. Recess and Adhournment
Motions to recess or adjourn shall be permitted at the discretion of the Director. The Director may declare necessaey recesses. Such decisions are NOT subject to appeal.
22. Reconsideration
Reconsideration is the only way that delegates may vote a second time on a substantive resolution. It requires that a delegation that had previously voted with the prevailing side indicates to the Director in writing that he/she wishes to change his/her vote and to reconsider the particular resolution. This motion must be 2 speakers for and 2 against and if successful, the delegates will return to original resolution and vote again. If any amendments have been written for the resolution, they must be moved immediately after a successful vote for reconsideration is conducted.
If you have any questions about procedure please email them to Nikki.
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