MUN Parliamentary Procedures! Yaaaay! Lecture time! 

The Objective of Formal Debate To PASS or FAIL a resolution. Resolution - Written suggestions for addressing a specific problem or issue. To pass means to put into effect. Look at your handout 

Basics Chair/Secretariat – Person who facilitates MUN debate. You cannot speak unless the chair adresses you. Gavel - The tool shaped like a small wooden hammer that the Chair uses to keep order Delegate – That’s YOU!  A representative of a country. Placard - A sign that identifies your country.

…because this is a mucho importante thing to remember! Pay Attention Now… …because this is a mucho importante thing to remember! During formal debate, you must ALWAYS refer to yourself in THIRD PERSON. For example: “Honorable Chair, the delegate of Costa Rica/this delegate/the delegation of Costa Rica would like to raise a point of information.”

Another Super Important Thing To Know: Proper Debate Etiquette DON’T use slang or casual language during formal debate! Acceptable: “Mr./Ms. Chair, ladies and gentlemen of the house…” NOT Acceptable: “WADDUP MUH HOMIES IN THE CRIB” Remember, you are trying to solve a world issue here. 

Introductory Procedure: Roll Call - Attendance at the beginning of every Model UN session. You say “Present and voting!”  Except if you’re Palestine, because they can’t vote  Opening Statement – You have 1 minute to introduce your country, and to state the position/view you have on the issue being debated.

Parliamentary Procedure: The main submitter of the resolution will be given time to explain and defend the resolution. Time will be allotted afterward to anybody who wishes to make speeches SUPPORTING the resolution. Time will then move into any speeches AGAINST the resolution. Then voting procedure. (After each speech, you will be given time to ask questions, depending on the speaker)

Motion: POINT OF INFORMATION What: These are questions from other delegates addressed to the speaker concerning the speech they made. When: After a delegate has given a speech in formal debate, he or she may yield time to points of information. That is when you ask your questions. You can only ask one question per point of information.

Motion: POINT OF INQUIRY What: A question addressed to the chair regarding the rules of procedure. When: When the floor is open (i.e., no other delegate is speaking), a delegate may rise to a point of inquiry.

Motion: POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVELAGE What: Personal concerns of the delegate addressed to the chair. When: When the floor is open, you can voice personal concerns, meaning physical discomfort a delegate is experiencing, i.e. Inability to hear another delegate’s speech The room is too hot, cold You need a potty break 

Motion: Move Into time For/Against What: Directed to the Chair regarding the slow movement of the debate. When: When the debate is moving too slow, a delegate can request for a motion to move onto the next phase. If there are no objections, the Chair will suspend that time frame and move into the next.

Motion: Into Voting Procedure What: Addressed to the chair regarding voting procedure. When: Again, if the meeting seems not to be productive, you may raise your country’s name card and say “Motion to move into voting procedure” If there are no objections, then voting procedure will take place.

Always use evidence from the resolution to support your argument. Clause Sub-clause Sub-sub clause

Amendments Friendly Amendment- Change to the draft resolution that all sponsors agree with. After the amendment is signed by all of the draft resolution’s sponsors and approved by the committee director or president, it will be automatically incorporated into the resolution. Unfriendly Amendment - Change that some or all of the draft resolution’s sponsors do not support and must be voted upon by the committee. The author(s) of the amendment will need to obtain a required number of signatories in order to introduce it (usually 20 percent of the committee).

Voting Procedure This is self-explanatory. You vote on whether the resolution passes or not. Majority wins! 

YAAY! Boring lecture over! 