Chairing Script

B Important Terms:
●​ Decorum: good behavior and etiquette
●​ Dilatory: “no”
●​ Friendly Amendment: Change to a draft resolution supported by all of the draft’s original
sponsors
●​ Unfriendly Amendment: Change to a draft resolution not supported by all of the draft’s original
sponsors (it must receive 2/3 majority vote to go through)
●​ Point of Inquiry: a delegate has a general question
●​ Point of Order: a delegate wants to point out a mistake by the chair
●​ Point of Personal Privilege: a delegate has a personal request (like using the bathroom)
●​ Quorum: half of the committee, rounded up. Also known as simple majority
●​ Right of Reply: a reply given to a delegate who has been personally slandered by another
delegate. These should be given sparingly.
●​ Roll Call Vote: Voting via going through a roll call list
●​ Placard Vote: Voting via raising placards
●​ Voting from Least to Most Destructive: voting on motions starting with extensions, followed by
the shortest variation of what you’ve just finished (ie: the shortest moderated caucus, followed
by an unmoderated caucus from shortest to longest time, followed by voting bloc)
●​ Voting on the Order they were Presented: voting in the order of motions being presented
●​ Working Paper (draft resolution): Resolutions or working papers not yet approved by the
committee

Basic Committee Rules:

●​ Primary / Secondary Speakers List: 1 minute : 10 minutes
●​ “For and Against” Speeches: 30 seconds each
●​ Changing the Order of Agenda, Tabling a Topic, or Entering Voting Bloc require 2/3 majority vote
●​ Default Yield is to the Chair
●​ Entertain all Yields EXCEPT for Yield to Comments
●​ NO extensions in moderated caucuses that exceed (in whole or part) 10 minutes
●​ NO extensions in unmoderated caucuses that exceed (in whole or part) 10 minutes
●​ NO return to debate on the topic once resolutions have passed
●​ MAX 1 unmoderated caucus within the first session
●​ Delegates must stand for ALL speeches (except for points)
●​ There is no talking, passing notes, entrance or exit into the room during Voting Bloc
●​ In general, 4-5 sponsors should be the cap per resolution/working paper
●​ In general, signatories must comprise of 1/3 of the committee
●​ Resolutions should be formatted with:
○​ Italicize the first prompt word of each preambulatory clause
○​ Underline the first prompt word for each operative clause
○​ Spell out each acronym for what it stands in full
○​ Commas for preambulatory clauses
○​ Semicolons for operative clauses
○​ A period on the last operative
 ○​ All preambulatory clauses must have a purpose or reference to an operative clause and
vice versa
○​ A ‘diamond’ outline with least specific to most specific (preambulatory) and most
specific to least specific (operative) Example Structure Below:
■​ i.e. Start with ‘Acknowledging the Syrian Refugee Crisis as one of the most
pressing global issues,’
■​ End with ‘Recalling United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3/66/54/21C
which launched relief efforts under the United Nations Emergency Force, the Red
Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam and other non-governmental
organizations,’
■​ Start operative with, ‘Encourages all relevant agencies of the United Nations to
collaborate more closely with countries at the grassroots level to enhance the
carrying out of relief efforts;’
■​ End with, ‘Decides to remain actively seized on the matter,’
●​ ABSOLUTELY NO PRE-WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS
●​ Equity violation breaches (ie: inappropriate behaviour, racist and sexist remarks, bullying) should
be reported to the teacher advisors and secretariat members

How to use this Script:

Action phrases (what you should do) are formatted in BOLD WRITING
-​ Ie: You should bang the gavel

Descriptive phrases (providing context on what you are doing) are formatted in italics
-​ Ie: If your delegates are talking or standing,

Things you should say are formatted normally

-​ Ie: Decorum delegates, please take your seats.
Flow of Committee / Debate:

The structure and flow of a committee will generally follow this path:

1) Opening a Session
-​ Dais intro and roll call
-​ Primary / Order of Agenda / Secondary Speakers Lists*
2) Running committee
-​ General Statement for Motions
-​ If the MODERATED CAUCUS MOTION passes
-​ If the UNMODERATED CAUCUS MOTION passes
-​ If ALL presented motions fail
-​ Adjourning a Session
-​ Restarting a Committee Session
3) Presenting Working Papers
4) Voting Bloc
-​ Placard Voting
-​ Roll Call Voting
5) Continuing onto the Next Topic
6) Concluding the Conference

The majority of committee will hover around section 2 - moderated and unmoderated
caucuses.

However, once your delegates are ready to present their working papers and get them passed,
then you will move onto sections 3, 4, and 5. This takes place around sessions 3 and 4 of the
SWCHSMUN schedule.

* Note that the Primary / Order of Agenda / Secondary Speakers Lists section only needs to be
completed at the very beginning of the conference or when the committee changes from one
topic to another

Follow the order of procedure here and in the script below to find success in committee. Good
luck, Dais staff!

1) Opening a Session
●​ If delegates are standing or talking, bang the gavel (HARD).
Decorum delegates, please take your seats. I now call this committee [YOUR COMMITTEE NAME] to
order. My name is (YOUR NAME) and I will be your chair. This is (NAME), your vice chair, and this is
(NAME) your rapporteur.
●​ If applicable, also introduce additional staff members, such as crisis directors or pages.
We will now begin by taking roll call. When your country’s name is called you may respond with either
present or present and voting. Present and voting meaning that you must vote on all substantive
matters – such as resolutions, and present means that you may abstain from such votes.
●​ Call out country names slowly and efficiently. The Rapporteur should be ticking off names as
they appear on the roll call list.
●​ A reminder that if a delegate misses a session, they are AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED for
awards
If you have been missed or have arrived late, please send a note up to the dais indicating you are
present or present and voting. Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time, the chair would
look favorably upon a motion to (open) / (resume) debate.
●​ Only accept the one motion to open/begin/resume debate, then move on to the next part
●​ If another motion is made, rule it dilatory or out of order by saying:
○​ That motion will be ruled dilatory seeing as we must begin the debate before ___________
may occur. Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time, the chair would look
favorably upon a motion to begin debate.
That is in order, and by the chair’s discretion, that will be all the motions we will be taking at this time.
We will now proceed to vote on (COUNTRY’S) motion to begin debate. All those in favor please raise
your placards now. That motion clearly passes.
[STOP NOW IF YOU ARE RESUMING SESSION. CONTINUE IF THIS IS SESSION 1 / A NEW TOPIC]
Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time, the chair would look favorably upon a motion
to open the primary speakers list.
●​ Only accept the one motion to open/begin/resume debate, then move on to the next part
●​ If another motion is made, rule it dilatory or out of order by saying:
○​ That motion will be ruled dilatory seeing as we must begin the debate before ___________
may occur. Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time, the chair would look
favorably upon a motion to begin debate.
That is in order, and by the chair’s discretion, that will be all the motions we will be taking at this time.
We will now proceed to vote on (COUNTRY’S) motion to open the primary speakers list. All those in
favor please raise your placards now. That motion clearly passes. All those wishing to be added to the
primary speakers list please raise your placards now.
●​ Accept 5-10 speakers, depending on the size of your committee
●​ Speakers will speak in the order they were called upon. Once all speakers have spoken, move on:
Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time, the chair would look favorably upon a motion
to set the order of agenda.
●​ In the event there are points, address them
●​ Take two motions and proceed
●​ Vote on the motions presented based on the order they were presented, by saying:
All those in favor of (COUNTRY’S) motion to set the order of agenda to (ORDER), please raise your
placard now. That motion (passes) / (fails).
●​ If the motion fails, repeat the line above with the second motion
●​ If the motion passes, proceed to the next step:
The order of agenda is now set to (ORDER). The Secondary Speakers List will now remain permanently
open. All those wishing to be added to the secondary speakers list please raise your placard now.
●​ Accept 5-10 speakers, depending on the size of your committee
●​ Speakers will speak in the order they were called upon. Once all speakers have spoken, move on:

2) Running a Committee
General Statement for Motions:
Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time?
●​ You may indicate if “the chair looks favourably” upon a certain motion
●​ In the event there are points, address them
●​ Take Motions 1 by 1, by saying after each motion request:
That motion is in order. Are there any other points or motions on the floor at this time?
●​ Repeat this until you’ve taken up to 4 motions
●​ If 4 motions have been taken, move on:
That is all the motions we will take at this time. All delegates wishing to vote for (COUNTRY’S) motion
on (TOPIC), please raise your placards now.
●​ A motion passes if more than 50% of the delegates vote for the motion. If the motion passes,
move on to the section with the corresponding motion type (ie: if a moderated caucus passes,
go to “If the MODERATED CAUCUS MOTION passes:” section)
●​ If all motions before the last proposed motion fail (ie: you take 4 motions, and 3 of the first 4 fail),
then say:
Delegates, a reminder that if this final motion is to fail, our committee will return to the secondary
speakers list.
●​ If all motions fail, go to “If ALL presented motions fail:”
If the MODERATED CAUCUS MOTION passes:
This motion passes. (COUNTRY WHICH PROPOSED THE MODERATED CAUCUS) would you like the first
speech or the last speech?
●​ The rapporteur should input the delegate’s speech preference
That is in order. All those wishing to speak, please raise your placards now.
●​ The rapporteur should input the order of delegate’s in the MUNCoordinated list
That is all the delegates we will be taking at this time. (FIRST COUNTRY ON THE LIST), you have been
recognized for (LENGTH OF SPEECH IN THE CAUCUS)
●​ Allow the delegate to finish their speech
●​ At 10 seconds remaining, tap the handle-end of the gavel gently 3 times
●​ When their time runs out, bang the gavel while telling the delegate they’ve run out of time
Thank you delegate for your address. We will now hear from (NEXT COUNTRY ON THE LIST). You have
been recognized for (LENGTH OF SPEECH IN THE CAUCUS).
●​ Repeat previous 2 lines until all speakers on the list have given their speeches.
●​ After the last speaker finishes speaking, say:
Thank you delegate for your address. Seeing as though we have exhausted this moderated caucus, the
chair will now open the floor once again for points or motions.
 ●​ Go back to the “General Statement for Motions”
If the UNMODERATED CAUCUS MOTION passes:
This motion passes. Delegates, you are now in a (DURATION OF THE UNMOD) unmod.
●​ When the unmod elapses, bang the gavel (HARD). Then say:
Delegates, the timer in this UNMOD has elapsed. Please take your seats.
●​ Wait for delegates to be seated. Then say:
Seeing as though we have exhausted this unmoderated caucus, the chair will now open the floor once
again for points or motions.
●​ Go back to the “General Statement for Motions”
If ALL presented motions fail:
Seeing as all the presented motions have failed, we will now go back to the secondary speakers list. By
default, the secondary speakers list will be 5 minutes long, with 1 minute speaking time allocated per
delegate. All those wishing to speak, please raise your placards now.
●​ The rapporteur should input the order of delegate’s in the MUNCoordinated list. Take MAX 5
delegates
That is all the delegates we will be taking at this time. (FIRST COUNTRY ON THE LIST), you have been
recognized for (LENGTH OF SPEECH IN THE CAUCUS)
●​ Allow the delegate to finish their speech
●​ At 10 seconds remaining, tap the handle-end of the gavel gently 3 times
●​ When their time runs out, bang the gavel while telling the delegate they’ve run out of time
Thank you delegate for your address. We will now hear from (NEXT COUNTRY ON THE LIST). You have
been recognized for (LENGTH OF SPEECH IN THE CAUCUS).
●​ Repeat previous 2 lines until all speakers on the list have given their speeches.
●​ After the last speaker finishes speaking, say:
Thank you delegate for your address. Seeing as though we have exhausted this secondary speakers
list, the chair will now open the floor once again for points or motions.
●​ Go back to the “General Statement for Motions”
Adjourning a Session:
Seeing as we have (less than) five minutes remaining in the current session, the chair would look
favorably upon a motion to recess (breaks for lunch/dinner/breaks etc.) / to adjourn (end of the day)
●​ Take ONLY the motion to adjourn
This motion passes. We are now in recess / adjourned.

Restarting a Committee Session:

Welcome back from your much needed break! Here are the steps to follow:
First, go back to “Opening a Session”. Follow the script until you get to the point where it mentions to
to [STOP NOW IF YOU ARE RESUMING SESSION]
Then, proceed as per normal through the procedures outlined in “Running a Committee”
3) Presenting Working Papers
●​ Upon receiving, /, revising and approving working papers, notify the delegates their working
paper number and that is ready to be presented
Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time? The chair would look favorably upon a motion
to introduce working papers in the order __________.
●​ Ie: “Motion to introduce Working Paper 1.1, then 1.2, then 1.3, then 1.4”
That motion is very much in order. Are there any other points or motions on the floor at this time?
●​ Take up to 4 motions. When there are no more motions, say:
Seeing none we will proceed to vote in the order presented:
●​ Vote and invite the sponsors up to the front to present in the order voted on
●​ You may want to limit the number of sponsors to five
●​ Allow them to read operative clauses only: do not read preambles ]
●​ Set a timer for 5-6 minutes
●​ Once the presentation is done/the timer runs out, keep the presenting delegates at the front.
Then say:
Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time? The chair would look favorably upon a motion
for to enter Q&A for (NAME OF WORKING PAPER)
●​ Only take the motion to enter Q&A. Rule all other motions dilatory
●​ Know whether your committee is ahead of time or behind. Then, set the timer for Q&A to be
either 3, 4, or 5 minutes
That motion is very much in order, and by chair's discretion the motion automatically passes. We are
now in Q&A for (NAME OF WORKING PAPER). Q&A will be (3)/(4)/(5) minutes, and as a reminder, the
timer on the screen only refers to the length of time a sponsor may speak to reply to a question.
Presenting sponsors, you may now pick which delegates you would like to ask the questions - however,
you must not pick a delegate that has already asked a question to this bloc. All those wishing to ask a
question, please raise your placards now:
●​ Remind delegates that the questions should get to the point
●​ Sponsors SHOULD NOT discuss amongst themselves
●​ Only one sponsor may reply, and if another interjects, you should interrupt
●​ Once the Q&A timer runs out, say:
This brings an end to our question and answer period. We will now hear from (THE NEXT WORKING
PAPER IN ORDER).
●​ Do not permit extensions to Q&A period
●​ Repeat all steps above until all working papers are presented. DO NOT go to voting bloc until
they are all presented

4) Voting Bloc
●​ Ensure all working papers have been presented before going into voting bloc
●​ Only do for and against speeches if your committee has time. If not, skip straight down to​
[RESUME HERE IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME FOR FOR AND AGAINST SPEECHES]
Are there any points or motions on the floor at this time? The chair would look favorably upon a motion
to close debate and enter for and against speeches.
●​ Only take the motion to close debate and enter for and against speeches
●​ Rule all other motions dilatory

That motion is very much in order. We now need two speakers for the motion. All delegates wishing to
speak for the motion, please raise your placards now.
●​ Take two speakers - ideally pick delegates that haven’t spoken much
We’ll also be taking two speakers against the motion. All delegates wishing to speak against the
motion, please raise your placards now.
●​ Take two speakers - ideally pick delegates that haven’t spoken much
(COUNTRY) you will now speak for the motion with a speech not exceeding 30 seconds.
●​ Let the delegate speak, they say:
(COUNTRY) you will now speak against the motion with a speech not exceeding 30 seconds
●​ Let the delegate speak, they say:
●​ Repeat the two steps before for the other 2 for/against speakers.
●​ Once all speakers have spoken, say:
This now concludes our for and against speeches.

[RESUME HERE IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME FOR FOR AND AGAINST SPEECHES]
Are there any points or motions on the floor? The Chair would look favourably upon a motion to enter
voting bloc.
●​ Only take the motion to enter voting bloc. Rule all other motions dilatory
That motion is in order. All those in favor of (COUNTRY’S) motion to enter voting bloc, please raise your
placard now. That motion passes. We are now in voting bloc. Pages please bar the doors, delegates as
a reminder there is no entrance or exit from the room, all note passing will be suspended and talking is
strictly prohibited.

Are there any other points or motions on the floor at this time? The chair would look favorably upon
(placard)/(roll call) voting on all working papers in the order in which they were presented.
●​ Only take the motion for placard vote on the order the papers were presented
●​ Roll call voting takes lots of time. If your committee doesn’t have much time left, go with placard
voting
Placard Voting:
We will now vote on (WORKING PAPER NAME). A reminder that those who indicated their attendance
as “Present and Voting” must vote on all resolutions, and cannot abstain.
All those in favour of working paper ____, please raise your placards now.
●​ If the number of delegates in favour of the paper meets quorum (a simple majority), ignore the
steps below and proceed to [PASSED]
●​ If a majority has not been reached, continue with the steps below:
All those who oppose working paper ____, please raise your placards now.
All those abstensions, please raise your placards now.
●​ Go to [FAILED]
Placard Voting:
We will now vote on (WORKING PAPER NAME) by roll call. A reminder that those who indicated their
attendance as “Present and Voting” must vote on all resolutions, and cannot abstain.
●​ Call out all nations in alphabetical order
●​ Delegates can respond by either saying “Yes, abstain, or no”
●​ If the motion passed, go to [PASSED]
●​ If the motion failed, go to [FAILED]

[PASSED]
Congratulations delegates, this working paper (WORKING PAPER NAME) has passed, becoming
resolution (WORKING PAPER NAME).
[FAILED]
Unfortunately, this working paper has failed, and will not be considered further.
●​ Once the voting process for one working paper has concluded, repeat the steps above until all
papers have been voted on
●​ Once all papers are done, go to “Continuing onto the Next Topic”

5) Continuing onto the Next Topic

Seeing as we have exhausted all the working papers and resolutions, the chair would look favorably
upon a motion to exit voting bloc.
●​ Only accept the motion to exit voting bloc. Rule all other motions dilatory
All those in favor of (COUNTRY’S) motion to exit voting bloc, please raise your placard now. That motion
passes. We have now exited voting bloc. Pages, un-bar the doors. Notes can now be passed. Are there
any points or motions on the floor at this time? The chair would look favorably upon a motion to table
the topic.
●​ Only accept the motion to table the topic. Rule all other motions dilatory
That motion is in order. All those in favour of (COUNTRY’S) motion to table the topic, please raise your
placard now. That motion passes. We will now move into Topic __.
●​ Go back to “Opening a Session”

6) Concluding the Conference:

●​ Only do this at the end of the conference/entering FUNMUN
The chair would now look favorably upon a motion to close debate and adjourn.
●​ Only accept the motion to table the topic. Rule all other motions dilatory
All those in favor please raise your placards now. This motion passes, (COMMITTEE NAME) is now
closed. As the committee ends, I’m just going to remind all delegates to please ensure the room is
cleaned - that includes recycling your notes, throwing out any garbage you’ve left behind, and please DO
NOT take your placards, leave them on the desks.
●​ Remind Delegates on instructions for how to get to the Closing Ceremonies