Course of Debate
a.) Sequence
As already mentioned in the chapter “In session” debates have certain rules which have to be followed. They are explained here.
I. Roll Call: The formal meeting will start with a roll call. Each country will be called up by the Chair and the delegate has to say “present” or “here”.
II. Chair asks for a point or motion
III. Moderated or unmoderated caucus
IV. Motion to introduce working paper or draft resolution
V. Delegates can speak in favour or against the resolution
VI. Delegates can amend the resolution
VII. Voting Procedures: Delegates can either vote in favour, against or abstain
VIII. The Main- Submitter has the floor again for his final speech
This is the course of Debate if there are no Amendments.
If you want to change a clause in the resolution you will submit an Amendment. Then you have to ask if it is in order. If the Deputy Chair grants your Amendment then he will read it out and the Chairs will set the debating time in favour and against. During voting procedure NGOs and IGOs are allowed to vote but abstentions are not in order. If an Amendment passes then the clause in the resolution will be changed and then you will be back in debating time of the whole resolution. You can submit Amendments both in time in favour and against of the resolution.
b.) Rules during debate
These rules have to be followed when the committee/council is in session:
Official language
The official language is usually English. You should also speak English to the delegates who are coming from your own country and you should also remain talking in English while lobbying.
Dress code
During METiMUN every participant has to stick to formal dress. This means for girls: Blouse, blazer and either trousers or a skirt. The skirt should not be shorter than one palm above the knee. For man: A suit and of course a tie is obligatory. It is forbidden to wear sneakers and any types of shoes which are not appropriate.
Motions and Points
Delegates have to remain seated and silent during formal debate. If you want to express a matter then you have to raise your placard and say one of these points/motions:
Points:
All Points will not be voted. The Chair has to decide immediately whether they will be granted.
Point of Order
If a delegate believes that the Chair has done a mistake concerning rules of procedure or feels insulted he has the right to raise Point of Order. This point cannot interrupt a speaker.
Point of Personal Privilege
A Point of Personal Privilege just refers to personal discomfort (e.g. bathroom reasons). A point of Personal Privilege cannot interrupt a speaker except it refers to audibility.
Point of Information (to the speaker)
If a delegate has finished his/her speech you can ask him questions which are called points of information. A Point of Information has to be stated as one question.
Request to follow up
If you want to ask more than one questions then you have to request to follow up.
Point of Information to the Chair
A Point of Information to the Chair concerns the Agenda, Rules of Procedure and administrative matters. This point cannot interrupt a speaker.
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
A Point of Parliamentary Inquiry just refers to questions concerning Rules of Procedure.
Motions:
Motion to Extend Debating Time
You should use this motion if you need more time to debate the resolution. You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion to Move into Time Against
If there are no more speaker in favour of the resolution and time is left in favour of the resolution you can use this motion. You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion to Move into Voting Procedures
A Motion to Move into Voting Procedures can be used if you are already in time against of the resolution. If you believe that a resolution has been debated sufficiently you will raise this motion which leads to the voting procedures. You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion to move into Open Debate
If you do not want the structure of debating in favour then against you have to raise a Motion to move into Open Debate. And Open debate means that a delegate can deliver his speech all the time without consideration of his position.
You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion for a Roll Call Vote
If you believe that the Chair or Ad-Staff has counted wrong you can raise this motion. Every country will be called up by Roll Call and the delegate has to say if he is in favour, against or abstaining but he does not have to explain his vote. This motion is just allowed for the whole resolution meaning it cannot be granted for amendments.
Motion to appeal against the decision of the Chair
A motion to appeal against the decision of the Chair can just pass with a two-third-majority of the House. You should raise this motion if you think that the Chair has decided wrongly but before raising this motion it is recommendable to raise a point of order.
Notepapers
As already mentioned it is prohibited to speak during formal debate. The only participants who are allowed to talk are the Chairs and the delegate who has the floor. If you want to communicate then you can write your message on a notepaper. You have to raise your notepaper and the Ad-Staff will bring it to the receiving delegate/Chair. You should design and bring your own notepaper to the conference. An example can be found in the annex.
It is not allowed to
a) pass notepapers to a delegate who is in another committee,
b) write in the notepapers something that has not to do with the debate or the
topic,
c) pass notepapers during voting procedures,
d) write notepapers which are not in the official language.
In special cases it is also allowed for delegates to send notepapers to their ambassador although he is in another committee. The notepaper has to be read and confirmed by one of the Chairs beforehand.
Eating and Drinking
During the debate it is prohibited to eat. Drinking is in order throughout the debate. Nevertheless, it is forbidden to drink alcohol.
Punctuality
The Chair will set the time when you will meet in the committee. During lobbying you are allowed to leave the room to go to the computer rooms but the Chair will set the time for the next Ad-Hoc meeting. You should be on time at every Ad-Hoc meeting and in the morning.
If you know that you will be late e.g. due to traffic you should send a message to the Chair.
a.) Sequence
As already mentioned in the chapter “In session” debates have certain rules which have to be followed. They are explained here.
I. Roll Call: The formal meeting will start with a roll call. Each country will be called up by the Chair and the delegate has to say “present” or “here”.
II. Chair asks for a point or motion
III. Moderated or unmoderated caucus
IV. Motion to introduce working paper or draft resolution
V. Delegates can speak in favour or against the resolution
VI. Delegates can amend the resolution
VII. Voting Procedures: Delegates can either vote in favour, against or abstain
VIII. The Main- Submitter has the floor again for his final speech
This is the course of Debate if there are no Amendments.
If you want to change a clause in the resolution you will submit an Amendment. Then you have to ask if it is in order. If the Deputy Chair grants your Amendment then he will read it out and the Chairs will set the debating time in favour and against. During voting procedure NGOs and IGOs are allowed to vote but abstentions are not in order. If an Amendment passes then the clause in the resolution will be changed and then you will be back in debating time of the whole resolution. You can submit Amendments both in time in favour and against of the resolution.
b.) Rules during debate
These rules have to be followed when the committee/council is in session:
Official language
The official language is usually English. You should also speak English to the delegates who are coming from your own country and you should also remain talking in English while lobbying.
Dress code
During METiMUN every participant has to stick to formal dress. This means for girls: Blouse, blazer and either trousers or a skirt. The skirt should not be shorter than one palm above the knee. For man: A suit and of course a tie is obligatory. It is forbidden to wear sneakers and any types of shoes which are not appropriate.
Motions and Points
Delegates have to remain seated and silent during formal debate. If you want to express a matter then you have to raise your placard and say one of these points/motions:
Points:
All Points will not be voted. The Chair has to decide immediately whether they will be granted.
Point of Order
If a delegate believes that the Chair has done a mistake concerning rules of procedure or feels insulted he has the right to raise Point of Order. This point cannot interrupt a speaker.
Point of Personal Privilege
A Point of Personal Privilege just refers to personal discomfort (e.g. bathroom reasons). A point of Personal Privilege cannot interrupt a speaker except it refers to audibility.
Point of Information (to the speaker)
If a delegate has finished his/her speech you can ask him questions which are called points of information. A Point of Information has to be stated as one question.
Request to follow up
If you want to ask more than one questions then you have to request to follow up.
Point of Information to the Chair
A Point of Information to the Chair concerns the Agenda, Rules of Procedure and administrative matters. This point cannot interrupt a speaker.
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
A Point of Parliamentary Inquiry just refers to questions concerning Rules of Procedure.
Motions:
Motion to Extend Debating Time
You should use this motion if you need more time to debate the resolution. You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion to Move into Time Against
If there are no more speaker in favour of the resolution and time is left in favour of the resolution you can use this motion. You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion to Move into Voting Procedures
A Motion to Move into Voting Procedures can be used if you are already in time against of the resolution. If you believe that a resolution has been debated sufficiently you will raise this motion which leads to the voting procedures. You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion to move into Open Debate
If you do not want the structure of debating in favour then against you have to raise a Motion to move into Open Debate. And Open debate means that a delegate can deliver his speech all the time without consideration of his position.
You need at least one more second but if there are objections, this motion will be voted. It passes with a simple majority.
Motion for a Roll Call Vote
If you believe that the Chair or Ad-Staff has counted wrong you can raise this motion. Every country will be called up by Roll Call and the delegate has to say if he is in favour, against or abstaining but he does not have to explain his vote. This motion is just allowed for the whole resolution meaning it cannot be granted for amendments.
Motion to appeal against the decision of the Chair
A motion to appeal against the decision of the Chair can just pass with a two-third-majority of the House. You should raise this motion if you think that the Chair has decided wrongly but before raising this motion it is recommendable to raise a point of order.
Notepapers
As already mentioned it is prohibited to speak during formal debate. The only participants who are allowed to talk are the Chairs and the delegate who has the floor. If you want to communicate then you can write your message on a notepaper. You have to raise your notepaper and the Ad-Staff will bring it to the receiving delegate/Chair. You should design and bring your own notepaper to the conference. An example can be found in the annex.
It is not allowed to
a) pass notepapers to a delegate who is in another committee,
b) write in the notepapers something that has not to do with the debate or the
topic,
c) pass notepapers during voting procedures,
d) write notepapers which are not in the official language.
In special cases it is also allowed for delegates to send notepapers to their ambassador although he is in another committee. The notepaper has to be read and confirmed by one of the Chairs beforehand.
Eating and Drinking
During the debate it is prohibited to eat. Drinking is in order throughout the debate. Nevertheless, it is forbidden to drink alcohol.
Punctuality
The Chair will set the time when you will meet in the committee. During lobbying you are allowed to leave the room to go to the computer rooms but the Chair will set the time for the next Ad-Hoc meeting. You should be on time at every Ad-Hoc meeting and in the morning.
If you know that you will be late e.g. due to traffic you should send a message to the Chair.