Parliamentary Procedure

What is Parli Pro? A group of rules and customs used to give structure and organization to a committee Two major elements Points: Proposals that do not require voting Motions: Proposals that require voting Procedural: Not directly related to resolutions/amendments. Substantive: Directly related to resolutions/amendments.

Committee Timeline Please refer to your chart from Member Resource Packet Section D as we go along.

Roll Call Two acceptable responses Present: Must vote on all procedural motions. Present and voting: Must vote on all procedural and substantive motions.

Quorum After Roll Call, Chair will announce Simple majority 1/2 of committee +1 delegate Super majority 2/3 of committee +1 delegate Different motions have different requirements for the type of majority.

Points and Motions “Are there any points or motions on the floor?” Raise placards for points or motions Motion to Open Debate Motion to Open Speakers List (+ speaking time) Delegates wishing to speak will hold up their placard and be placed on the list When it’s his turn, each delegate will present his general position on the issue Delegates can be added to it throughout debate by sending a note to the chair

Points and Motions Continued Note: In 2-topic committees, there is a separate procedure for setting the agenda. Not needed for CHSMUNC. Some committees require a separate motion to set speaking time for speaker’s list. Before voting, 1 delegate speaks in favor, 1 against.

Yields At the end of your speech, “I yield my time…” To the Chair To another delegate Must specify whom That delegate cannot then yield his time To Points of Information (Questions from delegates)

Points Point… Of Parliamentary Procedure To ask the chair about a rule of procedure Of Order To note an error in parliamentary procedure committed by chair or another delegate The only point that can interrupt procedure

Points Continued Point… Of Information Initiated by a yield to points of information Chair recognizes questions Of Personal Privilege To notify Chair of a personal discomfort

Motions Motion… For a Moderated Caucus Used for structured debate about more specific issues within topic; a “break” from the speaker’s list Delegate specifies purpose of caucus, length of caucus, and speaking time Needs a simple majority to pass During a moderated caucus, delegates do NOT yield their time

Motions Continued Motion… For an Unmoderated Caucus Used for informal debate and discussion Delegate specifies purpose of caucus and length of caucus Delegates are allowed to leave their seats to talk to one another

Right of Reply In cases of false or malicious words against you as a delegate or country Submit a Right of Reply in writing to the chair, who will decide whether to grant you the Right (i.e. a short speech to defend yourself or your country)

Motions Motion… To Suspend the Meeting Used to end a committee session for break or lunch Needs simple majority to pass To Return to Debate After returning from break/lunch Afterward, roll call and quorum

Working Paper/Resolutions A Resolution is a set of formal solutions to the issue A Working Paper is a resolution that has not yet been formally introduced to the committee Elements of a Working Paper/Resolution Sponsors Delegates who actually wrote the words; Chair will usually limit to about 5 Signatories Delegates who want to see the paper debated Number of signatories needed is usually 1/5th of the committee

Working Paper/Resolutions When you are finished, submit working paper to the Chair Motion to Introduce Working Paper If passes, sponsors will read aloud in front of the committee Chair may allow time for questions

Amendments Amendments can alter wording in a submitted resolution Two types: Friendly An amendment agreed upon by all sponsors; must have all of their signatures Unfriendly An amendment not agreed upon by all sponsors, although must have a certain number of signatures from committee before being submitted Needs 2/3 majority to pass

Closing Debate & Moving into Voting Procedure Motion to Close Debate and Move into Voting Procedure 2 speakers for, 2 speakers against Need 2/3 majority to pass If pass, first vote on all unfriendly amendments

Dividing the Question Motion to Divide the Question If a delegate likes some parts of a resolution, but dislikes others, he can motion to have the resolution split into multiple resolutions Requires 2 speaker for and 2 speakers against If passes, delegates will specify which parts they want separated Each proposal will have 1 speaker for and 1 against; if passes, the separate parts will be voted on individually

Voting During voting, room must be locked; none may enter or leave Two Methods of Voting Raising one’s placard Roll call vote Upon a delegate’s request, chair can decide to entertain Going through roll, delegates can respond with: yes, no, abstain, yes/no with rights, or pass

End Motion to Adjourn

Some Notes Be flexible! Different committees have different specifics. Throughout the committee, you will be able to communicate with others via notes (usually transported by pages in larger committees)