1. Mass MUN Session 1
Basic Parliamentary Procedures
By: Zachary Wong (13S47)
2. Schedule
This week: Parliamentary Procedures by Zachary Wong
Next week: Resolution Writing by Ynez Tan / Wen
Rui
2 weeks later: CRISIS!! By Harit Patel / Joel Lee
3 weeks later: Mock MUN
3. MUN Decorum
No vulgarities and slangs (e.g. YOLO, LOL) in council.
Formality and respect for one another forms the basis of this
council.
Dress formally.
Communicate with each other via note paper. You can only
speak when the chair recognizes you.
Yield your time back to the chair when finished.
Speak in third person e.g. “This delegate” or “Country XXX”
Address your counterparts as “The delegate of XXX”
X Never address yourself “the government of XXX” as you are not
representing the government of a country.
4. Flow of debate
Role call
Opening Speeches
General Debate (No particular focus)
Moderated Caucus (Specific aspect of the issue)
Un-moderated caucus
Introduction of resolution
Debate on resolution
Debate on ammendments
Voting
5. Role Call
A means for the chair to take attendance.
When the chair calls your country, raise your placard and
reply “Present and Voting” OR “Present”.
A delegate responding “Present” have three options when
voting on a substantive issue (passing a resolution: in favour,
against, or abstain.
A delegate responding “present and voting” have only two
options: in favour or against – in other words, they MUST
vote and cannot abstain from it.
6. Opening Speech
A means for other countries in the council to know your
countries’ position on the issue.
Start off a speech by thanking the chair, using words like “Thank
you Honorable Chair/Madame/Mr.”
Reflect:
1) Brief history on the issue
2) How the issue affects your country
3) Your country’s position on the issue.
4) Discuss past UN, member states of NGO action.
5) Your country’s expectations. (e.g. a resolution that…)
7. General Debate
For you to expound on your opening speech.
You can also bring up points brought up by other
delegates and comment on it. +++
You can also sum up everyone’s stances and reflect the
similarities/differences in council. +++
8. Moderated Caucus
For the council to focus on a particular aspect of the issue AND
listen to the stances of all countries.
A delegate has to motion for an moderated caucus for it to
happen, clearly stating the duration, speaker time and the
topic. (e.g. Motion for moderated caucus of 5 minutes, speaker
time of 30s on the issue of how to involve developed countries
in sustainable development.)
After which, the chair will ask the delegated to give a short
speech on why this caucus be entertained.
Delegates will remain seated and order still applies in the
council. (ref. to un-moderated caucus)
When this expires, the chair will resume general debate.
Points of Information NOT entertained after each speech.
9. Un-moderated Caucus
Allows delegates to informally talk to other delegates
outside of debate.
Delegates are allowed to move around freely.
Usually, it is used to allow for delegates to introduce
resolutions / working paper and gain the support of
delegates.
A delegate has to motion for the un-moderated caucus,
clearly stating the duration. (e.g. Motion for un-moderated
caucus of 20 minutes.)
When this expires, the chair will move back into general
debate.
10. Introduction of resolution
The writer of the resolution has to “Motion to
Introduce Resolution” for the chair to entertain a
resolution.
When passed, the writer has to read out certain parts
of the resolution.
More on this next week.
12. Debate on Amendments
For friendly Amendment,
o The writer will submit the amendment to the chair, who will
inform the council of the changes.
o No debates necessary.
For unfriendly amendment,
oThe writer of the amendment will send it via note paper to the
chair and “motion to introduce amendment”.
oThere will be debates for and against the amendment and it will
be voted upon.
MORE ON THIS NEXT WEEK
13. Voting on Resolution
Resolution requires ½ majority to pass. Vetoes are only
valid in the Security Council.
Delegates can vote for, against or abstain. In some
MUNs, delegates who abstain have to write a note
paper to the chair explaining why.
In some MUNs, delegates can vote “Yes with rights” or
“No with rights” BUT this is only if the resolution goes
against their country’s position FOLLOWING which
the chair will ask the delegate to explain.
14. Points
Point of Information: this point can be raised only after speeches by delegates if
they want to clarify doubts that they may have on the other delegate’s speech.
- Must be phrased in a question
- Not applicable to be raised during “moderated caucus” or “opening speeches”.
- You can choose to open yourself up to points of information by “Yielding to
Points of Information after your speech”. +++
Point of Personal Privilege: this point can be raised by any delegate at any time
when the request concerns the well-being of the delegate.
- Only the Point of Privilege relating to inaudibility can interrupt a speech.
- Other examples include being excused to use the washroom or answer a call.
15. Point
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: this point can be raised
by any delegate at any time, addressed to the Chair,
when the delegate wishes to enquire about a
parliamentary procedure.
Right to reply: this point can be raised by any delegate
at any time, to interrupt a speech, when his/her
country has been explicitly insulted through the
comments of a delegate.
Point of order: Used to call the chair’s attention to a
procedural violation at any time, to interrupt a speech.
16. Yield
At the end of a speech, you may yield to the following:
a. Yield to chair: the remaining time is given back to the Chair
b. Yield to Points of Information: these are simply questions
that the other delegate may ask you.
c. Yield to another Delegate: the remaining time is given to
another delegate that you have specified.
