Click here for the full Guide to Delegate Preparation and Parliamentary Procedure for SRHMUN III (24 pages). Continue reading for an overview of the most important rules. This overview is not comprehensive: all delegates should be well versed in the full rules before arriving in committee, so that debate is efficient and fair. Unique committee mechanics (for example in the Crisis Committee) are explained in each committee's background guide.
General Parliamentary Procedure and Rules
Applies to: all committees
Committee leadership: Each committee is led by a Chair and a Vice Chair (the Security Council has two Chairs). The Chair is the substantive leader of the committee and the Vice Chair is the procedural expert who runs formal sessions. The Crisis Committee also has a crisis team.
No prewritten work: No prewritten work of any kind is allowed. This includes working papers, draft resolutions, directives and crisis notes written outside committee sessions.
Language and conduct: All debate and documents are in English. Delegates address the committee in the third person and treat chairs, staff and fellow delegates with respect at all times.
Motions and Points at a Glance
Applies to: all committees
| Motion | What it does | Vote needed |
|---|---|---|
| Set the speaking time | Changes the time given to each speaker on the General Speakers' List | Simple majority |
| Moderated caucus | Structured debate. State the topic, the total time and the speaking time | Simple majority |
| Unmoderated caucus | Informal discussion. State the duration | Simple majority |
| Extend a caucus | Extends the previous caucus once, by no more than its original length | Simple majority |
| Introduce a draft resolution | Brings an approved draft onto the floor | Approval of the Chair |
| Divide the question | Votes on parts of a resolution separately | Simple majority |
| Close debate | Ends debate and moves into voting procedure | Two-thirds majority |
| Suspend the meeting | Recesses the committee until its next session | Simple majority |
| Adjourn the meeting | Ends all committee business for the conference | Simple majority |
| Point | Use it to | May interrupt a speaker? |
|---|---|---|
| Point of Personal Privilege | Report discomfort or a special request, for example that you cannot hear the speaker | Yes |
| Point of Order | Point out an improper use of procedure | Only if it concerns the speech |
| Point of Parliamentary Inquiry | Ask the chair a question about procedure | No |
| Point of Information | Ask a question to a speaker who has yielded time to questions | No |
Resolution-Style Committees
Applies to: UNGA · UN Women · UNSC
General Speakers' List: Opens committee so that delegations can state their positions. If no motion passes later in a round, the committee returns to this list by default.
Moderated caucuses: Structured debate. The motion must state the topic, the total time and the speaking time for each delegate.
Unmoderated caucuses: Unstructured debate in which delegates may move around and talk freely. The motion states only the duration.
Working papers: Collaborative documents that propose solutions. They require allies or blocs. The chair decides how many are accepted and when. A bloc presents its paper, followed by questions.
Draft resolutions: Documents that bring together one or more working papers. The "questions a resolution must answer" section of the background guide defines what must be addressed. The chair sets the signatory requirements and decides how many draft resolutions are accepted. A bloc presents its draft, followed by questions.
Voting
| Type of vote | Used for | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural vote | Motions | Every delegate must vote yes or no. No abstentions. Simple majority unless stated otherwise. |
| Substantive vote | Amendments and draft resolutions | Yes, no or abstain (unless "present and voting"). More than half of those present and voting. |
| Security Council vote | Substantive resolutions | Nine affirmative votes and no veto from a permanent member. |
| Closing debate | Motion to close debate | Two-thirds majority. |
Directive-Style Committee (Crisis)
Applies to: Crisis Committee
Delegates represent characters rather than countries. There is no speakers' list. Formal debate happens through moderated caucuses, which follow the same rules as in the other committees.
Directives: Documents that the committee passes in order to act. Their form varies and can include statements, decisions and orders.
Crisis updates: Updates from the dais that move the story forward. A timed update sets a deadline by which a directive must pass to stop the crisis from escalating. An untimed update has no deadline, but the crisis may escalate at the discretion of the crisis team.
Crisis notes: Letters to the crisis team that advance a character's goals. They can help or sabotage other characters, and should be addressed to people or organisations outside the committee that realistically relate to the character. They should contain concise, concrete commands.
Unmoderated caucuses: Used to work on directives and to respond to crisis updates.
Read the complete rules in the Guide to Delegate Preparation and Parliamentary Procedure (PDF, 24 pages).