Rules of UMLMUN

Rules of UMLMUN

The Model U.N. is governed by a specific set of rules that each participating country must follow.

  1. The Secretary General shall have final authority on all academic and procedural matters during the conference.
  2. Each committee chair will have authority over all academic and procedural matters within their committee; decisions of the chair may be challenged in writing through the Secretary General.
  3. The UML MUN will be run under the specific rules set forth in the delegate preparation guide.
  4. The dress code for the conference will be business formal; neck ties for men are required. Please note that jeans, sneakers, and hats are not allowed.

Seating of Delegations

All committees will seat delegates in alphabetical order, starting with a randomly chosen country.

Committee Chamber

  1. The Committee chair will have the final authority over any and all spectators allowed in committee chambers.
  2. Any faculty advisors, UML MUN staff or University Personal shall be free to observe all proceedings of the conference.
  3. During voting procedures on resolutions, rooms will be sealed. While voting is taking place, no persons will be allowed to enter or exit the committee chambers. 

Debate

Quorum

Quorum shall be set at two-thirds of all delegates present at the first roll call vote.

A simple majority shall consist of one half plus one of all delegates present.

A simple majority must be present for debate to take place.

A two-thirds majority must be present for voting to take place.

Any delegate may request quorum verification by way of a motion at any time at the discretion of the chair.

Notes

  • The delegates are allowed to pass notes during committee session through the chair.  All notes must pertain strictly to conference matters.  The chair reserves the right revoke note passing privileges if the practice is being abused.

Agenda

The first session shall begin with a call to order and a roll call. All delegates shall respond:

  • Present- The Delegation is present and has the right to abstain on substantive matters
  • Present and Voting- The Delegation is present but waves the right to abstain on substantive matters.   

Before debate ensues, the order of issues to be discussed must be decided. The chair will accept a motion to adopt the agenda (ex. Issue 3, Issue 1 then Issue 2). The chair will recognize two speakers for and two against, with a speaking time of one (1) minute. The agenda will be adopted by a simple majority.

Welcome Speeches

Each delegation shall prepare a one minute welcome speech. The speeches will be given in alphabetical order of country name, starting with a randomly chosen country.  

Speakers List
After the agenda is set, the chair will call for any delegates wishing to be on the speakers list. The topics will be dealt with in the order they were assigned. NOTE, when the speakers list is exhausted the matter must move to voting procedures.

Delegates may be added to the speakers list by:

  1. motioning the chair
  2. sending a note to the chair, requesting to be added
  3. by the request of the chair

Delegations may only be on the speakers’ list twice at any given time, and may not be listed back to back.

Speaking Time
The chair will accept motions to adopt a speaking time. Once motioned, the chair will ask for two speakers for and two speakers against with a speaking time of one minute. The speaking time will be adopted by a simple majority. The speaking time may be adjusted at any time in the conference at the discretion of the chair. 

Addressing the Committee

  1. All remarks to the committee must be made to the chair.
  2. Delegates will rise to address the committee
  3. All delegates must be recognized by the chair before speaking.
  4. All remarks must remain germane to the topic discussed.
  5. All delegates must remember to treat the chair and all fellow delegates with the utmost respect.
  6. All delegates will use diplomatic and respectful language when addressing the committee.
  7. The chair will hold the authority to confiscate a delegate’s speaking time if the delegate is being disrespectful or using non-diplomatic language.
  8. Any Delegate wishing to make a motion must raise his or her placard and wait until being recognized by the chair before speaking. 

Yields

Yield to the Chair: When a speaker has finished speaking without exhausting the set time limit, the speaker may yield the remainder of his/her time to the chair, effectively ending their time on the speakers list.

Yield to Another Delegate: When a speaker is finished, he or she may yield the remainder of their time to another delegate. This time may not be yielded to a third delegate.

Yield to Questions: A Delegate may yield the remainder of his or her time to questions pertaining to the speech just made. Time will only be counted off the time answering questions. All questions will be addressed through the chair; delegates wishing to ask questions will raise their placards and wait for recognition by the chair.

Yield to the Floor: A Delegate may yield the remainder of their time to the floor; it will then be up to the discretion of the chair to recognize delegates wishing to speak. 

Motioning during a speech can only be used when introducing a draft resolution to the committee.

Speeches ending with a motion (ex. introducing a resolution) automatically yield remaining time to the chair.  

Parliamentary Points

Right of Reply: A right of reply may only be invoked when a Delegate, in the body of a speech, impugns the integrity of another country or delegate. This point may interrupt the speaker. Validity and course of action are determined at the discretion of the chair.

Point of Order: A point of order is invoked when a Delegate questions the use of parliamentary procedure. The Delegate rising to the point of order must point out the violation in procedural rules, and not to the substance of the matter. Action is up to the discretion of the chair. A point of order may interrupt a speaker.

Point of Personal Privilege: A point of personal privilege can be raised over concern for the committee room environment. Examples include the volume of a speaker or the room temperature. A point of personal privilege can interrupt a speaker.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: A delegate may ask for a point of parliamentary inquiry to inquire about the correct use of parliamentary procedure. This point may not interrupt a speaker.

Caucusing

Moderated Caucus: A moderated caucus is a form of debate where the speakers list is set aside and speakers will be called upon by the chair. This less formal style of debate allows for a more free flow of ideas and exchange between Delegates. A motion for a moderated caucus may be made by any delegate, and a motion must include a time limit for the caucus, a speaking time for the caucus and the purpose for the caucus. A moderated caucus is entered by the vote of a simple majority of the committee.

Un-moderated Caucus: An un-moderated caucus is a suspension of the rules allowing Delegates to converse freely. Just as in a moderated caucus, a motion must include a time limit and purpose for caucusing. The caucus requires a simple majority to pass.

All caucuses are at the discretion of the chair and may be ruled out of order.

Resolutions

Working Paper: A working paper is the draft form of a resolution, and requires at least two sponsors. Before a resolution can be presented to the committee and voted on it must be signed by at least one-third of the delegates in the committee. When the requisite numbers of signatures have been acquired, the working paper is submitted to the chair and approved for form and content and is given a resolution number. Once the Working Paper is approved it may only be introduced by a speaker on the speakers list.

Resolution: Once a resolution is introduced by a speaker on the speakers list, it can be referred to in formal debate by its resolution number. Motions can be made to limit debate to a particular resolution, if the motion passes a new speakers list is formed to debate specifically the merits of the resolution.

Friendly Amendments: A friendly amendment is any addition or change to the body of a resolution that is approved by all sponsors to a resolution. If no sponsors object to the amendment, it is added without a vote.

Unfriendly Amendment: An unfriendly amendment is any addition or change to the body of a resolution that is opposed by at least one sponsor to the resolution. When an unfriendly amendment is introduced, there will be two speakers for and two speakers against the amendment and requires a majority vote to be adopted. 

Tabling: A motion can be made to table debate if the committee has reached an impasse. A motion to table will suspend debate on the current topic and the committee will move on to the next topic on the agenda. A motion to table requires a two-thirds majority to pass. 

Closure of Debate: After a resolution has been debated, a motion can be made to close debate. After the motion is made, the chair will ask for two speakers for and two speakers against closing debate on the resolution, with a speaking time of one minute. A simple majority is required to close debate, if the motion passes, the committee moves immediately into voting procedure.

Voting

After debate on a resolution is concluded, and a motion to close debate has succeeded the committee will move into voting procedures. The Chair will ask for two speakers for and two speakers against the resolution, with a speaking time of two minutes. The committee will then vote on the resolution.  The vote will be a placard vote, requiring a simple majority to pass.

Role Call vote: A motion for a role call vote can be made by any member of the committee and will be adopted without debate or vote. In a role call vote the delegates will respond “Yes”, “No”, or “Abstain”.  

Adjournment of Debate: After a topic has been debated to the satisfaction of the committee, a motion can be made to adjourn the debate. An adjournment of debate will end debate on the topic and debate will move on to the next topic on the agenda. Adjournment of debate requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

Move to Recess: A move to recess will suspend the meeting until the next scheduled committee session. A move to recess requires a two-thirds majority.

Move to Adjourn the Meeting: A move to adjourn the meeting will end all formal debate, and will only be entertained at the end of the final committee session. An adjournment of the meeting requires a two-thirds majority.