UNIC’S

 MUN  Guide   1  
 

Rules  of  Procedure  

 
Rules   of   procedure   are   utilised   by   most   Model   UN   conferences   to   maintain   order   and   decorum  
by   deciding   who   speaks,   on   what   and   when.   This   is   essential   as   delegates   put   forth   their   points  
of   view   and   interact   with   other   States   on   lengthy   agendas.   However,   many   Model   UN  
simulations   have   evolved   to   follow   parliamentary   rules   of   procedure   which   do   not   accurately  
mirror   the   realities   of   the   proceedings   that   take   place   at   the   UN   General   Assembly.   In   an   effort  
to   bring   Model   UN   procedure   closer   to   the   actual   functioning   of   the   UN,   this   guide   hopes   to  
highlight   the   differences   in   procedure   between   MUNs   and   the   UN   and   clearly   lay   down  
procedures  to  follow  that  are  more  accurately  aligned  with  realities  of  UN  proceedings.  
 
An   international   conference   is   an   interaction   between   States   through   the   medium   of   the  
delegates,   who   act   as   representatives   of   States.   It   is   through   these   conversations,   primarily  
cooperative,  that  much  of  the  business  at  the  UN  progresses.  Rules  of  procedure  divide  these  
‘consultations’  into  two  kinds  of  discussion:  
 
Formal  Consultation  
During   formal   proceedings,   the   rules   of   procedure   are   observed   under   the   supervision   of   the  
committee   Chairperson.   Delegates,   during   this   time,   are   able   to   make   speeches,   answer  
questions,  introduce  and  debate  resolution  and  amendments.  The  purpose  of  these  rules  is  to  
ensure  that  only  one  delegate  speaks  at  any  given  time  and  to  allow  the  Chairperson  to  steer  
the  negotiations  in  a  constructive  direction.  
 
Informal  Consultation  
Delegates  are  in  consultation  with  each  other  from  the  moment  they  arrive  at  the  MUN  or  UN  
until  they  leave.  In  addition  to  the  order  of  business,  their  exchanges  may  be  social  or  to  pursue  
other   objectives.   This   is   the   type   of   consultation   that   takes   place   in   the   form   of   face-­‐to-­‐face  
conversations,  during  which  no  formal  rules  of  procedure  are  put  into  effect.    
 
At  MUN  simulations  in  the  past,  the  rules  of  procedure  have  figured  much  more  prominently  in  
the   proceedings   than   they   do   at   the   UN.  Part   of   the   reason   for   this   is   due   to   the   more   rigid  
parliamentary   rules   of   procedure   employed   at   MUNs.   Another   reason   for   this   is   that   the  
majority   of   the   proceedings   of   an   MUN   –   motion,   debate,   negotiation,   amendment   and  
resolution   –   take   place   during   formal   consultation,   highlighting   the   need   for   rules   of   procedure  
and  the  need  to  introduce  motions.  On  the  other  hand,  the  principal  mode  of  communication  
between   delegates   at   the   UN   is   through   face-­‐to-­‐face   informal   consultations;   therefore   the  
negotiation  process  does  not  rely  heavily  on  formal  proceedings.  Formal  processes  
at  the  UN  are  mainly  used  to  provide  a  context  for  informal  consultations  between  
delegations  and  to  formalise  agreements  previously  reached  during  these.      
 

   
 UNIC’S  MUN  Guide   3  
 
 
 

Flow  of  Debate:  UN  General  Assembly  Model  

  QUORUM  
  The  quorum,  or  number  of  member  states  who  need  to  be  present  for  the  meeting  to  open  is  one-­‐third  in  the  Plenary  and  one-­‐
  fourth  in  the  Main  Committee.  The  Chairperson  will  announce  each  country’s  name,  after  a  delegate  hears  their  country  called,  
they  should  answer  “present”.    
 
 
  THE  AGENDA  
The  provisional  agenda  shall  be  drawn  up  by  the  Secretary-­‐General  and  communicated  to  all  delegations  prior  to  the  start  of  the  
 
conference.  The  provisional  agenda  of  the  conference  will  include  relevant  documents  and  reports  as  well  as  the  order  in  which  the  
  issues   will   be   considered   at   the   conference.     The   second   topic   area   is   considered   only   after   the   committee   has   dealt   with   a  
  resolution  regarding  the  first  topic  area  or  tabled  the  topic.  
 
  DEBATE  
 
 
  INFORMAL  CONSULTATION:  
  Although   ‘caucus’   types   of   meeting   do   occur,   this  
parliamentary  terminology  is  not  used  at  the  UN.  
 
SPEAKERS  LIST  (FORMAL  DEBATE)    
   
 
  The  Speaker’s  List  may  be  drawn  up  based  on  delegates’     Formal  Informal  
  messages   from   delegates   in   advance   of   the   conference.    A   formal   informal   consultation   is   a   mixture   of   both  
Alternatively,   the   Chairperson   will   ask   all   of   those   formal  and  informal  debate.  When  a  motion  to  suspend  
 
delegates  who  would  like  to  make  a  speech  and  to  be  on   the   meeting   for   a   formal   informal   is   passed,   the   Chair  
  the  speakers  list  to  raise  their  placards.  The  Chairperson   calls   upon   delegates   as   they   raise   their   placards   to  
  will  then  choose  delegates  to  be  placed  on  the  speakers   address  the  committee  for  a  specific  amount  of  time.  
  list.   After   a   country   has   spoken,   they   may   be   added   on    
the   speakers   list   again   by   sending   a   note   to   the  
 
Chairperson   saying:   “the   delegation   of   (country   name)   Informal  Informal  
would  like  to  be  added  to  the  speakers  list”.     An  informal  informal  consultation  is  a  temporary  recess,  
 
If   no   motions   are   made,   the   default   time   will   be     during   which   rules   of   procedure   are   suspended.   During  
this  time  delegates  can  meet  informally  with  each  other  
mentioned  in  the  Programme  of  Work,  usually  set  at  90     and  the  committee  staff  to  discuss  draft  resolutions  and  
seconds.   When   the   committee   is   in   formal   debate   all   other  issues.    
rules  of  procedure  are  enforced.        
 
 
Draft  Resolutions  
    Delegations   work   together   to   create   resolutions.   In  
  addition,   delegates   may   present   amendments   to   these  
documents,  which  are  changes  to  draft  resolutions.      
END  OF  SPEAKERS’  LIST      
With   the   permission   of   the   representatives   present,   the  
President/Chairperson   may   declare   the   list   closed.   The  
 
CLOSURE  OF  DEBATE  
President/Chairperson   may   however   accord   the   right   of     Once   a   delegate   feels   that   they   have   made   their  
reply   to   any   member   if   a   speech   delivered   after   the   closing  
of  the  list  makes  this  desirable.     country’s  position  clear  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.    
 
 
  BY  CONSENSUS    
ADOPTION  
Delegates  should  work  with  the  Bureau  to  make  decisions  by  consensus,  after  which  the  Chair  makes  a  statement  and  forwards  
the  resolution  to  the  Plenary.  In  the  case  that  consensus  cannot  be  achieved,  once  a  motion  to  close  debate  has  been  approved,  
the  committee  moves  into  voting  procedures.  Amendments  are  voted  upon  first,  then  resolutions.  Once  the  resolution  is  voted  
  upon,  the  committee  can  move  to  the  next  t  opic  on  the  agenda.    
4   Rules  of  Procedure  
 
 
Rules  of  Procedure  
 
 
I. OPENING  THE  DEBATE  
 
1. Setting  The  Agenda:  
 
Rule  1:  The  provisional  agenda  for  the  conference  shall  be  drawn  up  by  the  Secretary-­‐  
General   and   communicated   to   all   delegations   at   least   two   months   before   the   start   of  
the  conference.    
 
Rule  2:  The  provisional  agenda  of  the  conference  shall  include:  
a) Reports  on  the  themes  selected  for  each  conference;  and,  
b) All  items  which  the  Secretary-­‐General  deems  necessary  to  put  before  
the  delegations;  
c) The  order  in  which  issues  will  be  considered  in  the  meeting.  
Rule  3:  At  each  conference,  the  provisional  agenda  shall  be  submitted  to  the  meeting  for  
approval  during  the  opening  session.    
 
2. Minute  of  silent  prayer  or  meditation:  
 
Rule  4:  Immediately  after  the  opening  of  the  first  meeting  and  preceding  the  closing  of  
the  final  meeting,  the  President/Chairperson  shall  invite  the  representatives  to  observe  
one  minute  of  silent  prayer  or  meditation.    
 
II. CONDUCT  OF  BUSINESS  
 
3. Speeches:  
 
                       Rule  5:  No  representative  may  address  the  meeting  without  having  previously  obtained  
permission   of   the   President/Chairperson.   The   President/Chairperson   shall   call   upon  
speakers  in  the  order  in  which  they  signify  their  desire  to  speak  after  adding  them  to  the  
Speaker’s   List.   The   President/Chairperson   may   call   out   a   speaker   if   his   or   her   remarks  
are  not  relevant  to  the  subject  under  discussion.    
 
4. Time  Limit  on  Speeches:  
 
Rule  6:  The  meeting  may  limit  the  time  to  be  allowed  to  each  speaker  and  the  number  
of  times  each  representative  may  speak  on  any  question.  Before  a  decision  is  taken,  
two   representatives   may   speak   in   favour   of,   and   two   against   a   proposal   to   set   a   time  
limit   which   will   then   be   put   to   vote.   When   the   debate   is   limited   and   a   representative  

 
 UNIC’S  MUN  Guide   5  
 
exceeds   his   or   her   allotted   time,   the   President/Chairperson   shall   call   the   speaker   to  
order  without  delay.    
 
5. Points  of  Order:  
 
Rule  7:  During  the  discussion  of  any  matter,  a  representative  may  raise  a  ‘point  of  order’  
if   the   delegate   believes   that   the   President/Chairperson   is   not   following   the   Rules   of  
Procedure  or  not  being  sufficiently  active  in  ensuring  that  other  representatives  do  so.  
The   point   of   order   shall   be   immediately   ruled   on   by   the   President/Chairperson   in  
accordance   with   the   rules   of   procedure.   If   a   delegate   feels   that   the   ruling   of   the  
President/Chairperson  is  incorrect,  they  may  appeal  against  the  ruling.  The  appeal  is  put  
to   a   vote   and   the   decision   of   the   President/Chairperson   could   be   overruled   by   a  
majority  of  the  members  present  and  voting.    
 
• There   is   a   widely   used   convention   for   signaling   to   the   President/Chairman  
that  the  reason  that  the  delegate  is  asking  for  the  floor  is  to  raise  a  ‘point  of  
order’  rather  than  simply  to  be  put  on  the  Speaker’s  List,  the  delegate  makes  
a  ‘T’  with  their  hand  and  placard.    
 
6. Closing  of  List  of  Speakers;  Right  to  Reply:  
 
Rule  8:  During  the  course  of  the  debate,  the  President/Chairperson  may  announce  the  
list  of  speakers  and,  with  the  permission  of  the  representatives  present,  declare  the  list  
closed.   The   president/Chairperson   may   however   accord   the   right   of   reply   to   any  
member  if  a  speech  delivered  after  the  closing  of  the  list  makes  this  desirable.  Right  of  
reply  is  not  used  under  any  other  circumstances.  
 
III. MOTIONS  
 
7. Suspension  of  Meeting:    
 
Rule  9:  The  meeting  may  be  suspended  for  a  limited  amount  of  time  upon  request  by  a  
representative  or  the  President/Chairperson.  Such  matters  will  not  be  debated  but  will  
immediately  be  put  to  a  vote.  A  suspended  meeting  is  resumed  on  the  same  day.  This  
motion  is  used  to  break  for  informal  consultations,  and  for  lunch  and  tea  breaks.  
 
8. Adjournment  of  Meeting:  
 
Rule   10:   During   the   discussion   of   any   matter,   a   representative   may   motion   for   the  
adjournment  of  the  meeting.  Such  motions  will  not  be  debated  but  immediately  put  to  a  
vote.  Any  continued  consideration  of  an  item  on  the  agenda  will  take  place  at  
another  meeting  on  another  day.  This  motion  can  be  used  at  the  end  of  the  
day.  
 

   
6   Rules  of  Procedure  
 
 
 
 
 
 
9. Adjournment  of  Debate:  
 
Rule  11:  During  the  discussion  of  any  matter,  a  representative  may  propose  the  motion  
to  adjourn  the  debate  on  the  item  under  discussion.  In  addition  to  the  proposer  of  the  
motion,   two   representatives   may   speak   for   the   motion   and   two   representatives   may  
speak   against,   after   which   the   proposal   will   be   put   to   a   vote.   Adjournment   of   debate  
ends  parts  or  all  of  the  agenda  item  being  discussed  during  the  conference.  This  can  be  
used  to  block  action  on  specific  draft  resolution  and  is  known  as  a  ‘no-­‐action  motion’.    
 
10. Closure  of  Debate:  
 
Rule   12:   A   representative   may   at   any   time   motion   for   the   closure   of   debate   on   the   item  
under  discussion,  whether  or  not  the  representative  has  signified  their  wish  to  speak.   A  
representative  can  motion  for  this  after  they  feel  that  sufficient  progress  has  been  made  
on   draft   resolutions,   and   they   are   ready   to   be   adopted   by   consensus,   or   to   be   forced   to  
a  vote.  Permission  to  speak  on  the  closure  of  the  debate  shall  be  accorded  only  to  two  
speakers  opposing  the  closure,  after  which  the  motion  shall  be  immediately  put  to  vote.  
If   the   meeting   votes   in   favour   of   this   motion,   the   President/Chairperson   shall   declare  
the  closure  of  the  debate.    
 
11. Order  of  Procedural  Motions:  
 
Rule   13:   Subject   to   Rule   8,   the   motions   indicated   below   shall   have   precedence   in   the  
following  order  over  all  the  other  procedures  or  motions  in  the  meeting:  
a) To  suspend  the  meeting;  
b) To  adjourn  the  meeting;  
c) To  adjourn  debate  on  the  item  under  discussion;  
d) To  close  debate  on  the  item  under  discussion.  
 
IV. DRAFT  RESOLUTIONS  
 
12. Tabling  Draft  Resolution:    
 
Rule   14:   Any   member   state   may   submit   a   draft   resolution   to   the   Secretary   for   which   no  
minimum   percentage   of   support   is   required.   However   since   resolutions   are   aimed   to   be  
adopted   by   consensus,   it   is   advised   that   representatives   build   multilateral   support  
before  tabling  draft  resolutions.    
 
 

 
 UNIC’S  MUN  Guide   7  
 
13. Proposals  and  Amendments:    
 
Rule   15:   Proposals   and   amendments   on   a   tabled   draft   resolution/decisions   shall   be  
submitted  are  either  formally  submitted  in  writing  to  Secretary,  issued  as  ‘L-­‐documents’  
or  proposed  orally  from  the  floor,  if  no  member  objects.    
 
Rule  16:  When  an  amendment  is  moved  to  a  proposal,  the  amendment  shall  be  voted  
on   first.   When   two   or   more   amendments   are   moved   to   a   proposal,   the   committee   shall  
first  vote  on  the  amendment  furthest  removed  in  substance  from  the  original  proposal  
and  then  on  the  amendment  next  furthest  removed  therefrom,  and  so  on  until  all  the  
amendments   have   been   put   to   the   vote.   Where,   however,   the   adoption   of   one  
amendment   necessarily   implies   the   rejection   of   another   amendment,   the   latter  
amendment  shall  not  be  put  to  the  vote.  If  one  or  more  amendments  are  adopted,  the  
amended  proposal  shall  then  be  considered  or  voted  upon.  A  motion  is  considered  an  
amendment   to   a   proposal   if   it   merely   adds   to,   deletes   from   or   revises   part   of   the  
proposal.    
 
Rule  17:  A  member  can  request  division  of  proposals,  i.e.  a  separate  vote  on  paragraphs  
or   parts   of   the   draft   resolution   or   amendment   before   the   adoption   of   the   whole   text.  
This   applies   to   parts   of   a   paragraph,   an   entire   paragraph   or   several   paragraphs.   If   the  
request   is   challenged,   there   will   be   a   vote   to   decide   whether   the   proposal   can   be  
divided  such  that  the  paragraph(s)  can  be  voted  on  separately  to  the  rest  of  the  draft  
resolution.  After  two  delegates  each  have  spoken  for  and  against  the  request,  there  will  
be  a  vote  based  on  simple  majority.  If  by  majority,  the  request  is  passed,  immediately  
after   the   voting   on   the   paragraph,   the   entire   draft   resolution   will   be   considered.   If   all  
operative  parts  of  the  proposal  or  of  the  amendment  have  been  rejected,  the  proposal  
or  the  amendment  shall  be  considered  to  have  been  rejected  as  a  whole.  
 
 
14. Voting  on  draft  resolution:  
 
Rule  18:  It  is  assumed  that  draft  resolutions  will  be  adopted  by  consensus  and  therefore  
shall   not   require   voting.   However,   in   the   event   that   the   draft   resolution   cannot   be  
accepted  by  consensus,  the  meeting  will  go  into  a  vote.    
 
Rule   19:   If   all   operative   paragraphs   of   a   draft   resolution   are   rejected,   the   draft  
resolution  will  be  considered  rejected  as  a  whole.  
 
V. VOTING  
 
15. Voting  Rights:  
 
Rule  19:  Each  member  state  of  the  meeting  shall  have  one  vote.  
 

   
8   Rules  of  Procedure  
 
16. Majority  Required:  
 
Rule   20:   Decisions   of   the   General   Assembly   meeting   shall   be   made   by   a   simple   majority  
of   the   members   present   and   voting,   except   on   important   questions   including    
recommendations  with  respect  to  the  maintenance  of  international  peace  and  security,  
the  suspension  of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  membership,  the  expulsion  of  Members,  
and  budgetary  questions.  This  applies  to  both  draft  resolutions  and  amendments.  
 
17. Method  of  voting:  
 
Rule   22:   The   meeting   shall   normally   vote   by   a   show   of   hands   or   by   standing   but   any  
representative   may   request   a   roll-­‐call   vote.   The   roll-­‐call   will   be   taken   in   alphabetical  
order,  and  when  called,  the  representative  shall  answer  “yes”,  “no”  or  “abstention”.  
 
18. Conduct  during  voting:  
 
Rule   23:   After   the   President/Chairperson   has   announced   the   beginning   of   voting,   no  
delegate   shall   interrupt   the   voting   unless   on   a   point   of   order   in   connection   with   the  
actual   voting   procedure.   The   President/Chairperson   may   permit   members   to   explain  
their  vote  either  before  or  after  the  voting.  The  time  given  for  these  explanations  may  
be  limited  by  the  President/Chairperson.  The  President/Chairperson  shall  not  permit  the  
proposer  of  an  amendment  to  explain  his  vote  on  his  own  proposal  or  amendment.  
 
19. Equally  divided  votes:  
 
Rule  24:  If  a  vote  is  equally  divided  on  any  matter,  the  President/Chairman  shall  decide  
if   a   second   vote   shall   be   taken.   If   the   second   vote   also   results   in   an   equally   divided  
situation,  the  proposal  shall  be  regarded  as  rejected.