Rules of Procedure
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- INTRODUCTION: These rules of procedure are binding in all Washington State Model United Nations Committee meetings. Committees shall proceed in the following manner: A Delegate may raise his/her placard in order to be recognized by the Director. After the delegate has been recognized, the delegate must state the rule to which he/she rises.
- CREDENTIALS AND ATTIRE: All participants must wear their credentials (nametag or badge) and be dressed in Western business attire at all times. Any participant who does not have his/her credentials will not be recognized by the Director to speak or vote on any motion. Any Delegate dressed in a manner that disrupts Committee proceedings or offends his/her fellow Delegates will be dismissed by the Director.
- GENERAL DUTIES OF DELEGATES: Each Delegate to the conference has the duty to respect the decisions of the Committee Director, gain recognition from the Director before addressing the Committee, advocate his/her represented nation's interests, accord due courtesy and respect to fellow Delegates and other conference participants, and act in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Any Delegate will be removed from Committee proceedings if he/she is found in contempt of these duties.
- GENERAL DUTIES OF THE SECRETARIAT: All rights and privileges accorded to the Secretariat in these rules apply to the Secretary General, the Undersecretaries General, the Director General, and any other individual so designated by the Secretary General. The Secretary General shall hold his/her position throughout the conference. He/she may designate a member of the Secretariat to act in his/her place at any conference meeting. The Secretary General shall provide and direct the staff required for Committee session. The Secretariat shall receive, print and distribute resolutions of the Committees, and have custody over and ensure proper preservation of documents.
- GENERAL DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE DIRECTOR: All rights and privileges accorded to the Director in these rules are also accorded to the Assistant Director and Secretary. The Committee Director shall hold his/her position throughout the conference. The Director may pass any or all of his/her duties to the Assistant Director and/or Secretary, on a temporary or permanent basis. In addition to exercising the powers which are conferred upon him/her herein, the Director of the Committee shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting of the Committee, direct its discussions, ensure the observance of these rules, accord the right to speak, and announce decisions. He/she shall rule on points of order and exercise control of the proceedings of the Committee and the maintenance of order at its meetings. The Director may, in the course of the discussion of an item, propose to the Committee the limitation of the time to be allowed to speakers, the closure of the speakers' list, or the closure of the debate. He/she may also propose the suspension or adjournment of the meeting or the adjournment of the debate on the item under discussion.
- QUORUM: One third of the members of the Committee present shall constitute a quorum. Directors must establish quorum after lunch, day breaks and committee sessions. Regardless of quorum, the Director may open any meeting and commence with its proceedings at his/her discretion. A quorum is required to have a substantive vote, i.e. to vote on a resolution and/or amendment.
- SETTING THE AGENDA: Discussion of and setting the agenda will be the first order of business for the Committee. A motion to set the agenda requires a second and two speakers (one in favor, one opposed). Multiple proposals for setting the agenda are in order. Once voting has begun on motions to set the agenda, no further motions will be accepted. The motions will be voted on in the order in which the Director accepts them. The first motion to receive a simple majority vote will be adopted by the Committee. Should no proposal receive a majority vote, the Committee will continue debate until an acceptable proposal is adopted.
- SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE:
After the agenda has been determined, substantive debate on that topic will begin. A speakers' list will be established for all debate on an agenda item, except when superseded by procedural motions or the introduction of a resolution. Speakers may speak on the agenda item being considered and may address any proposed resolution on the floor. Resolutions may be proposed only when the Committee is in debate on the relevant topic. Amendments may also be proposed during substantive debate.
NOTE: All debate will be held within substantive debate. This allows for discussion about multiple resolutions to be had simultaneously. Directors need to ensure that discussion remains structured and fluid. There will be no movement between general and substantive debate. A closure of debate (rule 21) will therefore move the committee to vote on all resolutions in one session. This is a change in the rules of procedure. Since general and substantive debate have been merged, delegates may discuss amendments, resolutions, and the general topic simultaneously, though the Director needs to ensure that flow of debate is structured. - SPEAKERS' LIST:
The Committee shall have an open speakers' list during debate. The speakers' list shall be drawn up at the start of debate, and a new one will be established after each closure or postponement of debate, although the Speaker's List may continue from preceding sessions at the Committee Director's discretion. Separate speakers' lists shall be established as needed for procedural motions. At the Director's discretion, a Delegate may be added to the speakers' list by submitting a written request to the Director or by rising under the speaker's list rule. The speaker's list will be posted for the committee's convenience.
Close/Open Speakers List: Delegates may close the speaker's list on the current topic and reopen a speaker's list which has been closed.
- SPEECHES: No Delegate may address the Committee without the permission of the Director. The Director shall call a speaker to order if his/her remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion or display a lack of courtesy. The Director shall determine the time limit for all speeches. Time limits may differ depending on the motion under discussion. When a Delegate's allotted time has expired, the Director shall call him/her to order without delay. Replies to points of information are considered to be part of the speech. A speech may be interrupted only by a point of personal privilege, and then only if the speech is inaudible or if the Delegate experiences acute discomfort that prevents him/her from fully participating in the work of the Committee.
- YIELDS: After his/her speech, a Delegate may yield to the Director, to points of information (questions), or to another Delegate. If the Delegate yields to the Director and there are no motions on the floor, the next speaker on the speakers' list shall be recognized by the Director. If the Delegate yields to points of information, only the time taken to answer the points of information shall contribute to the expiration of the allotted time. The time taken to ask questions will not reduce the remaining time. If the Delegate yields to another Delegate, the second Delegate shall have the remainder of the first Delegate's speaking time. The second Delegate may not yield to another Delegate or to points of information; at the conclusion of his/her speaking time, the Delegate must yield the floor to the Director. If a delegate does not yield his/her time, it will be assumed to be yielded to the Director.
- SHORT COMMENTS: Delegates may address the Committee with a short comment after a speech, which must pertain directly to the last speech heard by the Committee. Comments are not in order for speeches pertaining to procedural motions. No Delegate may comment on his/her own speech. The Director shall call a Delegate to order if his/her comment is not directly relevant to the preceding speech, or if he/she displays a lack of courtesy. The Director will announce the number of short comments allowed and the time limit.
- SUSPENSION OF THE MEETING:
The purpose of the suspension of the meeting is to facilitate discussion outside the rules of formal debate. Delegates may move to suspend the meeting at any time when the floor is open. The Delegate must suggest a reason for the motion and a time limit, which shall not exceed twenty minutes. The motion will be put immediately to a vote and requires a majority to pass. If desired, a delegate may move to extend the unmoderated caucus one time. The Director may rule the motion out of order, and this decision is not subject to appeal.
NOTE: In previous years, this was referred to as an 'unmoderated caucus'.
- SUSPENSION OF THE RULES:
The purpose of suspending the rules is to facilitate debate in a more flexible way than formal debate allows. This is a break from the speaker's list and is a round-robin style debate with a shorter speaking time (generally between thirty and forty-five seconds). Delegates may move for a suspension of the meeting at any time when the floor is open, and must propose a speaking time limit and total time limit.
NOTE: In previous years, this was referred to as a "moderated caucus".
- Q & A SESSION: A Q & A session allows a delegate to propose a Q&A session where the committee poses questions to a single delegate. The individual to be questioned must be named in the original motion, and must agree to the proposal. If the motion passes, the Director will moderate the Committee's question. Only the time used to answer the questions will contribute to the expiration of the allotted time. Follow-up questions are not allowed. Yields are out of order during a moderated caucus.
- WORKING PAPERS: Working papers are recognized by the WASMUN conference. Drafts of work by delegates are considered working papers, which are considered 'draft resolutions' when approved by the Director.
- SUBMISSION OF A RESOLUTION: Any member Delegate who is present and voting may rise to submit a resolution to the Director. A resolution requires at least two sponsors or 1/10 of the body, whichever is greater (the signatures of Delegates in the Committee who are in support of the resolution) and the approval of the Director. The number of signatories necessary will be 1/5 of the body, or 3, whichever is greater. Resolutions must be in proper format for acceptance. Acting as a signatory to a resolution neither constitutes support of nor requires a vote in favor of the resolution, but represents a desire to see the resolution discussed. Conversely, sponsorship is the support of and requires a vote in favor of the resolution. Resolutions require a simple majority to pass. Additional voting restrictions apply in the Security Council and specialized committees, such as the ICJ, as per Rule 35. The Committee may pass multiple resolutions per agenda item. If resolutions are contradictory, the first resolution passed will stand and subsequent contradictions are stricken from the record. Working papers approved are considered Draft Resolutions.
- INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION: The sponsors of a resolution may move to introduce a draft resolution to the Committee once it has been approved by the Director and distributed to the Committee. Such an introduction shall be procedural in nature. The formal introduction will first consist of a single sponsor reading the operative clauses.
- AMENDMENTS: Amendments may change, delete from, or add to a resolution. An amendment requires the approval of the Director and the signatures of members of the Committee. Amendments must have signatories of 1/10 of the body, but not less than 3 Members. Signing an amendment does not constitute support of or require a vote in favor of the amendment. Amendments are voted upon when before voting on the resolution. Amendments will be voted on in the order of most destructive. If amendments contradict, the amendment passed first will stand and subsequent contradictions will be stricken from the record. Amendments require a simple majority to pass. Friendly amendments are allowed. Amendments to pre-ambulatory clauses are not allowed. Amendments will not be formally introduced to the committee by the sponsor(s); rather, the Director will notify the committee of the amendment's acceptance and distribute or post the amendment.
- REORDERING OF RESOLUTIONS: Immediately after closing debate (see Rule 21, Closure of Debate), the Committee will proceed to reorder the resolutions that have been accepted for discussion by the Director. A motion to reorder resolutions requires a second and two speakers (one in favor, one opposed). Multiple proposals for reordering resolutions are in order. Once voting has begun on motions to reorder resolutions, no further motions will be accepted. The motions will be voted on in the order in which the Director accepted them. The first motion to receive a majority vote will be adopted by the Committee. Should no proposal receive a majority vote, the Committee will discuss the resolutions in the order in which the Director initially accepted them.
- CLOSURE OF DEBATE: Closure of debate ends debate to enter voting bloc. A motion to close debate requires a second. If there is objection to the motion, the Delegates who proposed and seconded the motion will speak in favor, and two objecting Delegates will speak against. The motion requires a two-thirds majority to pass. If the motion passes while the Committee is in general debate, the Committee will immediately proceed to reorder the resolutions. The Committee Director may cite Rule 5 in order to rule a motion to close debate dilatory if the motion severely interferes with committee proceedings.
- SUSPENSION OF DEBATE: Delegates may move to temporarily suspend all Committee functions. Such a motion is not debatable and will be put to an immediate vote, requiring a simple majority to pass. This motion is appropriate for lunch and at the end of the first day. The Committee Director may cite Rule 5 in order to rule a motion to suspend debate dilatory if the motion severely interferes with committee proceedings.
- ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING:
A motion to adjourn the Committee session is only in order at the completion of the Committee's deliberations, and only at the specific request of the Committee Director. This motion requires a second and a simple majority to pass.
NOTE: This motion is only used at the end of the conference, before closing ceremony. Recesses for lunch or the end of the day are considered "Rule 22: Suspension of Debate". - POSTPONEMENT AND RESUMPTION OF DEBATE: Delegates may move to postpone debate and later resume debate whenever the floor is open during debate. These motions table debate for later discussion, and are appropriate in situations such as when a crisis occurs. A motion to postpone debate requires two speakers (one in favor, one opposed) and requires a two-thirds majority to pass. No debate or action on a resolution that has been postponed is in order until resumption of debate on the resolution. A motion to resume debate requires two speakers (one in favor, one opposed) and requires a simple majority to pass.
- VOTING ON PROCEDURAL MOTIONS: Official observers and non-governmental organizations may vote on procedural motions only. After the Director has announced the start of voting on any procedural motion, no motions or parliamentary points are in order, except points of parliamentary inquiry relating specifically to the conduct of voting and points of personal privilege relating to acute discomfort. Each member shall have one vote, and may vote "Yes," or, "No." Every member must vote on procedural matters. A simple majority requires 50%+1 in favor to pass, i.e. more "Yes" votes than "No" votes. A two-thirds majority requires 66.7%+1 in favor to pass, i.e. more than twice as many "Yes" votes as "No" votes. Delegates will cast their vote by raising their placard at the appropriate time.
- POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE: Such points must pertain to the comfort and wellbeing of the Delegate, and may not refer to the content of any speech. Points of personal privilege may interrupt a speech only if the speech is inaudible or if the Delegate experiences acute discomfort that prevents him/her from fully participating in the work of the Committee. Delegates to not need to rise under a point of personal privilege to use the restroom, they may simply leave the room (although they are encouraged to use the restroom during suspension of the meeting and between committee sessions).
- POINT OF ORDER: Such points may relate to procedural matters only. A point of order may not interrupt a speech and may not refer to the content of a speech. Delegates should rise to this point only to notify the committee of incorrect parliamentary procedure. The Director shall rule on a point of order immediately in strict accordance with these rules of procedure.
- POINT OF INFORMATION: Such points may be directed to the Director or to a speaker who has yielded to points of information or to questions. Points of information regard substantive questions, such as a question about the topic. A point of information must be phrased as a question that is not leading in nature or a statement. The point of information shall be limited to one question.
- POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY: Points of Parliamentary Inquiry are points of information directed to the Director concerning the interpretation or understanding of the rules of procedure.
- OPERATIONS OF VOTING BLOC: Voting bloc will begin with voting on the amendments in the order of greatest destructiveness. Motions to divide the resolution and roll call voting will then be in order. After voting on all proposals for division, the final resolution, including only those parts that passed when divided, will be voted on as a whole.
- CONDUCT DURING VOTING BLOC: After the Director has announced the entrance into voting bloc, no procedural motions are in order, except requests for a roll call vote or division of the resolution. Parliamentary points are in order. During voting bloc the Committee room will be closed, and no Delegates will be allowed to enter. Delegates will be silent and will not pass notes.
- DIVISION OF THE RESOLUTION: After debate on a substantive motion has been closed and voting on all amendments is completed, a Delegate may move that operative clauses of the resolution be voted on separately. Pre-ambulatory clauses may not be divided in this manner. The motion to divide a resolution is a procedural matter. There will be no debate on the motion of division, and the motion will be put to an immediate vote. A motion to divide requires a simple majority to pass. Only one motion to divide may pass; that is, after one motion to divide has passed, all other motions to divide are out of order.
- VOTING:
Each member State has one vote. Official observers and non-governmental organizations are not able to vote on amendments or resolutions. After the Director has announced the entrance into voting bloc, only points of parliamentary inquiry relating specifically to the conduct of voting and points of personal privilege relating to acute discomfort are in order. Each member may vote "Yes," "No," or "Abstain." Abstentions do not count as votes for purposes of determining a majority. All member States must vote on all substantive matters. Amendments and resolutions require a simple majority to pass. A simple majority requires more "Yes" votes than "No" votes. Voting shall be done by placard, except in the case of a roll call vote. In the Security Council, the Delegates from France, the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States all have veto authority on substantive matters. Any and all of those five Delegates has the right to vote "Yes," "No," or "Abstain." A "No" vote from a permanent member constitutes a veto. If any one of these five Delegates votes "No" on an amendment or resolution, the motion has failed.
- Roll Call Voting: After substantive debate has been closed on a resolution and any amendments have been voted on, Delegates may request a roll call vote on the resolution. Such a motion must be seconded. Delegates will be called by country and must vote "Yes", "No", "Abstain", or "Pass." Abstentions do not count as votes for purposes of determining a majority. Should any Delegate pass, the roll call will proceed for a second round only. The Committee Director will require that a motion for a roll call vote be supported by one-fourth of the committee. Roll call votes may not be taken on procedural motions.
- Vote by Acclamation: A "Vote by Acclamation" can also be accepted by the Director. In this motion, if there are no objections the Draft Resolution passes automatically. If there is an objection, as signaled by raising a placard, then the motion automatically fails.
Note: Voting procedure may function differently in committees such as the International Court of Justice.
- STATEMENTS BY THE SECRETARIAT: The Secretary General or a member of the Secretariat, may, at any time, make either oral or written statements to the Committee concerning any matter. Such a statement takes precedence over any and all other motions on the floor, and may interrupt caucuses and Delegates' speeches.
- APPEAL: If a Director makes a decision detrimental to the committee or an egregious violation of the Rules of Procedure and does not respond to a Point of Order, a delegate may appeal the decision. This motion must be submitted in writing, addressed to the Secretary-General. The Director will contact a member of the Secretariat, who may deal with the appeal at his/her discretion, and may rule the appeal out of order. Appeals are very uncommon in Model United Nations in general, and have never been necessary at WASMUN.
- RIGHT OF REPLY: If any Delegate should be slandered in a public forum, then the offended Delegate may rise under the right of reply. The right may be granted only at the Director's discretion, and applies only when the Delegate's personal and/or national dignity has been slandered specifically. Rights of reply are very uncommon and are not applicable if a delegate refers to known policy. Rights of reply must be submitted to the Director in writing and will be considered a minimum of 15 minutes following the accused slandering.
- PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS:
Points and motions will be considered in the following order:
- Parliamentary points:
- Procedural motions which cannot be debated:
- Substantive motions:
- Procedural motions applicable to the resolution or amendment under consideration:
- Other procedural motions:
