Chairing Guide for American MUN RoP
Debate
Formal Debate: Formal debate revolves around a speakers list. The Chair begins by asking all delegates interested in addressing the other members to raise their placards. The Chair then chooses delegates to be placed on the speakers list. A country may only be on the speakers list
once, but delegates may add their country to the end of the list after their speech.
Informal Debate: Informal debate involves discussion outside of the speakers list. During moderated caucuses, the Chair calls on delegates one-by-one so that each can address the committee in short speeches. During unmoderated caucuses, the committee breaks for a temporary recess so that delegates may meet with each other and discuss ideas.
1. When the session begins, speeches focus on stating country positions and offering recommendations for action.
2. After several countries state their positions, the committee breaks for Lobbying and merging (often in blocs) to develop regional positions.
3. After blocs have met, speeches focus on describing bloc positions to the entire body.
4. Writing begins as countries work together to compose draft resolutions.
5. Delegates now make statements describing their draft resolutions to the committee.
6. Countries and groups meet to gather support for specific draft resolutions.
7. Delegates try to garner more support through formal speeches and invite others to offer their ideas.
8. Delegates finalize draft resolutions.
9. Delegates make statements supporting or disagreeing with specific draft resolutions.
10. Draft resolution sponsors build greater support for their resolution and look to incorporate others’ ideas through friendly amendments.
11. Delegates present any amendments they have created.
Close of Debate
Once the speaker‟s list is exhausted, the committee automatically moves to voting. Also, once a delegate feels that his or her country‟s position is clear to others and that there are enough draft resolutions on the floor, he or she may make a motion to proceed into voting procedure by
moving for the closure of debate.
Voting Procedures
Once a motion to close debate has been approved, the committee moves into voting procedure. Amendments are voted on first, then resolutions. Once all of the resolutions are voted on, the committee moves to the next topic on the agenda. During voting, ALL note-passing is suspended and exiting the committee rooms is prohibited. Delegates have three voting options: in favor, against or abstaining (this may not be allowed if a motion has been called to divide the house, and has passed).
1. Chair announces that the debate time has elapsed and calls for voting procedure.
2. Security staff is asked by the chairs to seal the doors and the administrative staff to suspend note-passing and take their voting positions.
3. Chair asks all those delegates in favor of the resolution; administrative staff counts the votes and inform the chair of the result.
4. Chair asks all those delegates against of the resolution; administrative staff counts the votes and inform the chair of the result.
5. Chair asks all those delegates abstaining; administrative staff counts the votes and inform the chair of the result.
6. A total is counted. If a majority of the votes are in favor, then the resolution passes and clapping is in order; if the majority of the votes are against, then the resolution fails and clapping is out of order.
Debate in Amendments
1. Delegate sends amendments to the chair.
2. Chair decides whether the amendment is necessary or not (especially if they have many submitted amendments, they should chose the most important and meaningful one).
3. Chair calls upon the submitter of the chosen amendment to take the floor.
4. Chair announces the amendment; the house writes in down.
5. Delegate reads out their amendment again.
6. Delegate makes a speech of 1 minute and answers the point if he/she wishes to.
7. Delegate answers the points of information directed at the chair after he asks for them.
8. Delegate yields the floor to the chair or to another delegate, when asked to by the chair.
9. Chair decides on the debate time for the amendment, and whether it is an open or closed debate.
10. The house debates on the amendment using the same debate structure as a resolution.
11. Chair calls for voting procedures after time elapses.
12. If passed, the amendment amends the resolution, and it is changed on the projected resolution, and the chair asks delegates to change it on their resolution.
13. Clapping is out of order whether or not it passes.
14. The house continues to debate the resolution. Even if the amendments are friendly, they must still be debated on, if there is sufficient time.
Credits to http://biscmun.bisc.edu.eg/Documents/forms/Student%20Officer%20handbook.pdf
Formal Debate: Formal debate revolves around a speakers list. The Chair begins by asking all delegates interested in addressing the other members to raise their placards. The Chair then chooses delegates to be placed on the speakers list. A country may only be on the speakers list
once, but delegates may add their country to the end of the list after their speech.
Informal Debate: Informal debate involves discussion outside of the speakers list. During moderated caucuses, the Chair calls on delegates one-by-one so that each can address the committee in short speeches. During unmoderated caucuses, the committee breaks for a temporary recess so that delegates may meet with each other and discuss ideas.
1. When the session begins, speeches focus on stating country positions and offering recommendations for action.
2. After several countries state their positions, the committee breaks for Lobbying and merging (often in blocs) to develop regional positions.
3. After blocs have met, speeches focus on describing bloc positions to the entire body.
4. Writing begins as countries work together to compose draft resolutions.
5. Delegates now make statements describing their draft resolutions to the committee.
6. Countries and groups meet to gather support for specific draft resolutions.
7. Delegates try to garner more support through formal speeches and invite others to offer their ideas.
8. Delegates finalize draft resolutions.
9. Delegates make statements supporting or disagreeing with specific draft resolutions.
10. Draft resolution sponsors build greater support for their resolution and look to incorporate others’ ideas through friendly amendments.
11. Delegates present any amendments they have created.
Close of Debate
Once the speaker‟s list is exhausted, the committee automatically moves to voting. Also, once a delegate feels that his or her country‟s position is clear to others and that there are enough draft resolutions on the floor, he or she may make a motion to proceed into voting procedure by
moving for the closure of debate.
Voting Procedures
Once a motion to close debate has been approved, the committee moves into voting procedure. Amendments are voted on first, then resolutions. Once all of the resolutions are voted on, the committee moves to the next topic on the agenda. During voting, ALL note-passing is suspended and exiting the committee rooms is prohibited. Delegates have three voting options: in favor, against or abstaining (this may not be allowed if a motion has been called to divide the house, and has passed).
1. Chair announces that the debate time has elapsed and calls for voting procedure.
2. Security staff is asked by the chairs to seal the doors and the administrative staff to suspend note-passing and take their voting positions.
3. Chair asks all those delegates in favor of the resolution; administrative staff counts the votes and inform the chair of the result.
4. Chair asks all those delegates against of the resolution; administrative staff counts the votes and inform the chair of the result.
5. Chair asks all those delegates abstaining; administrative staff counts the votes and inform the chair of the result.
6. A total is counted. If a majority of the votes are in favor, then the resolution passes and clapping is in order; if the majority of the votes are against, then the resolution fails and clapping is out of order.
Debate in Amendments
1. Delegate sends amendments to the chair.
2. Chair decides whether the amendment is necessary or not (especially if they have many submitted amendments, they should chose the most important and meaningful one).
3. Chair calls upon the submitter of the chosen amendment to take the floor.
4. Chair announces the amendment; the house writes in down.
5. Delegate reads out their amendment again.
6. Delegate makes a speech of 1 minute and answers the point if he/she wishes to.
7. Delegate answers the points of information directed at the chair after he asks for them.
8. Delegate yields the floor to the chair or to another delegate, when asked to by the chair.
9. Chair decides on the debate time for the amendment, and whether it is an open or closed debate.
10. The house debates on the amendment using the same debate structure as a resolution.
11. Chair calls for voting procedures after time elapses.
12. If passed, the amendment amends the resolution, and it is changed on the projected resolution, and the chair asks delegates to change it on their resolution.
13. Clapping is out of order whether or not it passes.
14. The house continues to debate the resolution. Even if the amendments are friendly, they must still be debated on, if there is sufficient time.
Credits to http://biscmun.bisc.edu.eg/Documents/forms/Student%20Officer%20handbook.pdf