MUNCH 2011

Debate Procedures

Resolutions are lobbied (see Lobbying) before debate commences. The chairs will choose which resolutions are to be debated for each topic and announce them to the committee. Time for the resolution will commence, allowing the writer(s) of the resolution to present it to the committee and make a speech persuading delegates as to why they should vote for the resolution and highlighting what is good about it. Points of information will then follow. Then there will be further time for other delegates wishing to speak for the resolution. Time against the resolution comprises of two parts:

Amendments are submitted and debated, including time for and against each amendment followed by a vote.
The resolution is debated as a whole, including any new amendments. If time allows for it, there will also be time allocated for any more speakers who wish to speak for the resolution as a whole. Then, the proposer of the resolution will make a short speech summarising the main points, and there is a final vote, with the majority determining the outcome.

Yield Chains

In debate, a delegate may wish to pass the floor to a delegate from another country. This is called yielding. Yield chains may be set up during lobbying between sessions or via note passing, but may not be done across the Floor. At MUNCH, the following chain restrictions are observed:

Resolution Time For/Against A > B > C > Chair

This means that for amendments, the speaker recognised by the chair may yield to one other recognised speaker may yield to another, who in turn may yield to another, who is then obliged to yield to the chair.

Language

As delegates are representatives of a UN member state, they must refer to their country and never to themselves. This may be done by the use of first person plural pronouns (we and our), third singular pronoun (it) or by referring to the country in question. For example “The United Arab Emirates feels strongly about this resolution” and “We are pleased to cooperate with the UN on this matter”. One must never refer to himself or herself in the “I” for nor any other delegate in the “you” form. Delegates must refer to the Chair as “the Chair” and may include respectful pre- modifiers such as “the honourable Chair.” Violent language or swearing is not acceptable. At all times delegates must remain polite and respectful.

Terminology:

Point of Information

After a delegate has taken the floor, the chair will ask the speaker if they are willing to undertake “Points of Information .” This allows delegates in the committee to question the policies or points made by the delegate on the floor. This must always take the form of a question, for example: “Could the honourable delegate please clarify the methods by which clause 4, which was referred to by him, may be implemented?”

Delegates must rise and make their point and remain standing until the delegate on the floor has finished their response. A Point of Information should be addressed to the chair, so the delegate being questioned should not be referred to in the second person, but the third person. For example, “which was referred to by you,” would be incorrect, where as “which was referred to by him,” is the correct form. Although the question is asked to the chair, the delegate responds to it and must do so following the same rules when referring to the questioning delegate.

Point of Personal Privilege

This is the only time when a delegate may interrupt any speaker. A Point of Personal Privilege can be called out when a delegate is having personal difficulties. This could include needing to leave the room, for whatever reason, but is most likely used when the delegate cannot hear the speaker well.

Point of Order

These may not interrupt a speaker. This can be called out whenever a member of a committee feels that the delegate speaking at that time is making offensive or derogatory remarks towards either other delegates or their country. If the Chair agrees that the delegate who is speaking is out of order, they will decide upon a relevant action; if not, debate continues as normal. Points of order may also be used if a delegate feels that the speaker is factually incorrect. Unlike Points of Information, the delegate holding the floor may not respond to a Point of Order. Only the chair may respond but may then give permission for that delegate to speak.

Permission to Approach the Chair

It is not in order for delegates to take it upon themselves to approach the chair at any moment. At a suitable point in debate delegates should ask for permission to approach the chair to discuss any queries. This request can be called to the Chair when no delegate is speaking or written and sent to the Chair.

Point of Parliamentary Procedure

This may not interrupt a speaker. A Point of Parliamentary Procedure may also be called out if a delegate feels that the house is not following correct procedures.

Point of Information to the Chair

This differs from the Point of Information mentioned above. These may be used when a delegate wishes to give information to the chair that is relevant to the course of debate but may not interrupt the speaker

Motions

Motions may be entertained if the time constraints allow it and may be called out at any time, as long as they do not interrupt the speaker. Motions include:

• Motion to extend debate time, which may be entertained if the Chair feels that the time constraints allow it.
• Motion to move to open debate, which is where the Floor is opened to speakers For and Against the resolution or amendment. This will only be recognised if the chair feels that it is necessary;
• Motion to evict, which must only be made on sensible grounds and may be ignored by the chair. Sensible grounds for eviction include failure to respect other delegates and the making of inappropriate remarks;
• Motion to move to voting procedure/time against , this will not be entertained if there are objections, although delegates who object should be those who are willing to speak;
• Motion to make friendly amendment , which is where an amendment is agreeable to everyone and debating or voting is not necessary;
• Motion to divide the house, which is to vote again without abstentions. If a resolution has failed by a narrow margin. It must be recognised by the chair regardless of objections from the floor.

Voting Procedure

Purpose
Voting is used to decide whether amendments are included in resolutions and whether the resolutions are subsequently passed. A very important part of diplomacy is compromise and we strongly recommend delegates to be flexible with their country’s views, meaning that they generally do not diverge too far from their official point of view but are flexible with voting in order to reach compromises and create good, open and productive debate.

Abstentions
An abstention is where a delegate chooses not to vote on a matter usually because they are undecided or their country has no strong opinion on the matter. At MUNCH, you can only abstain from voting on a resolution, you are always obliged to vote on amendments.

The Question of Funding

This is often cause for confusion and so shall be clarified here. At MUNCH, the General Assembly and committees, with the exception of the Security Council, must assume that the UN has infinite resources. Questioning the integrity of a resolution based on UN funds is therefore out of order.

This is not the case, however, with the funding of Member States. If a resolution calls for the use of individual member states resources, this may be used as an element of debate without a delegate being reprimanded.