Rules of Procedure Note: Only the SKMUN version of the rules shall apply at SKMUN
Formal Debate: During formal debate, the following will occur:
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.
Debate will begin with delegates voluntarily expressing their policies regarding the general topic - concerns, hopes, warnings, suggested solutions, condemnations, etc.
Two, three or four resolutions (proposed solutions) will already be open for discussion. (Delegates will have received proposed resolutions before the conference day) After initial general policy debates, members may begin to direct their comments towards specific resolutions. Note: unlike Model Leg, in Model UN it is possible to discuss more than one resolution at a time.
It is only during Formal Debate that amendments can be made, motions to table or to close debate be made, or any kind of a vote be taken.
Informal Debate (Moderated Caucus): Informal debate will involve the following:
Any delegate may make a motion to move into informal debate. This must be approved by the Chair, seconded by another delegate, and approved by a majority vote in the committee.
If informal debate is approved, then the speakers list is suspended and delegates may speak after raising their placards and being recognized by the Chair. (as in Model Leg) Delegates who wish to speak must wait for the previous speaker to finish before raising their placard.
During informal debate, no other motions are possible (Ex: motions to close debate, table a resolution, etc) However, points of order, privilege and parliamentary inquiry are in order.
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
Caucus: During formal debate, a delegate may motion for a caucus period of a certain length. Length should not exceed fifteen minutes. During this time, delegates may get out of their chairs and talk to any other delegate or group of delegates. Caucus time is especially useful for Bloc Meetings, for resolution or amendment writing, or for small group negotiating.
A motion for caucus must be approved by the Chair, seconded by another delegate, and approved by a majority vote.
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 shall immediately call the member to order.
Point of Order: During the discussion of any matter, a member may rise to a point of order if the delegate wants to inform the Chair of a procedural error. Amember 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 substance matter under discussion. The dialogue might be as follows:
Austria (interrupts the speaker, Sudan, and yells out): "Point of Order!"
Chair: To what point, Austria?
Austria: "The delegate from Sudan has exceeded the speaking time in his speech!"
Chair: "Point well taken, Austria. I'm sorry Sudan. You're out of time"
Appeal: A delegate may appeal against the ruling of the Chair on a point of order. After the Chair and the appealing delegate have spoken in defense of their positions, the appeal shall be put to an immediate vote, and the Chair's ruling shall stand unless overruled by two-thirds of the members
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 delegate has a question about what it is they are voting on.
This point may not interrupt a speaker.
Point of Personal Privilege: A member may rise to a point of personal privilege 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 delegate can not hear, or if they cannot read an amendment written on the blackboard.
This point may interrupt the speaker.
Right of Reply: If a speaker has impugned (offended in an extreme way) the personal or national integrity of another member, then the Chair may grant the member the right of reply at his/her discretion, and set a time limit accordingly. A right of reply may not interrupt a speaker. After the offending speaker has finished, the offended member would request the right of reply.
Yields: If a delegate 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:
Yield to Questions: i.e. A delegate makes a one minute speech at a time when the time limit on speeches is three minutes. The delegate may inform the Chair that he/she is willing to answer questions from the committee for the remaining two minutes. The Chair selects the questioner. Only the answers to questions will be deducted from the speaker's time.
Yield to Another Delegate: A delegate may yield his remaining time to another delegate. Delegates who have been yielded to may not yield to another delegate.
If the delegate wants, they can instead yield their remaining time to the Chair, and then sit down.
An individual Chair may decide to allow 2 comments (from 2 other delegates) if the delegate does not yield. A delegate may decide not to yield, intentionally, if he/she wants feedback related to the speech they just made.
New Resolutions:
It is possible to write a new resolution. The new resolution must have signatures from one-fifth of the committee members (including observers), and be approved by the Chair, in order for it to be copied for all, and then be formally introduced. A delegate who signs a proposed resolution is merely saying that they believe the resolution is worth the committee's time to consider. They do not necessarily have to favor it.
Once the resolution has been approved and copied, the delegate may rise to introduce and explain the resolution, subject to being recognized by the Chair. It then becomes subject to debate, amendment and/or vote.
Amendments: The following procedure will be used:
An amendment to a resolution may be submitted in writing to the Chair at any time. The suggested amendment must be signed by at least 5 other delegates. Once approved by the Chair, the amendment may be formally introduced by the delegate.
Once an amendment is introduced, a separate speaker's list will be taken. Speaker's lists for amendments should be taken with a Pro and Con list. Debate will alternate between Pro and Con sides.
After 3 Pro and Con speakers, the Chair will entertain motions to close debate, although it is possible for debate to continue on the matter if that is the committee's desire.
Amendments to amendments are not in order.
Ex-SKHS students and Adult Internationals are not allowed to submit amendments or resolutions.
At the discretion of the Chair, a proposed amendment may be denied approval if it is too long, too complex, or inappropriate.
Motion to Table:
During debate, a delegate may move to table a resolution. Tabling would mean that the committee would no longer discuss that resolution. It is recommended that the committee have no more than 3 resolutions before them at any time, so when a new resolution is introduced, consider tabling one of the existing resolutions.
This motion is debatable to the extent of 2 speakers in favor of tabling, and 2 speakers against.
A simple majority of members voting and present is needed to table a resolution or amendment.
Motion to Close Debate:
A delegate may at any time move to close debate on a specific resolution or an amendment. (There might be 3 resolutions on the floor at the time so the delegate would specify which resolution he would like to close debate on.)
Closure must be approved by the Chair, and two-thirds of the committee.
Before voting on closure of debate, there would be 2 speakers in favor and two speakers opposed.
If the committee votes to close debate, there would then be an immediate vote on the resolution.
Note: Therefore, there is no need for a motion to vote on a resolution. The way you would bring a matter to a vote is to close debate on it.
Voting Rights:
Each member of the UN shall have one vote. Observer delegations do not have the right to vote on substantive matters.
Observer delegations may fully participate otherwise.
Voting:
Vetoes are only possible in the Security Council.
Members may vote Yes, No or Abstain on substantive matters. There are no abstentions in procedural votes.
In order to pass most proposals in one of the General Assembly committees (Starvation in Sudan, Landmines, Water Scarcity), a simple majority of members present and voting is required. "Members present and voting" refers to those members casting an affirmative or negative vote; those abstaining are considered to have not voted. A vote of 9 in favor, 7 opposed and 30 abstaining would mean the motion has passed.
See Security Council rules (at end of this document) for voting rules in the Security Council.
Voting Procedure (Roll Call):
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.
The name of each member nation is called and the delegate answers Yes, No, Abstain or Pass. A delegate who passes in the first round must vote in the second round.
Additional Rules that only apply to the Security Council
All Security Council committee delegates (including Observer nations) may vote on Procedural Matters (Closure of Debate, Change in Speaker's Time, etc)
Only the 15 voting members of the Blue and Rose Security Councils, and the 23 voting members of the Green Security Council may vote on Substantive Matters (Amendments, Tabling, Resolutions)
Veto powers (5 in the Blue and Rose, 11 in the Green) may only veto resolutions, not amendments or Procedural matters. Abstentions by the Veto Powers do not count as vetoes.
Blue and Rose SC: To pass a resolution or an amendment requires 9 Pro votes. A vote of 8 in favor, 3 opposed, 3 abstentions and one delegate not there would not pass a resolution.
Green SC: To pass a resolution or an amendment requires 14 pro votes. Three vetoes, or inability to get 14 pro votes would mean the resolution/amendment has failed.
Ask, the Chair to explain the "Uniting for Peace" resolution, if your committee is hopelessly deadlocked because of the use or threat of vetoes.
