Parliamentary Procedure Guide

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Parliamentary Procedure Guide 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
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