UPDATED: October 13TH, 2019

TRITONMUN XX
RULES OF PROCEDURE

MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO

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TRITONMUN RULES OF PROCEDURE

Adopted Monday, October 13th, 2019
A. General Rules
1. Exceptions: Rules of Procedure may change at the discretion of the Committee
Chairs and the Upper Secretariat who will be required to communicate such
changes to all affected delegates.
2. Staff Powers: The Secretary-General will open and close the conference during
formal ceremonies. Members of the Upper Secretariat will also supervise
members of the Secretariat and conference staff throughout the conference. Head
and Vice Chairs will declare the opening and closing of all committee sessions,
rule on points and motions, moderate debate, and choose committee award
recipients. Chairs will have the power to rule a motion “dilatory” based on its
level of disruptiveness to the committee proceedings. The Upper Secretariat and
additional conference staff members will oversee activities outside of debate.
3. Language: English is the official working language of the conference.
4. Attendance: Registered delegates are required to attend all committee sessions
unless a written request is submitted to the delegate’s Committee Chairs and is
approved by that delegate’s advisor. Admittance into the conference is subject to
the delegation’s submittal of the required fees and registration forms by or before
the due date.
5. Courtesy: Exemplifying courteous and diplomatic behavior to the Secretariat,
advisors, and delegates is an absolute expectation of TritonMUN participants.
Failure to comply may result in Committee Chairs or Upper Secretariat members
invoking a call to order. In extreme cases, the TritonMUN Secretariat reserves the
right to expel delegates from their committee room.
6. Attire: Delegates are highly encouraged to wear Western Business Attire. Any
exceptions must be brought to the attention of the Secretary-General or an
authorized member of the Upper Secretariat by an advisor. Exceptions will not be
considered for a country’s national dress, or any other large deviation from
Western Business Attire.
7. Credentials: Delegates are required to wear credentials at all times. Credentials
will be issued to the advisor of each delegation upon arrival at the conference.
8. Quorum: At least 50% of the TritonMUN Secretariat-assigned voting members
within a committee must be present for debate to be declared open.
9. Electronic Devices: Laptops and tablets may be used in committee at the
discretion of the Head Chair. Rarely will Chairs allow electronics without a
suspension of the rules. If a delegate does not have access to the aforementioned
devices, phones will be accepted, with prior notification given to the Committee
Chairs or Upper Secretariat. Delegates must use electronics appropriately.
Electronics which are not used appropriately will be confiscated by the Secretariat
and given to the delegate’s advisor. Delegates may retrieve their electronics at the
discretion of their advisor after the committee session has been suspended.
10. Position Papers: Delegates are required to submit a position paper per committee
topic in order to qualify to win most committee awards. Position papers should
explain the topic background, past international actions, national policy, and
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possible solutions. Position papers must be submitted by or before the deadline to
the appropriate link/email.
11. Awards: Committee awards will be decided upon by the dais. Awards will be
given on the basis of topic knowledge and understanding (including position
paper work), diplomatic skill, and committee insight. TritonMUN awards the
following awards to delegates: Best Delegate (Gavel), Outstanding Delegate(s),
Honorable Mention(s), and Research Award(s). TritonMUN awards the following
awards to teams: Best Large Delegation Award, Outstanding Large Delegation
Award, Best Small Delegation Award, Outstanding Small Delegation Award, and
Honorable Mention Delegation Awards. All awards are presented during the
Closing Ceremony of the conference.
B. Debate Procedure
1. Roll Call: The Rapporteur will conduct roll call at the beginning of each
committee session. They may, at their discretion, conduct a roll call at any point
during formal debate. Delegates may announce themselves as “present” or
“present and voting”.
i. Present: Delegates declaring themselves “present” announce their
intention to participate in committee and indicate their nation’s concern
for the issues at hand.
ii. Present and Voting: Delegates declaring themselves “present and voting”
indicate that the issues at hand are ones of grave concern to their state.
Delegates who announce themselves as “present and voting” deliberately
forfeit their right to abstain on any substantive measures put to a vote.
2. Setting the Agenda: Committees that have multiple numbered agenda topics (as
per the Background Guide) are required to order the agenda at the beginning of
formal debate.
i. Delegates may suggest a preferred Agenda order when Motioning to Order
the Agenda (C 7). Enough motions to exhaust the combinations of topics
will be accepted by the Chair. The committee will then vote on the
motions on the floor in the order they were received. The first motion to
be passed by a majority of the committee will be regarded as the Order of
Agenda.
3. Speaker’s List: After setting the agenda, the Chair will open the floor to a Motion
to Set the Speaker’s List. After the motion passes, delegates will be able to add
their countries to the Speaker’s List. The Speaker’s List will be active when the
committee is in formal debate without a moderated caucus, unmoderated caucus,
or other procedural motion.
i. Speaking time will be set at a standard one minute unless otherwise
amended by delegates. Chair discretion will be honored if any of the
speaking times are ruled dilatory. These time limitations shall not undercut
a minimum of thirty seconds nor exceed a maximum of two minutes for
General Assembly Committees or three minutes for Specialized
Committees.
4. Speeches: Following the order prescribed by the Speaker's List, delegates will be
recognized by the Chair and will be permitted to speak on the issue at hand within
the time prescribed (see B 3 i).
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i. Comments: Delegates may wish to comment on speeches after a speaker
has yielded their time to the floor. Commenting delegates are chosen at the
Chair’s discretion. Commenting delegates should refer specifically to the
previous delegate’s speech and should not offer their own speech.
1. Change Number: The number of comments permitted after a
speaker yields to the floor may be changed at any time by moving
to do so and successfully attaining a simple majority of the
committee. If comments are allowed, the default number of
comments is two for General Assembly Committees and three for
Specialized Committees. A motion to change the number of
comments to zero will be considered a Motion to Disallow
Comments (C 10).
2. Change Time: The duration permitted for each comment may be
modified at any time by motion, contingent upon its reception by a
simple majority. Default comment time is thirty seconds for
General Assembly Committees and forty-five seconds for
Specialized Committees. The Chair will use the default times
unless amended by the committee.
ii. Questions: Delegates may wish to question the speaker after yielding their
time to points of information or questions. Delegates with questions are
chosen at the Chair’s discretion.
1. The response time for a question will be counted against the
speaking time. Questions may be asked until the speaker has
exhausted their time. Questions must not be of excessive length
(determined at Chair’s discretion).
5. Moderated Caucus: A moderated caucus may be used to address a specific topic
and direct the focus of the content of debate. Moderated caucuses must be for a
specific topic, with a specific duration, and with a specific individual speaking
time.
i. Extension: A delegate can motion for an extension of a moderated caucus
after the caucus expires and the Chair opens the floor to any points or
motions. By a simple majority, a moderated caucus may be extended, after
which no additional extensions will be considered. The extension may not
be for longer than half of the initial time. Extensions may not alter
individual speaking times or the specific topic.
ii. Consultation of the Whole: When delegates wish to gauge opinions of the
entire committee, they may call for a Consultation of the Whole. Should
the motion pass by a simple majority, the entire committee will be
afforded time to speak on the designated issue.
1. The motioning delegate must specify both the topic and the
speaking time.
2. Delegates desiring to do so may forfeit their time by saying “pass”
when called upon.
3. The motioning delegate must specify which manner shall be used
for choosing speakers: alphabetical order, seating order, or
alternating caucus order.
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iii. Delegates must address the topic of the moderated caucus during their
speeches. Any speech not on the topic will be ruled Out of Order by the
Chair.
6. Informal or Unmoderated Caucus: Unmoderated caucuses are an opportunity for
delegates to discuss events in committee without the structure of formal debate.
When motioning to enter unmoderated caucus, delegates must offer the duration.
This duration is subject to approval by the dais before it may be voted upon by the
committee. During unmoderated caucus, delegates may move and speak freely
throughout the room. However, when unmoderated caucuses end delegates will be
expected to move quickly and quietly to their seats.
i. Extension: A delegate can motion for an extension of an unmoderated
caucus after the caucus expires and the Chair opens the floor to any points
or motions. By a simple majority, an unmoderated caucus may be
extended by a set time, after which no additional extensions will be
considered.
7. Presentation of Draft Resolutions (Formal Caucus): After working papers have
been submitted to the dais for its review, they are reclassified as draft resolutions.
These draft resolutions are then presented to the committee in Formal Caucus.
During formal caucus, the draft resolutions will be displayed and presented to the
committee by representatives from the draft resolution’s sponsors. The Motion to
Present Draft Resolutions must include the times for presentations and for a
question and answer period. Delegates with questions are chosen at the Chair’s
discretion.
C. Points and Motions
1. Quorum: Quorum will be considered met when at least 50% of the assigned
voting members are present. Specialized Committees will meet quorum if at least
one representative from 50% of the assigned voting delegations are present.
2. Motion to Open Formal Debate: When quorum is met and the committee believes
that formal debate on the matter at hand should begin, a Motion to Open Formal
Debate will be in order. The motion passes with a simple majority.
3. Motion to Close Formal Debate: When the committee believes that formal debate
over the matter at hand has culminated (or when the committee runs out of time),
a Motion to Close Formal Debate will be in order. After two speakers for the
motion and two speakers against the motion have spoken, the committee may pass
the motion with a simple majority.
4. Point of Personal Privilege: In the event that a delegate faces a condition in which
they feel uncomfortable in the committee room or are unable to hear a speaker,
they will be able to interrupt the speaker to express a Point of Personal Privilege.
5. Point of Order: If a delegate observes an incorrect use of these Rules of
Procedure, they may call a Point of Order to correct the error. Points of Order
should not be used to interrupt a speaker unless the speech directly violates the
Rules of Procedure.
6. Point of Inquiry: Delegates that have a question for the Chair regarding
procedural matters should raise a Point of Inquiry. The Chair will answer the
question to the best of their ability.
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7. Order the Agenda: Once quorum is met and the committee enters formal debate,
delegates will move to order the agenda, assuming the committee is hosting
multiple topics.
i. All agenda topics will be regarded by the entire committee.
ii. The Chair will choose how many permutations of the agenda are
proposed. Once the Chair has recorded all possible proposed orders,
delegates will vote on the options in the order in which they were
received.
iii. A simple majority of votes allocated to an order will automatically be
adopted. Any proceeding orders will be disregarded.
8. Open Substantive Debate: When the committee believes that substantive debate
over a selected agenda topic should begin, a Motion to Open Substantive Debate
will be in order. The motion passes with a simple majority.
9. Motion to Open/Close/Re-Open the Speaker’s List: After opening substantive
debate, delegates will be invited to move to open the Speaker’s List.
Subsequently, the Chair will request that any delegates that would like to be
added to the Speaker’s List raise their placards. The Chair will add the delegates
to the Speaker’s List in an unbiased procedure. The Speaker’s List will activate in
descending order once the committee enters substantive debate without an
interrupting motion. If the Speaker’s List is exhausted, substantive debate is
automatically closed, and the committee will enter voting bloc. Closing the
Speaker’s List simply means that no more delegates may be added to the
Speaker’s List, and this motion may be reversed by a Motion to Re-Open the
Speaker’s List. After resuming debate from a different motion, it will
automatically restart if there are no other points or motions on the floor.
i. The content of speeches should be relevant to the regarded topic at all
times.
ii. Speaking time will be set to the rules stated in B 3 i.
10. Motion to Allow/Disallow Comments/Questions: When the Speaker’s List is first
opened, delegates will vote on whether to allow or disallow comments/questions
on speeches. At any time during which the Speaker’s List is active and
comments/questions are allowed, delegates may Motion to Disallow
Comments/Questions. However, if comments/questions are disallowed, they
cannot be allowed again for the duration of that Speaker’s List.
11. Motion to be Added to/Removed from the Speaker’s List: Delegates may send a
note to the dais requesting to be added to or removed from the Speaker’s List.
Delegates may not be added if the Speaker’s List is closed.
12. Suspend Debate: Delegates who wish to halt all committee functions until the
next session of the same day may Motion to Suspend Debate.
13. Adjourn Debate: At the end of a day’s final session, delegates may Motion to
Adjourn Debate within their committee.
14. Close Substantive Debate: When the committee believes the agenda topic has
reached its conclusion, a Motion to Close Substantive Debate will be in order.
After hearing from two speakers for the motion and two speakers against the
motion and a simple majority passes the motion, the committee will move into
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voting procedure on the matter, as closing substantive debate includes terminating
the Speaker’s List and thus moving into voting bloc.
15. Right of Reply: In the event that a delegate receives an excessively abusive
remark in the form of a public announcement, a delegate can appeal for a Right of
Reply. This must be submitted to the dais as a written note and will be processed
solely at the Chair’s discretion.
16. Points and Motions Precedence:

Points and Motions Rule Debatable

Quorum C1 No
Open Formal Debate C2 No
Point of Personal Privilege C4 No
Point of Order C5 No
Point of Inquiry C6 No
Close Formal Debate C3 2 for 2 against
Order the Agenda C7 No
Open Substantive Debate C8 No
Open/Close/Re-Open the Speaker’s List C9 No
Allow/Disallow Comments/Questions C 10 2 for 2 against
Added/Removed on the Speaker’s List C 11 No
Right of Reply C 15 No
Close Substantive Debate C 14 2 for 2 against
Adjourn Debate C 13 No
Suspend Debate C 12 No
Extend Previous Caucus B 5/6 i No
Informal/Unmoderated Caucus B6 No
Moderated Caucus B5 No
Consultation of the Whole B 5 ii No
Present Draft Resolutions (Formal Caucus) B7 No
Change Speaking Time B3i No
Change the Number of Comments B4i1 No
Change Comment Time B4i2 No
Introduction of a Working Paper D 2 ii No
Introduction of an Unfriendly Amendment D 3 ii 2 No
Enter Voting Bloc E2i 2 for 2 against
Exit Voting Bloc E 2 vi No
Reorder Draft Resolutions E1 No
Divide the Question E2v No
Roll Call Vote E 2 iii No
Adopt by Acclamation E 2 iv By Objection

D. Working Papers, Draft Resolutions, and Amendments

1. Working Papers: Serve as a description of possible solutions to the current topic.
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[Link] papers are in no capacity official papers.
[Link] papers have no formalized formatting requirements.
[Link] are not required for working papers.
iv. The dais will specify the minimum number of signatories required for
working papers to become draft resolutions.
2. Draft Resolutions: Draft resolutions constitute a description of a course of action
that a committee as a whole may wish to take.
i. Draft resolutions are required to follow the conference resolution format.
ii. Draft resolutions must have a sponsor and the proper number of
signatories.
iii. Draft resolutions become resolutions only after they are passed in voting
bloc.
3. Amendments: Delegates may submit amendments to alter draft resolutions on the
floor.
i. Friendly Amendments:
1. All sponsors of the draft resolution must be a sponsor or signatory
to the friendly amendment.
2. Once submitted to the dais, friendly amendments are immediately
incorporated into the draft resolution.
ii. Unfriendly Amendments:
1. Unfriendly amendments must have ⅕ of the committee as
signatories to it.
2. Unfriendly amendments must first be introduced on the floor of the
committee which will immediately move into voting procedure on
it. To send an unfriendly amendment into voting bloc, a simple
majority is required. After the voting procedure on the unfriendly
amendment, debate will return to the Speaker’s List.
E. Voting
1. Reordering Draft Resolutions: Draft resolutions may be reordered prior to a vote
on any draft resolution by simple majority vote. The delegate making the motion
must propose the new order, although the Chair will accept suggestions on
alternative orders of draft resolutions from other delegates if the motion is in
order.
2. Voting Procedures:
i. Enter Voting Bloc: Delegates wishing to vote on draft resolutions must
move into voting bloc. A Motion to Enter Voting Bloc requires two
speakers for and two speakers against, and if such a motion passes, debate
is suspended in favor of moving into voting bloc. This motion is
automatically passed, without speakers for or against, if the committee
closes substantive debate.
ii. Standard Voting Procedure: Voting for substantive matters requires a
simple majority and will be conducted by the dais while delegates use
placards to vote. Delegates will be permitted to vote “Yes”, “No”, or
“Abstain”.
iii. Roll Call: A delegate may Motion for a Roll Call Vote, which will bring
about Roll Call Voting Procedure. During a Roll Call Vote, the member
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states in committee will be called in alphabetical order for their delegates
to vote “Yes”, “Yes with Rights”, “Abstain”, “No”, or “No with Rights”.
If a delegate passes in the first round of roll call, they will not be allowed
to abstain.
1. Delegates who vote with rights will be afforded 30 seconds of
speaking time after the committee has exited voting bloc to speak.
iv. Motion to Adopt by Acclamation: If a Motion to Adopt by Acclamation is
called for, then the Chair will accept any objections to the motion from
delegates. If there are no objections from delegates, then the resolution
automatically is passed. If there are objections, then the motion fails, and
the committee returns to voting procedure.
v. Division of the Question: If a Motion to Divide the Question is passed,
then the prescribed operative clause(s) will be voted on separately as if
they were unfriendly amendments.
1. All suggestions to separate the operative clauses will be voted on
in the order they were received.
2. Divisions that receive majority support from the committee will be
included in the adopted resolution, while divisions that do not
receive majority support will be excluded from the resolution.
vi. Exit Voting Bloc: At any time during voting procedure, delegates may
Motion to Exit Voting Bloc. This motion will pass with a simple majority.
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RULES OF PROCEDURE (SPECIALIZED/CRISIS ADDENDUM)

Individualized Rules of Procedures

for each Specialized Body can be
found on the “Committees” page
on our website ([Link]).

Each individualized Rules of Procedure Guide

is slightly modified from the above Rules of
Procedure that is used across all General Body
Committees at TritonMUN. Differences allow
each committee’s debate to take a slightly
different form that will best precipitate debate,
given the committee’s style, topics, and roster.