IIS MUN’24
Background Guide
AIPPM
ALL INDIA POLITICAL
PARTIES MEET
AGENDA: Assessing the
Democratic Governance and
Freedom of Expression in India
with Regards to Concerns of
Authoritarian Tendencies and
Dictatorship
Letter from the Executive Board
Dear Esteemed Delegates,
We are pleased to extend a warm welcome to all the delegates
participating in IISMUN’24. We are thrilled to have you join us for what
promises to be an intellectually stimulating and fruitful deliberation on
critical global issues.
The theme for this year's conference, "Assessing the Democratic
Governance and Freedom of Expression in India with Regards to
Concerns of Authoritarian Tendencies and Dictatorship," is both timely
and pertinent. As delegates representing diverse nations and
perspectives, your insights and contributions to this discussion will be
invaluable in fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities
surrounding democratic governance and freedom of expression in the
context of India.
The agenda set forth for the AIPPM committee underscores the pressing
need to critically evaluate the state of democratic principles and
institutions, as well as the extent to which freedom of expression is
safeguarded amidst growing concerns of authoritarian tendencies and
potential threats to democracy. Your rigorous analysis and thoughtful
proposals will play a crucial role in shaping the discourse and
formulating effective strategies to address these challenges.
Throughout the conference, we encourage you to engage in constructive
dialogue, collaborate with fellow delegates, and explore innovative
solutions that uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, and
freedom of expression. We can work towards a more just, equitable, and
inclusive world through your collective efforts and commitment to
diplomacy.
We look forward to meeting you all in person and wish you all the best in
your preparation for the committee.
Sincerely,
Udit Bangra (Chair)
Bhakti Kalyani (Chair)
Priyanshi Dhaka (Chair)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jyotsana (Wise Chair)
Reshanki Trehan (Wise Chair)
The Executive Board.
INTRODUCTION
The All India Political Parties Meet serves as a platform for
candid political discourse, where representatives engage in
uninhibited debate, discussion, and deliberation, reflecting the
diverse landscape of Indian politics. This forum transcends the
formal legislative processes of the parliament, allowing for a
nuanced exploration of policy and governance across the
nation.
In this year's session, the AIPPM committee will delve into the
critical theme of "Assessing the Democratic Governance and
Freedom of Expression in India with Regards to Concerns of
Authoritarian Tendencies and Dictatorship." It is imperative that
each representative is well-versed in their respective political
party's ideology, manifesto, and principles, as they navigate the
complexities of this discourse.
This committee will simulate a pivotal meeting of political
parties in India, convened to address pressing concerns
regarding democratic governance and the protection of
freedom of expression amidst apprehensions of authoritarian
tendencies and dictatorial inclinations. Our objective is to foster
constructive dialogue among political entities, aiming to identify
challenges, explore potential solutions, and uphold the
democratic ethos of our nation.
In this background guide, you will find a comprehensive
overview of the AIPPM committee, along with an in-depth
exploration of the multifaceted issues surrounding democratic
governance, freedom of expression, and the specter of
authoritarianism in the Indian context.
The AIPPM committee unlike other conventional MUN
committee characterized by heated debates, cross talks, high
levels of negotiations and political democracy echoes hopes of
change and evolution.
RULES OF PROCEDURE
Procedural Construct
• Members have the liberty to speak either in
English or Hindi.
• However, all documentation should only be in English.
• At the beginning of each session, the executive board
calls committee members in English alphabetical order
to state their attendance with a clear present.
• It is mandatory for all committee members to vote.
• All the Committee members will be invited to give their
Introductory Statements (GSL).
• The time period, for the same will be 90 seconds. A
motion to extend the time period will not be in order.
Committee members are expected to list out their
current Line of Policy and that of their political party,
towards the agenda at hand.
•A member has to yield his/her time in case he/she has
time left after the speech.
There are 3 ways a delegate can yield their time
1. Yield to Comments Such a yield can be used to invite
comments from other fellow members, on the Line of
Policy, presented by the speaking member.
2. Yield to Points of Information/Questions. The
Executive Board, who has the right to call to order any
member whose question is rhetorical and/or not
designated to elicit information, may select
questioners. Follow-up will be allowed only at the
discretion of the Executive Board.
3. Yield to the Chair, such a yield should be made if the
Committee member does not wish to yield to
questions/comments by other members.
The Chair will then invite the next speaker, to deliver
the Introductory Statement(GSL). Members must
declare any yield by the conclusion of his or her speech.
If the time runs out, the Chair will simply move to the
next speaker.
Subject Discussions
Once the Introductory Statements have been
successfully delivered, the floor shall be
made open for motions, leading to Formal
Discussions called Subject Discussions. This
shall be used by the Committee members to
debate/discuss specific subtopics under the
broader agenda, subject to stipulated time
limits and the strict moderation of the
delegate who raised the subject discussion.
Every proposal for a subject discussion must
be accompanied by the specification of the
Topic to be discussed under the slot, framed
concisely and holistically. Every speech made
during a Subject Discussion will be subject to
a specific time limit, not exceeding 90
seconds, which is to be specified by the
Member proposing the motion. Speeches
made during the Subject Discussions are NOT
open to questions or comments by other
committee members. Committee members
are requested to behave in a parliamentary
way, and should respect the other delegates.
Establishing The Session
These sessions can be established by proposing a
motion to establish a particular session, which will be
followed by a vote. The motion should be able to
secure a simple majority.
Sessions will be of 2 types moderated and
unmoderated caucuses.
Moderated Caucuse
A moderated session will be a formal discussion which
is regulated by the Executive Board.
A delegate may raise a motion for a moderated caucus
by stating a topic with the total time and individual
time. This motion can be passed through votes. For eg:-
Narendra Modi would like to raise a motion for a
moderated caucus on the topic ……………. with the total
time being…….. minutes and individual time being
……….. seconds.
• To enter into a moderated caucus a delegate has to
raise a motion.
• Everyone votes on the motion. The voting process
(favour, not in favour, favour +voting).
• If the motion passes, delegates who want to speak
have to raise their placards.
Un-Moderated Caucus
A Representative may move for an Unmoderated
Session thereby suggesting a change from formal to
informal debate. The Representative who makes this
motion must suggest a length and justification for the
Unmoderated Session. The Executive Board may
suggest a more appropriate session length and put it
to vote, or may rule the Unmoderated Session out of
order without the possibility of appeal. Once the
Motion has passed, the Committee will depart from
the formal discussion and will carry on an informal
discussion without leaving the conference room.
Rahul Gandhi would like to raise a motion for an
unmoderated caucus on the topic _____________ for the
time being 15-min.
Delegates can raise a motion to extend the time of
the unmoderated caucus by 5 mins.
Points
1. POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE - A Representative
may rise to a Point of Personal Privilege if a matter
impairs him/her from participating fully in council
activities. A Point of Personal Privilege may only
interrupt a speaker if the Representative speaking is
inaudible.
2. POINT OF ORDER - A Representative may raise a
Point of Order if he/she believes that the rules
are being violated.
3. POINT OF PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY - A
Representative may rise to a Point of Parliamentary
Inquiry requesting an explanation from the Executive
Board on the Rules of Procedure.
4. POINT OF INFORMATION - This is a point that helps
to clarify any factual inaccuracy in a representative’s
speech or ask a question. This point can be raised after
the completion of any representative’s speech if one
finds that the other representative may have
misstated a particular fact.
5. RIGHT TO REPLY - A Representative whose personal
integrity has been impugned by another Delegate’s
comments may rise to a Right of Reply. The Executive
Board will recognize the Right of Reply at his/her
discretion as well as decide on how to resolve the
motion.
Committee Documentation
Position Paper
• Position papers are usually one to one-and-a-
half pages in length.
• Includes a brief introduction followed by a
comprehensive breakdown of your/your party’s
position on the agenda.
• A good position paper will not only provide
facts but also make proposals for resolutions.
• Format:
• A brief introduction to your portfolio/ your
party’s history concerning the topic
• How the issue affects the country?
• What you and y our party has done to treat
the issue
• Statistics to back up your position on the
issue
• What you/your party believes should be done
to address the issue?
A sample position paper for reference.
Delegates need to submit the hard copy of
the position paper in the morning of Day 1
Memorandum/Chit
A memorandum or memo is a written
communication between a member and
a concerned branch or to another
member belonging to the same political
party ordering for a certain action to be
taken.
FORMAT:
To: (Politicain) @(politicain)
From:(politicain)
Via EB
Right to reply/ POI
________________________
NOTE: all the chits will be sent online
through the whatsapp group
Draft Resolution
A written document that requires at
least 3 sponsor and 5 signatories. It
consists of possible solutions for the
agenda at hand and is open for
discussion in committee.
Draft Resolution reference link
This link covers all the aspects of how
to make a draft resolution and what
should be included in it. It also contains
the format for a draft resolution.
below you can find another link for a
sample draft resolution
Sample draft resolution
OUTCOME
The main purpose of this All India Parties
Meet is to ensure that all the participating
members come down to consensual
solutions with respect to the issues at
hand. For which the final document of this
Meeting would be solutions in the form of
recommendations to the Government to
solve the existing issues for which all the
political parties have arrived at a
consensus. And for such document/s to
be passed a 2/3rd majority of all the
members present and voting is necessary.
Unfortunately, Political Parties would not
have an option to abstain, thereby
requiring them to come up with
alternative voting strategies.
About the agenda
India’s Democratic Structure - India’s
governance structure is influenced by the
British Westminster system, with a
president as the ceremonial head of state
and a prime minister leading the executive
branch. The Indian Parliament, comprising
the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and Lok
Sabha (Lower House), forms the legislative
branch, while the judiciary is headed by the
Supreme Court. Power is decentralized in
India’s multi-tiered political system, with
responsibilities divided between the Union
and State governments. However, there are
growing apprehensions about the erosion
of democratic norms.
Expression Freedom in India - The Indian
Constitution, in Article 19, guarantees six
fundamental freedoms, including the
freedom of speech and expression. This
freedom extends to verbal, written, and
visual forms of communication. However,
these freedoms are not absolute and can
be reasonably restricted under Article 19
(2) for specific purposes.
Rising Authoritarianism in India - There’s a
growing concern about the rise in
authoritarianism in India, particularly under the
leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Critics
argue that there’s a deviation from the core
principles of democracy, minority rights, and
executive accountability. Instances of
centralization, divisive decisions, and changes
to rules and institutions that curb free
expression and political opposition have been
reported.
Dictatorship in India - While India remains a
democratic nation, there are concerns about
increasing authoritarian tendencies. Some
reports have recently downgraded India’s
democratic status. There’s also a growing
acceptance of autocracy, where a strong leader
can make decisions without interference from a
representative body or an independent
judiciary.
This agenda is crucial as it seeks to evaluate
these aspects of Indian governance and
freedom of expression, and their implications
for the future of the world’s largest democracy.
Understanding these issues is vital for
delegates as it forms the basis for informed
debate and decision-making.
Authoritarian tendencies in
the past
The Emergency Period (1975-1977) The
Emergency in India refers to a 21-month
period from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977,
when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a
state of emergency across the country123.
This was the third time a national emergency
was declared in India, the first two times were
during the wars with China and Pakistan in
1962 and 1971 respectively.
Reason for the Emergency The Emergency was
declared on the grounds of “internal
disturbance” under Article 352 of the Indian
Constitution13. This decision was taken
following a period of increasing civil unrest
and political tension, including a railway
workers’ strike led by George Fernandes in
19742. The Allahabad High Court had also
declared Gandhi’s election to the Lok Sabha
void due to electoral malpractice.
Impact of the Emergency During the
Emergency, civil liberties were severely
curtailed, and the freedom of the press was
strictly controlled.
Many of Gandhi’s political opponents were
imprisoned, and there were numerous
reports of human rights violations12. Indira
Gandhi’s son, Sanjay Gandhi, led a
controversial mass sterilization campaign as
a means to control the population1. Non-
Congress state governments were
dismissed, and many slums in Delhi were
demolished2.
End of the Emergency The Emergency
ended on March 21, 1977, and democracy
was restored2. The period is considered one
of the most controversial times in India’s
history since its independence1.
This period is significant in the context of
your agenda as it provides a historical
example of authoritarian tendencies in
India’s democratic governance. It’s
important for delegates to understand this
period, its causes, and its impacts, as it can
provide valuable insights into the current
state of democratic governance and
freedom of expression in India.
The Emergency as a Form of Dictatorship
The Emergency period from 1975 to 1977,
under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is often
referred to as “India’s first dictatorship” due
to the authoritarian measures implemented.
The Prime Minister had the power to rule by
decree, allowing elections to be suspended
and civil liberties to be curtailed. Critics
argue that this period was a dark phase in
India that demonstrated Indira Gandhi’s
dictatorial rule. Despite the authoritarian
nature of the regime, it functioned within
the framework of the Indian constitution,
leading some to term it a constitutional
dictatorship.
This period serves as a historical example of
authoritarian tendencies in India’s
democratic governance and underscores
the importance of safeguarding democratic
institutions and freedoms.
LINKS TO VISIT
Links
This Google Drive link contains all the
trusted sources that you can use for
your research.
Don't treat these links as your full
research but treat them as a starting
point and a base for your research so
that you can get a better understanding
of the agenda.