Procedural-Manual-COSMUN-2.Pdf

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRESENTATION 3

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 4

INTRODUCTION 5

DEFINITION 7

PARTICIPANT PROFILE FOR THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATION: COLUMBUS SCHOOL STUDENT 7

PARTICIPANT PROFILE FOR THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATIONS: EXTERNAL PARTICIPANTS 8

FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTIVE BODY 9

DIRECTIVE CHAIR SELECTION PROCESS 11

PARTICIPANTS 11

CODE OF CONDUCT 13

WARNINGS 14

DRESS CODE 15

PROCEDURAL RULES 16

MOTIONS 17

WORKING PAPERS AND AMENDMENTS 23

WORKING PAPER FORMAT 23

VOTING PROCESS 25

ANNEX Nº1: PREAMBULATORY AND RESOLUTIVE CLAUSES/PHRASES 26

ANNEX Nº2: BASIC PROCEDURAL CHART 28

ANNEX Nº3: IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS 29

ANNEX Nº4: EXAMPLE OF A WORKING PAPER 29

MODEL UNITED NATIONS GLOSSARY 31

PRESENTATION The making of COSMUN’s Procedural Manual was achieved through the search and selection of elements from different Model United Nations, both from Colombia and other countries. This allowed COSMUN to establish general rules, parameters, methodologies, and necessary protocols for the easy development of this educational project. COSMUN was especially careful with following and respecting the rules and protocols of the United Nations, UN, especially that which applies to educational activities in High School and University.

The following Model United Nations served as primary sources of information for the creation of this Manual:

NAIMUN XLVI: North American Invitational Model United Nations. MUNUC: Model United Nations University of Chicago. OXIMUN: Oxford International Model United Nations. UPMUNC XLII: University of Pennsylvania Model United Nations Conference. MONUJ23: Colegio Juan XXIII, Valencia Estado Carabobo, Venezuela. CACMUN 2008: Modelo Naciones Unidas Colegio Anglo Colombiano. RMUN VIII: Rochester Model United Nations. CNGMUN: Colegio Nueva Granada Model United Nations. SACMUN: Colegio San Carlos Bogotá. COLMUN I: Colombia Model United Nations

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a call to the international community to eradicate suffering, protect the planet, and make sure that all people enjoy international peace and prosperity by the year 2030. The 17 SDGs are interconnected, and recognize that change in one area directly affects all others. Furthermore, they point out that development should be balanced as to benefit the international community in social, economic and environmental fields.

1 The Sustainable Development Goals are the following :

1. No poverty. 2. Zero hunger. 3. Good health and well-being. 4. Quality education. 5. Gender equality. 6. Clean water and sanitation. 7. Affordable and clean energy. 8. Decent work and economic growth. 9. Industry, innovation, and infrastructure. 10. Reduced inequalities. 11. Sustainable cities and communities. 12. Responsible consumption and production. 13. Climate action. 14. Life below water. 15. Life on land.

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16. Peace, justice, and strong institutions. 17. Partnerships for the goals.

INTRODUCTION The United Nations congregates a group of sovereign nations with common purposes: work in favor of world peace, promote the friendships between all nations, and support economic and social progress. This organization is officially established on October 24th, 1954, but President Franklin D. Roosevelt had already used the term “United Nations” in 1943, in the “Declaration of the United Nations”.

The UN is the place of gathering that practically includes all countries of the world, and provides an aid mechanism to resolve controversies or problems between nations.

The UN’s purposes, in accordance with Chapter I of the “United Nations Charter”, are the following: ● Preserve the new generations of the scourge of war. ● Reaffirm faith in the fundamental rights of man. ● Create conditions to maintain justice and respect of international treaties. 2 ● Promote social progress and raise the standard of living.

Within this dynamic, the UN promotes a democratic exercise with the purpose of educating the youth with a view into world peace, respect for human rights, and leadership in favor of their respective country or region, and the planet in its entirety. Such exercise, known as Model United Nations, fosters the activities, parliamentary processes and dynamics of the United Nations in high schools and universities around the globe, and promote a space of deliberation in topics of international politics. In such spaces, students are trained in techniques of dialogue, drafting, negotiation, conflict resolution and persuasion, all under the roof of tolerance and respect for diversity.

In these simulations, the youth develops a spirit for investigation, deepen their study of global issues, and contribute solutions while using negotiation and dialogue as positive tools in the resolution of conflicts and in the look for effective and immediate measures that governments can take.

The Columbus School, committed to the education of authentic leaders for Colombia and the

2 www.un.org

6 world, encourages this initiative as an educational strategy that responds to the challenges of a globalized world in which peace, equality between genders, the appropriate distribution of the earth’s goods, and respect for human dignity must be the pillars over which sustainable development must be built.

COSMUN’s Procedural Manual allows us to identify the organizational structure, apply the processes and use parliamentary language in order to come to resolutive conclusions relevant to the understanding of this diplomatic exercise.

DEFINITION The Columbus School Model United Nations, COSMUN, is a simulation of the United Nations’ system, in which students act as different countries’ delegates who intervene in debates and negotiations, taking care of the different topics related to every commission and organ under the UN.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE FOR THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATION: COLUMBUS SCHOOL STUDENT A participant for THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATIONS exercises a diplomatic role, with the characteristics and responsibilities that it implies. A student might or might not be able to participate in COSMUN according to the following conditions:

● Not failing more than 2 subjects for the quarter in which the student is selected and/or not failing more than one subject for the school year. ● If there is not enough academic history, the grades for the quarter directly previous from the one in which the student is picked will be considered. ● In High School, students cannot have more than 2 subjects with a low performance rating in behavior (level 1) or in academic responsibility at the time of being chosen. In Middle School, students cannot have a lower performance rating than a 2.7 in academic responsibility and/or behavior at the moment of being selected. ● Not having more than 10 unexcused tardies during the quarter in which the student is selected. ● Not having more than 3 unexcused absences (or 18 classes) throughout the school year. ● Not having been sanctioned for committing a falta grave or falta gravísima that prevents the student from attending a specific event. ● If a student is going through a disciplinary process that has not been resolved, the case will be revised by the Principal and Vice Principal, and a final decision will be made. ● All cases will be studied by the Principal and Vice Principal, who will make the final decision. ● Ability to investigate and analyze, with special emphasis on the national and international realities and their negative effects on humanity. ● Work commitment, as a member of the committee to which the delegate belongs. ● Responsibility, in all its forms. ● Solidarity and comprehension.

● Actively comply with Character Counts: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. ● Interest in global affairs as a member of an organization whose objective relies on the constant improvement of humanity’s life conditions, through respect towards Human Rights. ● Respect for diversity, tolerance, and respect towards their peers and their opinions. ● Knowledge and application of persuasion and negotiation techniques.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE FOR THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATIONS: EXTERNAL PARTICIPANTS THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATIONS participant exercises a diplomatic role, with the characteristics and responsibilities that this implies. Likewise, they must have:

● Ability to investigate and analyze, with special emphasis on the national and international realities and their negative effects on humanity. ● Work commitment, as a member of the committee to which the delegate belongs. ● Responsibility, in all its forms. ● Sympathy towards situations and people who find themselves at a disadvantage with respect to their human rights. ● Interest in global affairs as a member of an organization whose objective relies on the constant improvement of humanity’s life conditions, through respect towards Human Rights. ● Respect for diversity, tolerance, and respect towards their peers and their opinions. ● Knowledge and application of persuasion and negotiation techniques.

FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTIVE BODY

General Secretariat The highest authority in academics, disciplinary instances and logistics. This body must approve of any modification regarding COSMUN’s procedures, and must authorize certain processes. Coordinates the collective work in a climate of cooperation and leadership, and resolves possible doubts in both academics and procedural.

The General Secretariat is made up by one (1) Secretary General (Grade 12°) and two (2) Sub-Secretary Generals (Grade 11°).

The selection of the General Secretariat for the subsequent year will be carried out by the Secretary General with the help of The Columbus School’s administrators. This body will be announced in the closing ceremony by the Secretary General.

This organ is also in charge of carrying out the selection process for the Directive Chair alongside the Academic Coordinator.

President Assumes the authority in the commission which they preside in terms of discipline and parliamentary procedure. Acts as a moderator in debates and supervises the elaboration of working papers, making sure they are relevant regarding the topic at hand and correctly comply with the format established in this Procedural Manual. Organizes and supervises the voting processes of such working papers.

Their leadership is made evident by their punctuality, active participation, rich investigation and proper directing of the committee. They must report any disciplinary or academic fault incurred by a delegate and/or participant of COSMUN. Must comply with the Participant Profile.

Su liderazgo se hace evidente por su puntualidad, participación activa, investigación rigurosa y adecuada orientación de la comisión. Reporta al Secretariado General cualquier falta disciplinaria o académica en la que incurra un delegado y/o participante en el Modelo. Debe cumplir con el perfil de participante.

Vicepresidente Assists the President in the procedural affairs that demand it, and moderates the work in commission when the president asks them to. Takes on the committee’s direction in the President’s absence, and must comply with the Participant Profile.

Press Committee Must inform all COSMUN participants about the conference, debates, their management and possible crisis in a timely and clear fashion. The members of the Committee must be approved by the Press President, who will appoint roles and work alongside the General Secretariat to develop the conference. All members of the Press Committee must comply with the Participant Profile. The selection of the Press President shall be carried out by the preceding one, and will be announced in the closing ceremony.

Logistics Committee Is in charge of all technical and organizational aspects of COSMUN; seek order, the timely supply of resources, and all other necessary aspects that are needed for the conference’s success and the participant’s wellbeing. The members of this Committee will be presided over by the Logistics President, who is in charge of appointing roles and work alongside the General Secretariat in order to carry out the conference. All members of this Committee must comply with the Participant Profile.

The selection of the Logistics President will be carried out by the preceding one, and will be announced in the closing ceremony.

Floor Messengers/Secretaries Must maintain communication between the different delegations of a commission. They distribute the messages between the members of the commission, making sure that their content is related to the topic being discussed. Otherwise, they must forward the messages to the Chair, who will take the necessary measures to make sure these informalities don’t take place. They must attend to the necessities of the members of the commission and must comply with additional orders the President may give.

They must comply with the Participant Profile.

DIRECTIVE CHAIR SELECTION PROCESS The selection of the Directive Chair by the General Secretariat is completely renewed every school year. The selection of presidents and vice presidents must begin the first month of the new corresponding school year, with an open announcement to every student in High School; ninth grade (9º), tenth grade (10º), eleventh grade (11º), and twelfth grade (12º).

The process includes a test created and moderated by the Secretariat, and supervised by the Academic Coordinator. Also, the process includes an interview with one of the members of the Secretarias, which shall also be supervised by the Academic Coordinator or a responsible adult designated by the Academic Coordinator.

The General Secretariat has the power, based on the results of the tests, interviews and written profile, to select the members of the new Directive Chair.

PARTICIPANTS Delegates: The ambassadors of the Member States of the United Nations before different commissions or organs. They must follow parliamentary procedure during the sessions in commission and create resolutions that represent the policies of the Member State they are representing.

*In special commissions, delegates may participate with different types of delegations.

Delegación: Two types:

Academic Delegation: A set of delegates belonging to the same educational institution. Each delegate has a position in one of COSMUN’s committees.

Traditional Delegation: A set of delegates from different commissions and organs that represent a government of a Member State

Observers: Two types:

Observing Delegates: Only applies to some delegations. They are the ambassadors to states or other types of organs that are not members of the United Nations, or the committee in which they are part of. They may debate like any other delegation, but don’t have the right to vote on substantive matters.

Observing Participation: May assist any of the commissions; don’t have the right to vote, and cannot participate or intervene in debates.

Sponsors: The escorts of an academic delegation, who may be teachers. They have the same functions as Observing Participants, and do not have the privilege to intervene in the debate or vote. They may only establish contact with the delegates during lobby, in recesses, or with the Chair’s approval. They must advise their delegates.

CODE OF CONDUCT The Code of Conduct follows the guidelines of the United Nations and the United Nations Charter, and applies to all sessions and events that make up the Columbus School Model United Nations (COSMUN). Their acceptance is a fundamental condition in order to be enrolled as a participant of COSMUN. Taking into account the values of the UN Charter and this Procedural Manual, the General Secretariat may determine the consequences or actions to be taken when such rules and values are broken. The following are especially pointed out and it is understood that those which are not quoted , yet make up such Charter, are also applicable.

1. Ensure full compliance with the procedural rules that serve as the framework to COSMUN, and are highlighted in The Columbus School’s Manual de Convivencia. The abidance by them are the General Secretariat’s and the President’s responsibility. 2. Carry the identification in a visual manner (carnets or ID Cards). This must be carried around by both delegates and other participants throughout the entirety of the event. 3. Remain within the respective committee room while the session is being carried out. No delegate can leave the room without the previous authorization of the Chair or the General Secretariat. The delegate who is absent from their workplace (Committee or General Assembly) without authorization, may be suspended or, if the case warrants it, expelled from COSMUN. Regarding leaving the event’s facilities, during lunch or breaks, participants may do so under their sponsor’s agreement, who shall analyze the reasons for the temporary withdrawal. In order for this to happen, the participant must present the proofs/approvals that the sponsor demands. 4. Be punctual. Any delegate who is not on time will be warned. 5. Respect. All delegates and participants must always address the General Secretariat, Presidents, and other participants and staff with the utmost respect; appropriate language shall be used at all times, and offensive words are strictly prohibited. 6. Proper dressing. It is required that all delegates check the Dress Code, and comply with it. 7. The use of controlled and/or psychoactive substances is extremely prohibited. These include, but are not limited to: alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or any type of vaporizers. Any breach of this rule results in the immediate expulsion of the infractor. 8. Use of parliamentary language. This language shall be used throughout all work sessions, including through floor messaging. 9. The use of electronic devices is strictly allowed for academic uses that are related to COSMUN. The misuse of any device results in the warning of the delegate and in the temporary suspension of the device’s use.

10. Respect intellectual property. Plagiarism, either in a working paper, position paper, or opening speech results in the immediate expulsion from COSMUN. 11. The carrying of weapons or sharp objects is prohibited. COSMUN adopts, in all instances, the necessary security measures in order to maintain a peaceful environment, and as such, all delegates must accept the security reviews that they may be subject to by the security staff on campus. 12. All participants must properly use all the equipment, furniture, locations and other resources at their disposal. In case of damages, COSMUN’s directives, headed by the General Secretariat, must adopt the pertinent measures, that include the payment of the damaged equipment. 13. Adopt appropriate behavior at all times. During working sessions in committees and the General Assembly, behavior that may disrupt the environment is strictly prohibited. Such behaviors include, but are not limited to whitling, clapping, laughing, yelling, mocking, throwing objects, playing, sleeping and fighting. 14. Contacting the right personel to warn a delegation that breaks the Code of Conduct and/or the Parliamentary Procedure. The General Secretariat, COSMUN’s directives, and the Presidents have the power to immediately warn the following faults:

 Being tardy to any session.  Eating in the work enclosure.  A breach in the Dress Code.  Interrupt regular working session with a cellphone or an electronic device.  Inappropriate use of Floor Messaging.  Use the Point of Relevance or the Right of Reply incorrectly (for a second time).  Speaking or laughing while other participants intervene or during voting processes (For the second time and at the President’s discretion).  Make incorrect use of the Point of Order, Point of Information, or Point of Personal Privilege (for the third time).

Any serious offense, determined by a President and approved by the General Secretariat will be sanctioned, even if it is not included in the Code of Conduct.

WARNINGS A Warning is an admonition imposed by the Directive Chair or the General Secretariat when a

15 delegate has violated the Code of Conduct, the Dress Code, the Parliamentary Procedure, or The Columbus School’s Manual de Convivencia. Warnings are cumulative throughout the time of the Conference. After the third (3) warning, the delegate is asked to leave the committee for 10 minutes; after the fifth (5), the delegate shall leave the committee for 30 minutes and a meeting will be held with the delegate, their sponsor, and the President of the committee to which the delegate belongs. In the seventh (7) warning, the delegate will be automatically expelled from COSMUN.

DRESS CODE The Dress Code is a part of the rule framework that make up COSMUN, and shall be understood and accepted by all participants. The General Secretariat and the Presidents of the different committees may determine when the dressing of a participant is inappropriate. Whoever violates the Dress Code for the first time, will have a warning; the second violation merits the temporal suspension of the delegate, until he/she change into appropriate dressing.

Gentlemen:

They must dress in a formal suit; a discretely colored full suit, long sleeved shirt, and a tie or bowtie. The use of jean is prohibited, as is the use of brightly colored shoes and tennis shoes. Accessories such as hats, baseball caps, and decorative collars must not be used during the working session in committees and in the General Assembly. In the case of countries whose ceremonial suit (formal) is different from the western suits, delegates may use it if they please.

Ladies:

They must use executive dress, preferably in dark or neutral colors. The use of pants is allowed, but not jeans. If the skirt is short, it may not be worn when it is more than 6 centimeters above the knee. Blouses cannot have low necklines, inappropriate openings or uncovered shoulders. The accessories used have to be discreet and compliment the outfit with which they’re worn. The shoes may be high heeled, but the use of tennis shoes is strictly prohibited. High heels may be open, but cannot be a style of beach shoes or sandals. In the case of countries whose ceremonial suit (formal) is different from the western suits, delegates may use it if they please.

*The Presidents make sure the Dress Code is respected, and communicate the faults and necessary warnings to the General Secretariat.

**The Dress Code is exactly the same for COSMUN’s directives; Presidents, Vice Presidents, members of the Directive Chair and the General Secretariat.

PROCEDURAL RULES Basic Terms:

1.1 Substantive Matters: Any Motion, request, intervention or document that took place during the working session.

1.2 Right to Vote: Every delegation has the right to vote. A delegation may abstain in important matters, such as the voting of a Working Paper, and they are not considered to determine the majority or the effective number of voting sovereign states. Observing delegates may only vote in procedural matters, and they don’t have a vote in substantive matters (Working Papers, Amendments).

1.3 Quorum: The Chair in every committee may declare an open session and proceed with the debates with the presence of the simple majority of delegates (half plus one). When dealing with substantive matters, a compound majority is necessary to proceed. Any delegate may ask the Chair to check the Quorum, and the Chair decides if another roll call is necessary in order to verify it.

1.4 Roll Call: The Roll Call is required at the beginning of every session and after each recess. It is done in alphabetical order, and delegates shall respond with “Present”, or “Present and Voting”. By saying “Present and Voting”, a delegate is relinquishing their right to abstain on substantive matters, such as an amendment and/or a Working Paper.

1.5 Opening Speeches: The Chair in each committee is the one responsible to direct the Roll Call and the reading of the Opening Speeches. Each delegation has one (1) minute to read their Speech, which must make references to the topics being dealt with in the committee, and explain their country's position. No delegate may proceed without the recognition from the Chair, and the Chair may call to a Point of Order if a delegate's words are not related to the topic being discussed. All committees must read one Opening Speech per topic. Furthermore, if a delegate has remaining time when

17 they finish their Speech, they may either yield the time to the Chair, or yield their time to the next delegate. In the case of a delegate who has already been yielded time, their remaining time will be automatically yielded to the Chair.

1.6 State of Crisis/State of Emergency:

The Chair may declare a State of Crisis or State of Emergency when it considers it pertinent. This can happen when delegates are presenting many Points or Amendments that obstruct the development of the debate, or when a Crisis note arrives to the Chair. The consequence of the State of Crisis/State of Emergency is that all Points are suspended. These include: Point of Order, Point of Relevance and Point of Personal Privilege, as well as Rights of Reply, Amendments, and the reading of Working Papers/other documents. This State lasts as long as the Chair considers it pertinent.

MOTIONS 2.1 Motion to Open Session: After the Roll Call and the verification of the Quorum, the session is formally opened in the committee. This must be the first action before starting any type of work, such as the reading of Opening Speeches. This is the only motion the Chair shall accept before starting.

2.2 Motion to Establish Agenda: After opening the session, the agenda must be established. This determines the order in which the topics established in the committee guides will be discussed. If the motion does not pass, then the committee must continue with the other topic, followed immediately by the establishment of a Speakers List, or another procedural matter. These motions pass with Simple Majority.

2.3 Motion to Suspend Session: This may be presented by any delegate and is subject to the Chair’s approval. This Motion’s resolution cannot be appealed and must determine the time at which the Committee shall meet again.

2.4 Motion to Renew Session: The Session must be renewed immediately after recess or at the beginning of a new day, after Roll Call. This Motions starts the Committee’s work after it had been suspended.

2.5 Motion to Close Session: This Motion must be made at the end of the last Working Session, and results in the definitive closure of the committee's work time. This motion cannot be appealed.

2.6 Motion to Establish Lobby Time: During the lobby time, delegates may informally debate, seek alliances, and establish position blocks; likewise, delegates may use this time to write and/or discuss Working Papers. The delegate that proposes the motion must establish the lobby time’s duration and briefly explain its purpose. This passes with simple majority.

2.7 Motion to Verify the Quorum: A delegate may present this motion at any time in order to verify the quorum. The Chair decides if it is or isn’t in order.

2.8 Motion to Divide the Question: This motion consists in dividing the resolutive phrases in a Working Paper into separate clauses that have to be voted independently. After this process, the passing resolutive phrases must be compiled into a final Working Paper. This motion is not applicable to preambulatory phrases, and it shall only be considered by the Chair if the resolutive phrases exceed the minimum number considerably, and if there is enough time to carry out the entire process.

2.9 Motion to Bring a Faction to the Dispute: A delegate may introduce a foreign person to the debate when he/she finds it absolutely necessary. When a delegate presents this motion, he/she must explain briefly who the person being introduced is and why they must be presented. There are two types of Factions:

1. With rights of Debate: The person that comes into the debate is a representative of a delegation and enjoys all of the rights and responsibilities that a member of the United Nations has. The person has the rights of voice and vote in both procedural and substantive matters, as long as they do not belong to an Observing Mission of the UN. This person may be an accredited UN representative or a delegate from another committee.

2. Expert on the Topic: The person that comes into the debate delivers a speech about the topic being dealt with, which resolves certain doubts and questions that may have emerged throughout the debate. The expert’s job is plainly informative and, because of this, will not have participation in the debates. With all this said, the expert may open

themselves to Points of Information.

2.10. Motion to Start an Informal Debate: Informal debates help speed up the discussion in certain critical points of the topic being dealt with. The delegate that makes the motion must establish the duration of the Debate, and shall be the first speaker if the motion passes. The delegates that wish to speak have to raise their placards in order to be recognized by the Chair, and motions may be made in order to extend the time of Debate. It is up to the Chair whether or not these motions are viable. Furthermore, if the Debate does not adequately flow, the Chair may determine a maximum time each delegate has to speak.

2.11. Motion to Start a Speakers List (informal debate): The Speakers List shall be enacted through a motion that establishes the time per speaker and the total duration of the debate. The Chair is responsible for making the list of delegates who wish to speak in the debate, and if a delegate wishes to add themselves to the list, they may do so by raising their placard. Once a list is determined, if a delegate wants to include themselves in it they must ask the Chair through floor messaging, at which point the Chair can grant or deny their request. No delegation may be added to the List more than once, and the delegate that makes the motion must be the first speaker.

2.12. Use of Spare Time: The leftover time that a delegate has after an intervention in a List of Speakers or Opening Speech may be used in different ways:

1. Yield the time to the Chair: If a delegate decides to yield their time to the Chair, their intervention if finalized and the upcoming speaker is recognized.

2. Yield the time to the next delegate: A delegate may yield their time to the next delegate, but if a time has already been yielded to them, they may not further yield it and have to yield it to the Chair.

2.13. Motion to Extend the Time of Debate: Through this motion the time set at the beginning of a debate may be extended if the committee has not reached consensus and consider that additional time may work in favor of a solution. In a Formal Debate, this motion may be used to extend the time per delegate. This motion requires Simple Majority votes to pass.

2.14. Motion to Suspend Debate: This motion shall be used when a committee still has more to discuss but will take a break. Instead of definitely closing the debate, the topics are postponed until after the committee can begin discussing them again. Once the committee is able to, the debate must be renewed through a motion.

2.15. Motion to Renew Debate: When a debate has been suspended, the debate has to be renewed as soon as the committee plans to begin dealing with the topics again. This motion has to be made before any others. However, debates that have been ended or have not been suspended cannot be renewed.

2.16. Motion to Close Debate: A delegate may make a motion to close debate if it is not contributing to the development of the committee’s topics. This Motion requires a Simple Majority vote to pass.

2.17. Motion to Pass to the Reading of Working Paper: This Motion is used to directly pass on to the reading of the Working Paper and/or Resolutive Project. The lecture shall be done by the heads of block of each paper/project.

2.18. Motion to Read Amendments: This Motion is used to read the existing amendments after the reading of a Working Paper or Resolutive Project.

2.19. Motion to Annul Working Paper: This Motion should be used when a delegate considers that a Working Paper is deficient, and/or that its content is similar to another’s. In this case, the Chair must first recognize the delegate who is proposing the Motion in order for them to explain in one (1) minute their reasons for wanting to annul the Working Paper. Then, the Motion is passed on to a voting process, and in the case in which the Motion passes, the document is annulled. This motion needs a Simple Majority vote to pass.

2.20 Motion to Pass to the Voting Process: This motion is used to directly go on to the voting process of a substantive matter. If the Motion passes, the Chair beggins the Voting Process by Roll Call. If a delegate wishes to reconsider their vote, they may only change their vote to: “In Favor” to “Abstention”. “Against” to “Abstention. And “Abstention” to “In Favor,” or “Against.” “In favor” may not be changed to “Against”, or vice versa, under any circumstance.

APPEAL POINTS The Appeal Points are strategies that some delegations turn to draw on the Chair’s criteria with the purpose of resolving any unrest or relative matters regarding the development of the work in committee. The Chair may suspend these points as long as they announce which ones and for how long, if they consider that these points are obstructing the development of the debate. This action may be 3 taken at any moment. The Right of Reply may be included in the suspencion.

3.1 Right of Reply: A delegate may use the Right of Reply when they consider that they have been directly offended or accused of falsehoods by another delegate in their speeches or interventions. The first Right of Reply must be made in oral form and without interruptions. The subsequent times, the Right of Reply must be sent to the Chair through floor messaging. After this, the Chair shall give one (1) minute to the accusing delegate for them to express the reasons why they felt offended, and later, the accused delegate may deliver a one (1) minute intervention expressing their remorse or reaffirm their position. Rights of Reply over Rights of Reply do not exist. The Chair’s decisions cannot be appealed. In the case that the Right of Reply be used in a wrong way, the delegate who made it will be warned.

3.2 Point of Relevance: A delegate may use the Point of Relevance when they consider that another delegate’s intervention does not align with the topic being dealt with in the committee. This point is interruptible.

3.3 Point of Order: A delegate may use the Point of Order when another delegate is not following the parliamentary procedure. This complaint shall be done in the moment of the incident producing it, and the Chair must act upon it immediately. The validity of this point is left up to the Chair’s will, who will declare the point as “In order”, or “Out of Order”. This point is interruptible.

3.4 Point of Personal Privilege: A delegate may ask for a Point of Personal Privilege during the debate of any matter if they consider that their ability to participate in the committee is hindered in any way. This Point’s validity is left up to the Chair’s discretion, and if it is valid, the Chair has to make an effort to

3 The process described here is called State of Crisis.

22 make the delegate in question comfortable again. Furthermore, this is the Point that shall be used if a delegate wants to approach the Chair. This point in interruptible.

3.5. Point of Information: The Chair, delegates, and other entities participating in the debate (such as a Faction to the Dispute), have the possibility to open themselves up to Points of Information to resolve doubts that arose about previous interventions, the agenda, procedural rules, or specific permissions that a delegate might require. The questions have to be simple and concise, and the Chair shall recognize the delegation who wish to make this Point. This point is interruptible. A delegate may or may not open themselves up to Points of Information, but if they do, they may not yield their time to another delegate (when referring to a Formal Debate).

3.6. Challenge to the Competence: A delegate may challenge another’s competence if the one being challenged has gravely violated their country’s foreign policy. In order to make use of this Appeal Point, the Challenge has to be backed up by the correct information that proves the challenged delegate’s errors. In order to correctly make a Challenge to the Competence, the following procedure must be met:

1. The challenging delegate must send a note with the reasons why the challenged delegate made a mistake with at least two (2) written trustworthy sources that back up his reasons. 2. The Chair shall study the content of the Challenge and if it meets the criteria, both delegations involved have to be called while the Chair acts as mediators. The challenging delegate should be given the chance to reconsider their decision. 3. If the challenging delegate decides to go on with the Challenge, a member of the Secretariat is called and both delegates involved must make an intervention in front of the entire committee. Each delegate is given two (2) minutes to explain their reasoning, and they must open themselves up to the Points of Information that the Chair deems necessary. 4. The challenged delegation has a right to send written and reliable proof that they, in fact have not violated their foreign policy. 5. The Chair and the General Secretariat determine the Challenge’s validity. They must also write a resolution, and the Secretary General reads it before all the committee. 6. The delegate that loses the Challenge is left without a vote in all committees for the 4 duration of the conference.

4 The General Secretariat can reconsider this in special committees such as the Security Council, the Historical Security Council, etc.

WORKING PAPERS AND AMENDMENTS Working Paper: A Working Paper is a set of ideas and arguments that are eventually turned into a resolution to the topic being dealt with. Several Working Papers may turn into one if the complement and perfect each other. A Paper’s redaction and presentation must be done in a previously established period of time, and should count with minimum five (5) and maximum seven (7) editing countries. The Paper must be handed over to the Chair, which after checking it, may authorize its reading. In order for a Working Paper to be voted, it requires the signature of ⅔ of the members of the committee, symbolizing their approval of the voting process. If a Working Paper is approved by the Chair, it can be transcribed, photocopied, and distributed for analysis and discussion. When a Working Paper is introduced to the committee, the Chair recognizes two (2) Heads of Block in order for them to read the Working Paper in its entirety. If time is not enough, the Heads of Block can read soley the resolutive phrases. After this, it is recommended that the Chair open themselves up to motions to begin debate time or the reading of amendments. If amendments are sent to the Chair, these have to be read and individually voted, unless they are confirmed as friendly. If there are no amendments, a motion to pass on to the voting process shall be entertained. The Chair must make public if any delegate signed themselves as an editor of a Resolution. An editor may withdraw their support from any resolution they please before starting the voting process. If all editing countries withdraw their support from a Working Paper, it is immediately annulled. An editing country cannot vote against the resolution they support.

WORKING PAPER FORMAT Working Papers must have a minimum of five (5) preambulatory phrases and seven (7) resolutive phrases.

Preambulatory Phrases/Clauses: Must be written in italics and must carry a comma at the end of the sentence. (Ex. Se deben escribir en fuente itálica y deben llevar una coma al final de la oración. (Ej.: Warning with worry,)

Resolutive Phrases/Clauses: Must go underlined and numerated, and must carry a semicolon at the end of the sentence, with the exception of the final sentence that carries a period. (Ex. Reiterates their support to nations that support the Paris Climate Agreement;)

Resolution Project: A Working Paper becomes a Resolution Project when it has gone through a voting process in the committee and passed. This applies only to the committees that make up the General Assembly.

Amendments: An amendment is a change to a Working Paper with the purpose of adding, erasing or substituting a word, phrase or sentence. All amendments must be presented to the Chair via floor messaging while the Working Paper is being presented. The editing delegations cannot send amendments about the Paper they support. It is up to the Chair’s discretion if the sent amendments should be read and voted upon, considering time and relevance. An amendment must have only one writer, and one cannot amend an amendment. There are three types:

1. No-Substantive: Correct orthographic and grammatical errors, and are incorporated into the Paper immediately after they are read, no voting needed.

2. Friendly Substantive: Are approved by the Heads of Block and are added to the Paper without voting needed.

3. Non-Friendly Substantive: If an amendment is not approved by the Heads of Block, it is non-friendly. The acknowledgment of it suspends the reading of the Working Paper and has to be voted in order to be applied to the Paper. A Motion to Debate the Amendment is in order if time is enough, but otherwise, the amendment will be voted by everyone on the committee. The voting has to be trough Roll Call, and passes with Simple Majority.

Amendment Format:

To: Chair From: (Sender Delegation) Working Paper: (Numerical identification of the Working Paper being amended) In point: Of the phrases: Change:

VOTING PROCESS Voting Process: The Voting Process is initiated through a motion that must be established before the Working Paper is voted and debated. This process is a substantive matter, and because of this, the passing number is ⅔ of the committee’s delegates. Each member has one vote. All delegations are called upon alphabetically in order for them to vote, and those who identified themselves as present and voting don’t have the right to abstain. Abstentions are not considered in the final countdown of votes.

Behavior During Voting: When the Chair announces the start of the vote, the room closes and it is absolutely silent. Delegates, observers or others present, cannot enter or leave. No Point or Motion can directly interrupt the voting process, unless it is a Point of Order that is directly related to the voting process. All voting is carried out by means of platelets, except for the voting of the Working Papers and the amendments, which are voted based upon the list. In case there is not enough time, the Presidents are authorized to carry out the voting process of the Working Papers by means of platelets.

Type of Voting: A delegate may vote by responding: “In favor”, “Against”, “Abstain”, or “Pass”. Also, they may vote by saying “In favor with reasons” or “Against with reasons”, but these are only considered if the passing of the Paper is really tight (a range no bigger than 15% marginal difference), and only two (2) delegates who vote “In favor with reasons” and two (2) delegates who vote “Against with reasons” will be considered. Once the list voting ends, the Chair allows delegates who “passed” to rethink their decision. If they still pass, their vote is registered as an abstention. Once the voting process has ended, the Chair must inform the result to the committee with the votes in favor and votes against, as well as abstentions. In the case of the “with reasons” votes, the delegations are given one (1) minute to explain their reasons. The Chair must if anybody wishes to reconsider their vote after the reasons’ explanation. Also, even though there are no “with reasons” votes, the Chair still has to give everyone a chance to reconsider their vote. If that is the case, the reconsidering delegates will be recognized by them raising their platelets. If any vote in any committee ends up tied, the Paper does not pass.

Majorities:

In COSMUN, the following majorities are considered when dealing with Working Papers.

● General Assembly: The Working Papers only pass with a Compound Majority (⅔).

● DISEC, ECOFIN, SOCHUM, SPECPOL, LEGAL: Because they are committees of the General Assembly, the established majority for a Working Paper to pass is Simple Majority, meaning half plus 1 (50% + 1); but if the Paper is going to be voted in the General Assembly, it needs Compound Majority (⅔) to pass.

● Security Council: Works with the same rules of the United Nations Security Council. This means that Working Papers pass if none of the five Veto Powers (China, United States, Russian Federation, French Republic and the United Kingdom) vote against it. ● International Criminal Court: Even though Evidences are voted instead of Working Papers, each one of these passes with a Simple Majority.

● International Court of Justice: Even though Evidences are voted instead of Working Papers, each one of these passes with a Simple Majority.

● Joint Crisis Committee and Joint Electoral Committee: In order to implement collective movements, these must pass with Compound Majority.

● *It’s important to consider that if there is any extraordinary committee that is not included in the ones above, a special Procedural Manual has to be written for it. These procedures shall be created and written by the Chair of the committee and checked by the General Secretariat.*

ANNEX Nº1: PREAMBULATORY AND RESOLUTIVE CLAUSES/PHRASES

Preambulatory Clauses/Phrases Resolutive Clauses/Phrases

● Affirming ● Accepts ● Alarmed by ● Asks ● Approving ● Authorizes ● Aware of ● Calls upon ● Bearing in mind ● Confirms ● Believing ● Considers ● Considering ● Decides

● Convinced of ● Declares ● Deploying ● Denies ● Emphasizing ● Deplores ● Encourages and exhorts ● Designates ● Estimating ● Emphasize ● Expressing serious concern for ● Emphasizes ● Expressing thanks for ● Encourages and exhorts ● Firmly convinced ● Esteems ● Flatly alarmed ● Exhorts ● Given ● Expresses ● Guided by ● Highlights ● Having adopted ● Invites ● Having considered ● Makes the appeal to ● Having examined ● Observes ● Having received ● Points out ● Having studied ● Praise ● Observing with serious concern ● Reaffirms ● Reaffirming ● Recognizes ● Recognizing ● Recommends ● Reiterating ● Reiterates ● Remembering ● Remembers ● Searching ● Resolves ● Seriously worried ● Sentences ● Stating ● Solves ● Taking into account ● States ● Trusting that ● Supports ● Waiting ● Takes into account ● Warning with concern ● Transmit ● Watching ● Welcomes ● Watching ● Wishing ● Worried

ANNEX Nº2: BASIC PROCEDURAL CHART

Procedure Aim Interruptible? Seconds? How is it resolved?

Motion to Open Establish the order of No. Yes. Simple Agenda. the topics of discussion Majority. in the committee.

Point of Discomfort or personal Yes. . Yes. Chair. Personal issue that hinders the Privilege. participation of a delegate in the debate.

Point of Focus the discussion to Yes. No. Chair. Relevance. the topic being discussed.

Point of Ask for more No. No. Chair. Information to information or ask the questions to the Chair. Chair/Speaker Pedir información o hacer preguntas a la mesa.

Point of Order. Question the validity of Yes. No. Chair. a procedure.

Right of Reply. Offset an intervention Only the first No. Chair. that directly offends the time. delegation that uses it.

Yield the Time. Yield time during a No. No. Chair. Speakers List or the reading of the Opening Speeches. To another delegate of the committee or the Chair.

Motion to Vote each of the No. No. Simple Divide the Resolutive Clauses of a Majority. Question. Working Paper

independently.

Motion to Start Start an Informal No. Yes. Simple Informal Debate. Majority. Debate.

Motion to Start Start and Informal No. Yes. Simple Formal Debate. Debate/Speakers List. Majority.

Motion to Start Start Lobby Time. No. Yes. Simple Lobby Time. Majority.

Motion to Close End the debate and pass No. Yes. Simple Debate. directly onto the voting Majority. process.

Motion to Suspend the work time No. Yes. Simple Suspend and finalize the day. Majority. Session.

Motion to Close Suspend the work in the No. Yes. Compound Session. committee at the end of Majority. the conference.

ANNEX Nº3: IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS Remember that you’re representing a delegation; don’t personalize your interventions - (Me, I think, I wish, etc…) Comments must be relevant and natural to the topic being discussed in the committee. - Don’t use informal words or expressions. - Don’t be offensive. - Don’t use demeaning nicknames, and don’t refer to your workmates by their first name - while in committee. Don’t insult or use foul language, sexual allusions, or doubled meaning words. - Never refer to another country in a way in which they are in a disadvantage (Ex. terrorist, - drug dealer, etc...)

ANNEX Nº4: EXAMPLE OF A WORKING PAPER Committee: SOCHUM

Topic: Extrajudicial murder: Trial of human rights violations of criminal acts .

Working Paper: 3.1.1.

Heads of Block: The United States of America, the French Republic.

Editors: Federal Republic of Germany, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federative Republic of Brazil, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of India.

Signing Countries: See Annex 1.

The Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee,

Aware of the third, fifth, and eleventh articles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights,

Believing fully in the Geneva Conventions and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights,

Concerned about the serious crisis of extrajudicial killings in countries such as the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,

Guided by the document entitled: “14-POINT PROGRAM TO PREVENT EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS,” from Amnesty International,

In addition, recalling the serious humanitarian crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that has prevents the fulfillment of the thirtieth article of its constitution,

Firmly believing that through effective policies we can fight against problems such as extrajudicial killing,

Also remembering that dealing with issues such as extrajudicial killings with even more violence is absolutely ineffective,

Resoleves,

1. Declares guilty of violation of human rights to all types of extrajudicial executions carried out by orders of high command of the countries that are part of the United Nations;

2. Encourages countries to conduct a thorough investigation of all cases of extrajudicial killings, following what is established in the tenth article of the document: “14-POINT PROGRAM TO PREVENT EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS”;

3. Insta a todos los países a prohibir el uso de la fuerza excesiva en sus órganos de orden público a menos que sea absolutamente necesario y pertinente para salvar más vidas;

4. Urges all countries to prohibit the use of excessive force in their law enforcement bodies unless it is absolutely necessary and relevant to save more lives;

5. Calls upon the international community to serve as a supervisory body that the systems of public order that are in place don’t facilitate extrajudicial executions;

6. Emphasizes the need for those guilty of extrajudicial killings to follow the due process of justice in the country where the crime was committed;

7. Invites all countries to establish a remuneration policy for those affected by the extrajudicial killings;

8. Considers that the understanding of individual responsibility must be included in the training and education systems of all state agents and that impunity is unacceptable in case of disrespecting the law.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS GLOSSARY

Abstention: Deprive yourself of voting for or against a resolution.

Foreign Aid: Resources given by one country to another for humanitarian purposes.

Global Bank: Organization that provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries.

Block: Group of countries that form an alliance through geographical, political, economic, cultural or ideological ties.

ICJ (International Court of Justice): The main judicial organ of the United Nations. Its Statute is of great importance in the Charter of the United Nations and its main function is to resolve legal and territorial disputes presented by the states before the Court. A country that agreed to participate in the proceedings is obliged to comply with the decisions of the Court. It is composed of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council.

Security Council: The most powerful committee of the United Nations. It is composed of fifteen members, five of which are permanent. Its duty is to maintain international peace and security through the mediation of conflicts.

JCC (Joint Crisis Committee): Committee that creates possible crisis scenarios, and is centered around a conflict (Ex. WWII, Cold War, Russian Revolution, ect).

JEC (Joint Electoral Committee): Committee that creates possible crisis scenarios, and is centered around historic elections (Ex. Hilary Clinton vs Donald J. Trump, etc).

G7 (Group of Seven): Group of countries made up of seven of the most powerful nations in the world: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, and Germany.

Arab League: Organ composed of the Islamic States located in Africa and the Middle East. A resolution does not apply to countries that voted against it.

OEA (Organización de Estados Americanos): An international political organization composed of North America and South American Countries.

NGO (Non-governmental organization): Independent organizations and entities that are not associated with a specific country or political organization. The United Nations has constantly worked with NGOs on issues related to humanitarian projects.

UN (United Nations): International organization created in 1945 after World War II. Its

33 objective is to promote and protect international peace and security, as well as human rights. Its legitimacy is granted by the Charter of the United Nations.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization): International military organization created in 1949 as a collective force against the Soviet Union and the expansion of communism. It deals with matters such as peacekeeping and the execution of international law.

Foreign Policy: The attitudes and interests of a country towards external problems. Foreign policy can be influenced by factors such as military power, commerce, the history of a nations and its forms of government.

EU (European Union): Economic and political union that compresses most of Europe. It was created in 1993 through the Maastricht Treaty.

Veto: The power granted to the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China); through this, they can refuse the approval of a working paper.