ROLL CALL

Every committee session begins with Roll Call. When your delegation’s name is called upon, raise your placard high and say “present” or “present and voting.” (*If you say present: The delegate can say yes/no/abstain/pass when voting for a resolution) (**If you say present and voting: The delegate can say yes/no/abstain when voting for a resolution)

GENERAL SPEAKERS’ LIST

The speaking time for the General Speakers’ List is automatically set at one minute for each delegate. If delegates wish to be added to the General Speakers’ List, they should simply raise their placards when the Chair says “Delegates who wish to be added to the General Speakers’ List, please raise your placard.” They can also add themselves to the List by passing a note to the Dais team (Chair and Vice-Chair) that says something like this: “ The delegate of ‘8 Country’ would like to be added to the General Speakers’ List.” After giving a speech, delegates should yield their remaining time.

YIELDING

After a delegate finishes his/her speech, the Chair will ask: “Delegate, how would you like to use your remaining time?” Delegates are allowed to:

1. Yield time back to the chair: This is the standard reply if delegates do not wish to do anything with their remaining time.

2. Yield time to another delegate: If the delegate yields his/her time to another delegate, that delegate must use the remaining time to make his/her remarks.

3. Yield time to questions: If the delegate yields his/her time to questions, other delegates in the committee room are allowed to ask him/her questions.

MOTIONS

In the MUN procedure, there are different types of motions that serve different purposes. If you’re not familiar with them, they can seem pretty intimidating. And that’s exactly why we’re here to help! We’ll be introducing some of the most commonly used motions in a conference below:

MODERATED CAUCUS

During a moderated caucus, a topic is chosen, and all speeches made should comply with that specific topic. The speaking time set for each speaker and the “topic” of the moderated caucus is set by the chair. It is also very important to keep in mind that there is no time-yielding for this session.

UNMODERATED CAUCUS

During an unmoderated caucus, delegates are encouraged to walk around in the conference room to share their thoughts and opinions with other delegates so that they can convince the delegates of the other countries to support their cause. You will have approximately five minutes to do this after the closure of the moderated caucus The time set for a moderated caucus is set by the delegate who raised the motion.

CLOSURE OF DEBATE

By raising this motion, the Chair or the Vice-chair is informing the delegates that the debate has come to an end and that they have to be ready to vote on the draft resolutions. Thus, chairs do not raise this motion until the very last session. If this motion passes, the committee will automatically move into voting procedures.

SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING

To “suspend” is to “temporarily prevent from continuing or being in force or effect.” Thus, a suspension of the meeting would mean to temporarily end the meeting. Delegates are expected to raise this motion at the end of each and every (except the last) session for a lunch break or maybe a doughnut break (you wish).

POINTS

From asking for permission to go to the restroom to asking a question about the rules of procedure, there are numerous situations in which a delegate would raise a “point.” There are three types of points in general: point of personal privilege, point of order, and point of parliamentary inquiry.

Point of Personal Privilege

Normally, this point is used to ensure that a delegate’s personal rights are being taken into account. The following are several more common situations in which a delegate would raise a point of personal privilege:

1.Asking the Chair whether you may use the restroom

2.Asking the delegate that is currently speaking to speak up

3.Asking to turn up/down the air conditioning

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry

If a delegate is not sure about a certain procedure, he/she may raise this point and ask the Chair about it. Here’s an example: “Point of parliamentary inquiry: What are some ways a delegate may yield his/her remaining time?”

Point of Order

This point is used to indicate an instance of improper parliamentary procedure. Now, unless you’re a veteran of Model UN and know all of the ROPs by heart, we wouldn’t suggest you to raise this because it may seem offensive to your Dais team (you don’t want that!). But anyhow, we’re still going to demonstrate how this point is used: “Point of order. The delegate believes that the Chair should not ask delegates how they would like to yield their time during a moderated caucus.”

INTRODUCING A DRAFT RESOLUTION TO THE COMMITTEE

This motion is raised after delegates have received their copies of “potential draft resolutions.” To introduce a “potential draft resolution” to the committee, sponsors of the document must first approach the podium and read out all of the operative clauses. Then, the entire committee will have a vote on this motion. If it passes, the document will shall be referred to as a “draft resolution.”

VOTING PROCEDURES

The Chair will raise motions “for a roll call vote” or “to vote by acclamation.” If neither of these motions are raised, the committee will vote with regular voting procedures.

Roll call vote

A “roll call vote” simply means to vote by roll call. Delegates are allowed to vote “yes,” “no,” “pass,” or “abstain.” If a delegate votes “pass,” he/she may only vote “yes”/”no” upon the second round.

*hint:

If a delegate had said “present” during roll call of the last session: allowed to vote “yes,” “no,” or “abstain” on documents. If a delegate had said “present and voting” during roll call of the last session: allowed to only vote “yes” or “no” on documents.

Vote by Acclamation

Voting by acclamation simply means “to vote by clapping.” This motion is normally raised when there is only one dominant bloc in the committee room and that bloc is sure that no one will oppose its draft resolution. Thus if no one objects this motion and everyone claps when voting, the draft resolution passes.

Standard Voting Procedures

To vote by show of hands.

5. Declaration

I, _________________________ (Delegate Name), hereby declare that the information provided above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I agree to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the AASS MUN Secretariat.

Signature of Delegate:
_______________________________________
Date: _______________
Signature of Faculty Advisor/Parent (For
External Delegates):
__________________________________________
______________