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ICJ RULES OF PROCEDURE
**Note: Only the SKMUN version of the rules shall apply at SKMUN**
1) Formal Debate: During formal debate, the following will occur:
A) A continuously open Speakers List shall be maintained by the chair to facilitate debate. The Chair will periodically ask if anyone desires to be added to the list. You can, however, send a note to the Chair to be added to the list.
B) Debate will begin with judges voluntarily expressing their policies regarding the general topic - concerns, hopes, warnings, etc.
2) Informal Debate (Moderated Caucus): Informal debate will involve the following:
A) Any judge may make a motion to move into informal debate. This must be approved by the chair.
B) If informal debate is approved, then the speakers list is suspended and judges may speak after raising their placards and being recognized by the Chair. (as in Model Leg) Judges who wish to speak must wait for the previous speaker to finish before raising their placard.
C) During informal debate, no other motions are possible (Ex: vote on decision)
However, points of order, privledge and parliamentary inquiry are in order.
D) The time limit for informal debate is set by the Chair.
Informal Debate always has a pre-set time span; after the time is up, the committee resumes Formal Debate
3) Time Limit on Speeches: The Chair may, upon consultation with the Committee or upon proposal by a member of the Committee, limit the time allotted to each speaker. When this time limit is exceeded, the Chair will alert the judge, and the judge shall finish their comments quickly.
4) Point of Order: During the discussion of any matter, a member may rise to a point of order if the judge wants to inform the Chair of a procedural error. A member may interrupt another speaker unless that other speaker is also rising to a point of order.
A point of order may not be used to address the substantive matter under discussion. The dialogue might be as follows:
Judge Stringer (interrupts the speaker, Judge Adhami, and says calmly):
"Point of Order"
President of ICJ (Chair): To what point, distinguished Judge Stringer?
Judge Bob: "The respected Judge Adhami has exceeded her speaking time "
Chair: "Point well taken, distinguished Judge Stringer. Judge Adhami, would you please finish your comments."
5) Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: A member may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry when s/he has a question about some aspect of the rules. (In a way, this is the most important rule to know, because through this rule, you can find out about all other rules)
This is particularly important if a judge has a question about what it is they are voting on.
This point may not interrupt a speaker.
6) Point of Personal Privledge: A member may rise to a point of personal privledge in order to bring to the attention of the Chair some physical discomfort which is disrupting their ability to fully participate. The most common usages are if the judge can not hear. This point may interrupt the speaker.
7) Right of Reply: If the speaker's dignity was impugned, the chair will grant a right of reply. Though, this should never happen in the ICJ. All judges should be treated with utmost respect. The right of reply should show that you can forgive and ask for an apology from that judge.
8) Yields: If a judge does not use all of his/her allotted time during formal debate, he/she may yield the remaining time in one of the following ways:
A) Yield to Another Judge: A judge may yield his remaining
time to another judge. Judges who have been yielded to may not yield to another judge.
B) If the judge wants, they can instead yield their remaining time to the Chair, and then sit down. This will be the most common yield.
C) Yield to Questions
9) Motion to Close Debate:
A) Closure must be approved by the Chair and the assistant chair.
10) Voting Rights
A) Each member of the ICJ shall have one vote. Observer judges do not have the right to vote on the final decision.
B) Observer delegations may fully participate otherwise and join the majority, minority, or the abstention committee.
11) Voting
A) Members may vote Yes, No or Abstain on the final vote.
B) Majority is all that is needed for final vote.
12) Voting Procedure (Roll Call)
A) Votes shall normally be taken by a show of placards. However, upon request of a member and the concurrence of the Chair in consultation with the committee, a roll call may be taken.
B) The name of each judge is called and the judge answers Yes, No, Abstain or Pass. A judge who passes in the first round must vote in the second round.
C) Roll Call votes are only in order on Substantive votes.