Vocabulary and definitions
Main-Submitter: A main-submitter is usually the first author and ambassador of a resolution. Whenever there are any questions concerning the resolution the main-submitter is the contact person. If the resolution is debated the main-submitter has the following duties:
- He reads out the operative clauses
- He is the first one to deliver a speech in favour of the resolution
- In an case of an friendly amendment the main-submitter has to agree on it
- He has the opportunity the deliver a final speech after the voting procedure.
Co-Submitter: A co-submitter do not have to agree with all operative/preamble clauses. To co-submit a resolution means to agree the debate of the resolution.
The Chair can call up every co-submitter to deliver a speech in regard to the resolution. In order to become a co-submitter you have to fill in the co-submitter sheet. Each resolution needs a minimum amount of Co-Submitters. Without them it is not possible to send the resolution to the Approval Panel.
Ambassador: The Ambassador is the first contact person of a country. He has to deliver a speech during the Opening Ceremony. Further the Ambassador can be called up into a committee if there are any questions in which the country is involved. Further, he can send notepapers to the other members of his delegations and receive notepapers by them.
Forum: Forum is another word of your committee/council/commission. It is mentioned in a resolution.
Amendment: If you are not confident with the resolution but agree with the resolution all in all, you can propose an amendment. In order to write an amendment you tell an Ad- Staff to give you can amendment sheet. When you have written the amendment you call an Ad-Staff again and he will give it to the Co-Chair. He will check it and either grant it or not. After you proposed your amendment you have wait for the floor to be open. Then you have to raise your placard and ask whether your amendment is in order or not. An Amendment is debated the following way:
The Co-Chair reads out the amendment
The Chair sets the debating time
The Main-Submitter of the amendment has the floor and delivers his speech
Everybody can speak in favour of the amendment
Everybody can speak against the amendment
Voting procedures
If you or another delegate is still not confident with the amendment you/he/she can make an amendment to the amendment. It has the same procedures as an amendment.
But remember: If the amendment to the amendment passes, the whole amendment passes.
If not, you're back in the discussion if the amendment. Only amendments of first- and second- degree are allowed.
Further, you can propose a friendly amendment which means that you have found a mistake (spelling or grammar) which doesn't change the sense of the sentence.
Resolution: The resolution is a document in which the UN enacts the next steps concerning a topic. A resolution has a strict form and is written in formal language.
To have the floor: In order to deliver speech you have to have the floor. That means that you stand in front of the house. The delegate who has the floor is the only one who is allowed to talk.
If you finished your speech and there are no points of information left, the Chair asks you to yield the floor back to the Chair. Therefore, you say: “I yield the floor back to the Chair”. If you don't, the Chair will remind you as long as you haven't yielded the floor back.
You can also ask the Chair if you are allowed to yield the floor to another delegate. He will usually grant it.
To be in favour/ against, to abstain: In a voting procedure the Chair asks you to vote either in favour, against or abstain. “To be in favour” means that you agree with the proposed amendment/ resolution. “To be against” means that you disagree.
If you abstain you are neither against nor in favour. It is also possible to abstain if you're not 100% agreeing with the resolution/ amendment, but also do not want to vote against because you basically agree with the resolution/ amendment.
To second/ to object: If someone has proposed a motion it has to be seconded at least twice. To second a motion means that you agree with the motion and you want it to be implemented.
If you object a motion you are against the motion and you think it is unnecessary.
NGO/IGO: Non-Governmental Organizations and Inter-Governmental Organizations are organizations which do not have the same rights like countries. They can take part at the conference e.g. as observers. Then, they are not allowed to vote at resolutions but at amendments. They can also act as main- submitters or co- submitters. Popular NGOs and IGOs are: Holy Sea, WHO, Greenpeace etc.
House: “The house” are all delegates except for the one that has the floor. Chairs and Ad- Staffs are not included in the house.
Ad-hoc meeting: Ad-hoc meetings are taken place during Lobbying. The Chair announces the time when everybody has to be back after every meeting. In an Ad-hoc meeting the Chair asks the main-submitters about their resolutions, hands out the Lunch Tickets or announces events.
It is absolute important that you are punctual at every Ad-hoc meeting so you don't miss important dates. If you still have to work on your resolution (print it out, get it from the Approval Panel), you tell it your Chairs and you are usually dismissed.
Main-Submitter: A main-submitter is usually the first author and ambassador of a resolution. Whenever there are any questions concerning the resolution the main-submitter is the contact person. If the resolution is debated the main-submitter has the following duties:
- He reads out the operative clauses
- He is the first one to deliver a speech in favour of the resolution
- In an case of an friendly amendment the main-submitter has to agree on it
- He has the opportunity the deliver a final speech after the voting procedure.
Co-Submitter: A co-submitter do not have to agree with all operative/preamble clauses. To co-submit a resolution means to agree the debate of the resolution.
The Chair can call up every co-submitter to deliver a speech in regard to the resolution. In order to become a co-submitter you have to fill in the co-submitter sheet. Each resolution needs a minimum amount of Co-Submitters. Without them it is not possible to send the resolution to the Approval Panel.
Ambassador: The Ambassador is the first contact person of a country. He has to deliver a speech during the Opening Ceremony. Further the Ambassador can be called up into a committee if there are any questions in which the country is involved. Further, he can send notepapers to the other members of his delegations and receive notepapers by them.
Forum: Forum is another word of your committee/council/commission. It is mentioned in a resolution.
Amendment: If you are not confident with the resolution but agree with the resolution all in all, you can propose an amendment. In order to write an amendment you tell an Ad- Staff to give you can amendment sheet. When you have written the amendment you call an Ad-Staff again and he will give it to the Co-Chair. He will check it and either grant it or not. After you proposed your amendment you have wait for the floor to be open. Then you have to raise your placard and ask whether your amendment is in order or not. An Amendment is debated the following way:
The Co-Chair reads out the amendment
The Chair sets the debating time
The Main-Submitter of the amendment has the floor and delivers his speech
Everybody can speak in favour of the amendment
Everybody can speak against the amendment
Voting procedures
If you or another delegate is still not confident with the amendment you/he/she can make an amendment to the amendment. It has the same procedures as an amendment.
But remember: If the amendment to the amendment passes, the whole amendment passes.
If not, you're back in the discussion if the amendment. Only amendments of first- and second- degree are allowed.
Further, you can propose a friendly amendment which means that you have found a mistake (spelling or grammar) which doesn't change the sense of the sentence.
Resolution: The resolution is a document in which the UN enacts the next steps concerning a topic. A resolution has a strict form and is written in formal language.
To have the floor: In order to deliver speech you have to have the floor. That means that you stand in front of the house. The delegate who has the floor is the only one who is allowed to talk.
If you finished your speech and there are no points of information left, the Chair asks you to yield the floor back to the Chair. Therefore, you say: “I yield the floor back to the Chair”. If you don't, the Chair will remind you as long as you haven't yielded the floor back.
You can also ask the Chair if you are allowed to yield the floor to another delegate. He will usually grant it.
To be in favour/ against, to abstain: In a voting procedure the Chair asks you to vote either in favour, against or abstain. “To be in favour” means that you agree with the proposed amendment/ resolution. “To be against” means that you disagree.
If you abstain you are neither against nor in favour. It is also possible to abstain if you're not 100% agreeing with the resolution/ amendment, but also do not want to vote against because you basically agree with the resolution/ amendment.
To second/ to object: If someone has proposed a motion it has to be seconded at least twice. To second a motion means that you agree with the motion and you want it to be implemented.
If you object a motion you are against the motion and you think it is unnecessary.
NGO/IGO: Non-Governmental Organizations and Inter-Governmental Organizations are organizations which do not have the same rights like countries. They can take part at the conference e.g. as observers. Then, they are not allowed to vote at resolutions but at amendments. They can also act as main- submitters or co- submitters. Popular NGOs and IGOs are: Holy Sea, WHO, Greenpeace etc.
House: “The house” are all delegates except for the one that has the floor. Chairs and Ad- Staffs are not included in the house.
Ad-hoc meeting: Ad-hoc meetings are taken place during Lobbying. The Chair announces the time when everybody has to be back after every meeting. In an Ad-hoc meeting the Chair asks the main-submitters about their resolutions, hands out the Lunch Tickets or announces events.
It is absolute important that you are punctual at every Ad-hoc meeting so you don't miss important dates. If you still have to work on your resolution (print it out, get it from the Approval Panel), you tell it your Chairs and you are usually dismissed.