Parliamentary Procedure Points, Motions and Voting Procedure

Motions A request made by a delegate that the committee as a whole has to do. Used in formal debate, moderated caucus and voting procedure Motion to Open the Primary Speaker’s List/Open Debate Motion to Set the Agenda Motion to Suspend the Meeting (in between sessions or for specific time) Motion for a moderated caucus for the duration of ___minutes with a speaking time of ___ per speaker to discuss (specific topic) Motion for an unmoderated caucus for the duration of __minutes for the purpose of (specific action)

Motions cont’d. Motion to table the topic: close debate on current topic unless motioned to reconsider Motion to Introduce a Working Paper: brings a working paper to the floor for discussion “Motion to introduce working paper 1.1” How to wrap things up: Motion to Close debate/Enter voting procedure: this will not end committee session, enter into voting procedure(speaker for and speaker against) Need ⅔ of majority needed for this to happen

Motions in Voting Motion for Roll Call Vote: Vote by roster on each resolution rather than whole committee Motion to divide the question: vote on specific sections of paper before voting on the draft resolution as a whole Motion to Introduce Unfriendly amendment: An amendment (with signatories) to a draft resolution on the floor brought to the Chair by a delegation not part of the resolution, two speakers for and two speakers against; majority vote Motion to adjourn meeting: this ends committee until the next session (ends the conference; 2 speakers for and 2 against)

Points Points are ways delegates address the chair on errors/questions in committee; is unrelated to the topic and the chair makes the decision on point not committee Point of Order: used to highlight violation of parliamentary procedure or other delegate’s actions (be careful about correcting the chair!!!) Point of Inquiry: used to ask question towards speaker on the floor during Q&A session or following formal speech Point of Parliamentary Procedure: ask chair question to clarify rules of procedure, motion/vote on the floor, Point of Personal Privilege: inform Chair of some personal “discomfort” (i.e. can’t hear speaker)

Yielding How to handle remaining speaking time during Speaker’s List (cannot be done during Moderated Caucus) if delegate speaks less than time allotted (i.e. 20 seconds rather than 45 seconds) Chair will ask how delegate yields before they speak “Yield my time to the chair” → remaining time is unused “Yield my time to points” → remaining time used to answer questions from delegates “Yield my time to (country) → remaining time given to another delegation (if they accept) to use remaining time If 15 seconds left, then the country that accepts yield speaks for those seconds Variability: At every conference, the rules of procedure are different. DO NOT get frazzled. Instead, learn to adapt.