Parliamentary Procedure Guide
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PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE GUIDE Southeastern High School Model United Nations Parliamentary Procedure Guide Introduction Contained within this document are the verbal rules, definitions, and descriptions used during General Assembly and ordinary committee sessions at the Southeastern High School Model United Nations Conference (SHSMUN). The purpose of these rules is simple: to maintain productivity in committee and to ensure that all member states are treated equitably in debate. Delegates are reminded to follow both the spirit and the letter of the law – attempts to exploit perceived loopholes in this guide will not be well-received by the Chair or by other delegates. A working knowledge of Model United Nations is needed to understand this guide. The rules set forth in this document may be suspended at any time by a two-thirds majority of the delegates attending committee. The method used to do this is described in greater detail under Motion to Suspend the Rules. YMCA SHSMUN Parliamentary Procedure Guide, revised 2017 1 Southeastern High School Model United Nations Parliamentary Procedure Guide Changes to Note The SHSMUN Parliamentary Procedure Guide was rewritten in its entirety this year for two reasons: first, to clarify and expand on certain rules and descriptions that had gone either briefly or entirely unaddressed in the old guide, and, secondly, to simplify the rules by disposing of archaic and rarely used processes. Our hope is that this overhaul will make a full understanding of SHSMUN’s parliamentary procedure more easily attainable for delegates of all levels of experience and, consequently, lead to a better experience for everyone involved. Listed below are some of the most significant changes to the substance of the parliamentary procedure: ● Committee Overview ○ The Parliamentary Procedure Guide now provides an overview of some of the most important parts of a SHSMUN committee, and leads delegates through the different components that make debating a topic, and passing resolutions to address it, possible. We hope that this will assist first-time delegates as they begin to familiarize themselves with Model United Nations. ● Pro-Con Debates ○ The number of delegates (2 or 4) required for a pro-con debate for certain motions has been changed. ● Points ○ Points of personal privilege and points of parliamentary inquiry have been merged. A new “point of inquiry” will be used for all questions or requests regarding personal discomfort or parliamentary procedure. More information may be found in Section 2.2.1. ● Authors’ Panels ○ In the past, authors’ panels at SHSMUN have been held using suspensions of the rules, which often led to inconsistencies in their application. Authors’ panels are now mentioned explicitly in the guide, and rules regarding their use may be found in Section 1.7.3. ● Sponsorship ○ For the first time, rules regarding sponsorship have been written down in the guide. The first three sponsors listed on a resolution will be eligible for authors’ panels and to speak in the General Assembly. ● Tabling ○ As a result of changes made this year to the procedures of the General Committee, entire topics may no longer be tabled. Instead, the agenda set at the beginning of committee will be used for the duration of the Conference. ● Yielding Unused Time ○ When delegates on the Speakers’ List yield their time to questions, they may no longer refuse to yield to at least one question unless they are finished taking questions entirely. Some other changes to yielding unused time are outlined in Section 1.6.1. YMCA SHSMUN Parliamentary Procedure Guide, revised 2017 2 Southeastern High School Model United Nations Parliamentary Procedure Guide TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Committee Basics 1.1. Structure of a SHSMUN Committee 1.2. Role of the Chair 1.3. Roll Call 1.4. Delegate Self-Identification 1.5. Yielding Time 1.6. Resolution Ownership 1.7. Majorities 2. Points 2.1. Interruptive Points 2.2. Non-Interruptive Points 3. Motions 3.1. The Process of Making a Motion 3.2. When to Make a Motion 3.3. Structural Motions 3.4. Timing Motions 3.5. Introductory Motions 3.6. Caucus Motions 3.7. Voting Procedures Motions 3.8. Miscellaneous Motions YMCA SHSMUN Parliamentary Procedure Guide, revised 2017 3 Southeastern High School Model United Nations Parliamentary Procedure Guide Cheat Sheets Sheet 1: Overview of Common Points and Motions Motion or May Requires Pro-Con May Be Vote Point Interrupt Second? Debate? Amended? Required Speaker? Point of Y N N/A N Chair’s Order Discretion Right of Reply Y N N/A N Chair’s Discretion Suspend the N Y N/A Y Simple Meeting Majority Limit / N Y 1/1 Y Simple Extend Majority Debate Limit N Y 1/1 Y Simple Speaker’s Majority Time Introduce N Y 1/1 N Simple Amendment Majority Introduce N Y 2/2 N Simple Resolution Majority Enter Voting N Y 2/2 N 2/3rds Procedures Majority Divide the N Y 1/1 N Simple Question Majority Table N Y 2/2 N 2/3rds Majority Take from the N Y 1/1 N Simple Table Majority Caucus (ALL) N Y 1/1 Y Simple Majority Roll Call Vote N Y 1/1 N Simple Majority Suspend the N Y 2/2 Y 2/3rds Rules Majority YMCA SHSMUN Parliamentary Procedure Guide, revised 2017 4 Southeastern High School Model United Nations Parliamentary Procedure Guide Sheet 2: The Parli Pro Basics Remember! 1. Any time you speak, you must begin by saying your name and country. 2. Before you ask questions to a delegate, you must say, “Does the delegate yield to a possible series of questions?” and if they yield, you may then ask up to three questions. Speakers’ List: add yourself if you wish to speak on the topic. If you are on the docket, you are automatically added. When on the Speakers’ List, you may yield your time one of three ways: ● To the Chair: Chair absorbs the rest of your time ● To questions: Other delegates may ask you up to three questions ● To another delegate: Another delegate may speak for the rest of your time; you, the original speaker, will retain the right to make a motion afterwards Caucuses: ● Moderated Caucus: a way to hear from multiple delegates for short periods of time; set a total speakers time, an individual delegate speaking time, and a topic ● Roll Call Caucus: The Co-Chair will take roll, and every delegate will be given thirty seconds to speak on their