R bert’s rules

Eyes up delegates!

GMUN’21 Hi delegate, To help you prepare for GMUN’21, our team put together this streamlined document for your ease of reference. We hope it helps you plentifully! Who is Robert?! Henry Martyn Robert (American) (May 2, 1837 – May 11, 1923)

● Soldier ● Author ● Engineer Opening Sequence Procedures: 1. Roll call ● Present ○ Delegates can abstain ● Present and voting ○ Delegates cannot abstain

● Write down every delegate’s selection Opening sequence

● Delegates cannot abstain from procedural matters ○ I.e. Voting on motions ● Dels. can abstain from substantive matters ○ I.e. Approving a resolution Procedures: 2. Motion to open debate ● Easy and straightforward

● Delegate says: “Motion to open debate” Opening sequence ○ It’s voted upon ○ You smile and continue :) Procedures: 3. Primary speaker’s list ● What is it? ○ A list with delegates’ names

● What does it do? ○ Determine who delivers opening statements in what order

● What does it look like? Opening sequence ○ Primary speaker’s list: ■ Congo ■ Burkina Faso ■ Suriname ■ French Guiana

● Anything else? ○ Speaking time: 1 min ○ Speaker cap: all speakers 4. Motion to set the Procedures: ● Delegates propose preferred topic ○ I.e. “Motion to set the agenda to topic 1”

● Your job: ○ Call 2 speakers for Opening sequence ○ 2 speakers against

● Next ○ Delegates nominate themselves ○ You choose for both categories ○ Delegates listen to arguments

Procedures: 5. Voting on agenda item ● Finally ○ Delegates vote ○ If successful, proceed with topic ○ If unsuccessful, repeat Opening sequence process for another proposed topic 6. Caucusing Procedures: ● This is where the actual debate occurs

● Options: ○ Moderated caucus ■ Standard orderly debate ■ Requires: ● Duration ● Speaking time Opening sequence ● Topic ○ Round robin ■ Delegates go around room speaking on a specific point 1 by 1 ■ Requires: ● Speaking time ● Topic ○ Unmoderated caucus ■ Open forum for discussion. NO intervention from chair ■ Requires: ● Duration Points Procedures: Point of Inquiry

● What is is? ○ Fancy term for question

● Example:

Points ● When do I take it? ○ After a speech ○ Before choosing a new speaker Procedures: ● What is it? ○ Also a question, NOT about “content” ○ But about procedure

● Example:

Points ● When do I take it? ○ As soon as you hear it ○ Let delegates know that they can interrupt speakers and yourselves Point of Personal Privilege Procedures: ● What is it? ○ Matter of: ■ personal preference ■ Comfort ■ Accessibility

● Example: Points ● When do I take it? ○ Always ○ As soon as you hear it Right to Reply Procedures: ● What is it? ○ Opportunity for a delegate to protect their reputation

● Example

● When do I take it? Points ○ ONLY when a delegate has been attacked PERSONALLY ○ NOT if their fictional character is attacked ■ I.e. “You represent a nation of warmongers!” Yields Yield to the Chair Procedures ● Used after speech

● Indicates that delegate no longer wishes to speak

● Only used if delegate still has time available Yields ○ If not, they are cut off by chair Yield to other delegate Procedures ● Used after speech

● Delegate gives remaining time to another delegate

● Nominated delegate can accept OR refuse yield Yields ○ If accepted, ■ delegate may ONLY speak for the remaining time ○ If refused, ■ chair moves on to new delegate, resetting speaking time Yield to Questions Procedures ● Used after speech

● Delegate opens up remaining time to everyone to ask questions ○ Chair chooses who may ask a question

Yields ● Time management ○ Remaining time may only be discounted once yielding delegate answers question ○ NOT while someone asks question Voting Procedures Voting procedures

● Applies only to substantive matters ○ I.e. Resolution ○

Voting ● Super serious.

● No one enters the room ○ No one leaves the room Types of votes Procedures ● Straw poll ○ “Fake vote” ○ Use: testing the waters ■ Gauging potential support ○ Non-binding ■ Voting procedures DON’T apply

● Standard vote Voting ○ All in favour called first ○ All opposed called second ○ wins ○ Binding: voting procedures DO apply ■ Only for substantive matters

● Dividing the question ○ NOT A VOTE ○ Use: pick apart resolution ○ Trigger: “Motion to divide the question” ○ May be debated Voting on a draft resolution Procedures ● May be performed by: ○ Motioning to vote (standard) ○ Dividing the question

● Vocabulary ○ Sponsor: Author of resolution ○ Signatory: Person who wants resolution debated (NOT necessarily supporter)

Voting ● Process ○ Introduction ■ Sponsors present resolution (10 min max.) ○ Question period ■ Sponsors answer questions (10 min max.) ○ Voting ■ Following final round of questions, chair will call for a vote in the order that resolutions were presented Resolutions Procedures The document itself

● What is it? ○ Paper which resolves topic’s issues

● Must be submitted to chair for Resolutions review Types of “resolutions” Procedures ● Working papers ○ No formatting required ○ Doesn’t require any support ■ Other than a motion ■ I.e. “Motion to introduce all working papers” ● Draft resolution ○ Requires: ■ Formatting Resolutions ● Heading ● Preambulatory clauses ● Operative clauses ■ Sponsors and signatories ○ Not binding ■ Can be amended ● Resolution ○ Same format + requirements ○ Binding ○ Draft becomes resolution AFTER vote Amendments Procedures Rules

● ALL amendments MUST be submitted to chair

● Orthography and grammar pass without opposition Amendments ○ As do terminological errors ○ I.e. “Earl of Wessex” instead of “King of Wessex” Types of amendments Procedures ● Friendly ○ ALL sponsors approve of amendment

● Unfriendly ○ Doesn’t have approval of ALL sponsors ○ Requires ⅔ of committee to vote in favour Amendments ● Acceptability ○ Exercise academic caution ○ Except for Sunday, Sunday is a fun day :) ■ UNLESS delegates want to stay serious Ending a Meeting How to close with class Procedures ● Must be used to terminate a session

● Motion to : ○ Use if coming back later in the week/ day

Ending a meeting ● Motion to Adjourn: ○ Use at final session ○ Or if not coming back to debate Crisis Directives Sending directives Crisis Elements ● What is it? ○ A note passed to the crisis team asking them to authorize action ■ I.e. “My JTF2 soldiers planted a bomb in Putin’s car. What is the outcome?”

● How to write an effective directive? ○ Include: Directives ■ Country name/ character ■ Explicit objective ■ Rationale ● I.e. “Since I am the generalissimo, the JTF2 MUST do as I command them.” ○ If collaborating with another delegate ■ Include their name and signature in directive What can characters/ countries do? Crisis Elements ● Anything and everything that they could do in reality ○ I.e. The US can invade IRAN ○ Saudi Arabia could skyrocket oil prices ○ China can build a hospital in 10 days

● What about the things they can’t do? ○ Delegates can collaborate with one another to Powers bridge gaps in competence ■ I.e. Toyota needs cheap manufacturing in NA. Enter Mexico

● Role of crisis staffers and directors ○ Be vigilant ○ Fact check everything ○ Don’t be afraid to say “no” ■ But don’t be unreasonably restrictive ○ Rationale matters MOST ■ If they didn’t convince you, tell them to try again When to update? Crisis Elements ● AT least 2 major updates per committee session

● What is a major update? ○ Natural disasters ○ Political coups/scandals/assassinations ○ War ○ Civil unrest Updates ○ Economic collapse

● Expectations ○ Be FUN ○ Enter the room like a boss ○ Add character to the announcement ○ Take questions ■ At least 4 We hope this helped! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email: @glendonmun.com

We look forward to seeing you soon!