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GENERAL RULES

Rule #1 – Credentials:

All credentials of delegates, advisors, and observers have been received by the Credentials Committee. No action may be taken with regards to credentials without a specific mandate from the Credentials Committee.

Rule #2 – Officers:

All officers are appointed by the Secretariat for the duration of the Conference.

Rule #3– Powers of the Moderator:

In addition to the powers enumerated herein, the Moderator has the authority to:

1. Exercise control over all proceedings to ensure the smooth functioning of the Committee;
2. Retain the right to speak, ask questions, maintain decorum, and announce decisions;
3. Declare sessions opened and closed;
4. Direct all discussions of the Committee;
5. Set time constraints on speeches and debates;
6. Call delegates to order if they exceed time constraints or make remarks irrelevant to the current discussion; and
7. Interpret these rules and rule on all Points of Order.

Rule #4 – Quorum:

A quorum is the minimum number of delegates who must be present for the Committee to conduct business.  A quorum requires one-third of the delegates to be in attendance. However, a Committee cannot come to a vote unless the majority of the member-states are present.

Rule #5 – Alteration of Rules:

This motion is only in order after the Moderator makes a request for such a motion. It is not debated and requires a two-thirds vote to pass.

Rule #6 – Appeals:

With the exception of decisions which are at the Moderator’s discretion, all rulings may be appealed. The delegate requesting the appeal will speak for the appeal, while the Moderator or the Moderator’s appointed representative will speak against it. To overturn the Moderator’s decision, a two-thirds vote must be in favor of the appeal.

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RULES GOVERNING DEBATE

Rule #7 – Establishing and Changing the Agenda:

Committee Agendas:

After Roll Call, the Moderator will conduct a straw vote to decide the first issue to be discussed. After a consensus is reached on said resolution, a second straw vote will be held to decide the next issue to be discussed. This process is to be followed throughout the Conference.

Rule #8 – Unmoderated Caucus:

Any member-state may, when recognized by the Moderator, ask for an unmoderated caucus. Entertainment of this motion is at the Moderator’s discretion. The delegate requesting the caucus must specify the time limit for the caucus and purpose. The Moderator reserves the right to grant time limits that are longer or shorter than the limit initially asked for. This requires a majority vote of the delegates to pass.

Rule #9 – Moderated Caucus:

The purpose of the moderated caucus is to facilitate substantive debate on specific topic within an issue. In a moderated caucus, the Moderator will temporarily depart from the Speaker’s List and call on delegates to speak at his/her discretion. A motion for a moderated caucus is in order at any time when the floor is open, prior to closure of debate. The delegate making the motion must briefly explain its purpose and specify a time limit for the caucus, not exceeding ten minutes.  A proposed speaking time per speech must also be presented which is not to exceed one minute. Once raised, the motion will be voted on.  The Moderator may rule the motion out of order at his/her discretion and it is not subject to appeal.

Rule #10 – Closure of Debate:

1. Resolutions: After three speakers have spoken for a resolution and three have spoken against, a  motion for closure is in order.
2. Amendments: Closure of debate on an amendment is not in order until a minimum of two speakers  have spoken for the amendment and two have spoken against it.
3. General: The motion for closure will be debated by a minimum of one speaker for and one speaker against. To pass, the motion must receive a  two-thirds a vote. If the motion fails, it will not be in order until after two speakers have spoken for and two against the amendment or resolution being discussed.

Rule #11 – Recess and Adjournment:

The motion for recess or to adjourn is in order at any time and is not debated. A majority vote is necessary for the motion to pass; however, entertainment of the motion is at the discretion of the Moderator.

RULES GOVERNING SPEECHES

Rule #12 – Speaker’s List:

The Speaker’s List will contains three lists “for”,  “against” and “to”. The Speaker’s List will be determined at the Moderator’s discretion, and is composed by the Recorder.  This  determines the speaking order. The computer administrator of each Committee will also record a Speaker’s List on the computer, but this is mainly for the convenience of the Committee.   Any member-state wishing to be removed from the Speaker’s List must present a request in writing to the Moderator.

Rule #13 – Limit of Debate:

Unless specifically stated by the Moderator, the time limit of debate on one resolution is set at two hours.  At the end of this limit, debate will cease, any amendments on the floor will be voted on, and the Committee will move into an immediate vote on the resolution at hand.

Rule #14 – Yields:

Upon finishing a speech, delegates may yield any remaining time to another delegate, to questions, or to the Moderator.

A delegate who completes a speech before his or her time has expired has the option to yield the remaining time to another delegate.  The delegate to whom time is yielded cannot yield any remaining time to a third delegate.  Whenever time is yielded, the two delegates will be regarded as one speaker for the purposes of procedural matters (i.e. points of information, number of speakers for closure, etc.)

If a delegate yields to questions, then one delegate will be allowed to ask up to two questions. At such time, the Moderator will select a delegate from the Committee to make the inquiries.  The questions are not timed, and the time limit for the speaker is at the Moderator’s discretion.  Such exchanges should remain concise.

If a delegate does not wish to yield to another delegate, the delegate must yield to the Moderator.

Rule #15 – Right of Reply:

At the Moderator’s discretion, any member-state may be granted the right of reply to answer any egregious insults or injuries that would tarnish the dignity of the delegate or their respective country.

All rights of reply must be submitted in written form to the Dias staff stating the nature of the insult and which delegate committed the offense. The reply will be read upon approval by a member of the Dias staff.  Further action will be at the discretion of the Dias Staff should insults persist.

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POINTS

There are four types of points within Trident Model United Nations: Point of Personal Privilege, Point of Information, Point of Parliamentary Inquiry, and Point of Order.

Rule #16 – Point of Personal Privilege:

A Point of Personal Privilege is in order during times when a delegate cannot participate in the debate due to distractions within the committee, problems with the facilities, or the inability to comprehend or hear the speaker.

Rule #17 – Point of Information:

A Point of Information is in order only when no other delegate is presently speaking, and takes the form of a question directed at either the Moderator or the delegate who has just spoken before the Committee.  A Point of Information needs to be recognized by the Moderator.  When a Point of Information is directed at a delegate, the delegate should answer the point only as a clarification to resolve any misunderstandings.  In addition, Points of Information are to be used only for clarification and any substantive questioning will be ruled out of order.

Rule #18 – Point of Parliamentary Inquiry:

When the floor is open, a delegate may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to ask the Moderator a question regarding the rules of procedure. A Point of Parliamentary Inquiry may never interrupt a speaker. Delegates with substantive questions should not rise to this point, but should rather approach the committee staff during caucus or send a note to the dais.

Rule #19 – Point of Order:

A Point of Order is only appropriate at a time when the rules of procedure have been breached, and will be ruled on by the Moderator.  In addition, Points of Order will only be recognized by the Moderator when the floor is open, unless the present speaker is out of line concerning the topic at hand.

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RULES GOVERNING SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Rule #20 – Introduction and Withdrawal of Resolutions:

At the discretion of the Moderator, a delegate may withdraw their resolution up until the committee has decided to discuss that resolution.  Any resolution withdrawn may be re-introduced by the author at any time between other resolutions.  Both the motion to withdraw and re-introduce resolutions must be submitted to the Dias staff in writing.

Rule #21 – Amendments:

Delegates are encouraged to introduce amendments once a resolution is the on the floor. In Committee session, amendments require two signatories. The written amendment must be received by the Dias staff and approved, prior to the motion to introduce the amendment.  At the Moderator’s discretion, the author of the amendment may be given first right to speak on behalf of the amendment, a vote will be held, with a majority needed to introduce. Speakers list will consist of ‘for’ and ‘against’.

No changes may be made to an amendment until it has been voted into the resolution. In addition, any friendly amendments will be ruled out of order immediately by the Dias Staff (i.e. France will pay for …. If the United States builds the……)

Once closure of debate on an amendment has passed, the committee will move to an immediate vote on the amendment. To pass, the amendment requires a majority vote to be placed in the resolution.

Rule #22 – Tabling and Recalling:

Delegates may move to table a resolution or an amendment.  When tabling, the delegate should make clear whether it is indefinitely or until a specific time period. This motion is in order until the Committee closes debate on the resolution or amendment.  Resolutions or amendments that are not tabled indefinitely may be recalled by the delegate who made the motion to table.

Both the motion to table and the motion to recall will be debated by two speakers for and two speakers against the motion, and will be followed immediately by a vote, requiring simple majority.  A motion to table or recall that has not received the majority vote will not be entertained again until after two speakers have been recognized from the speaker’s list.

Rule #23 – Passing a Resolution:

Once a motion for closure on a resolution has passed, the moderator will immediately hold a vote on the resolution.  No persons shall be allowed to enter or exit the committee chambers during a vote on a resolution.  To pass, a resolution requires a majority vote. This is procedural and everyone must vote. of the member-states voting.

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RULES GOVERNING VOTING

Rule #24 – Voting:

Voting will be executed using either placard or roll call votes.  The mode of voting is at the Moderator’s discretion, but roll-call votes may be suggested by any delegate.  Member-states may not change their vote once it has been made.   A tie vote fails. 

During placard votes, a member-state may choose to vote for, against or to abstain.  If the motion does not pass with the required amount of votes then the motion fails.

Roll Call may only be motioned for when voting on a resolution. Delegates may vote FOR, AGAINST, PASS, or WITH RIGHTS. This will be signaled to the Moderator and the Committee by announcing what their vote is at the time that they are called upon. Use of the WITH RIGHTS is only acceptable if the delegate is voting against nation-state’s policy, and needs to explain why. Those who vote WITH RIGHTS will not explain his/her vote until the second round, which is when the PASS voters must vote.  Second round voting prohibits WITH RIGHTS votes.

Rule # 25 – Procedural Voting

Procedural votes are motions that must be voted on by all delegates.  The opening and closing of sessions, and the voting on amendments and resolutions are all procedural votes. 

Rule #26 – Majority and Two-Thirds Vote Explained:

1. Majority Vote:  More than fifty-percent of the voting delegates vote “FOR”.  A tie vote fails.
2. Two-Thirds Vote: Two-thirds or more of the voting delegates vote “FOR”.
3. For more information, delegates should consult the quick reference guide.

Rule #27 – Priority of Rules:

The priority of rules is as follows:

1. Trident Model United Nations Rules of Parliamentary Procedure;
2. The Charter of the United Nations; and
3. Any subsequent rulings by the Secretary-General.

Rule #28 – Precedence of Motions:

Precedence of motions and debate is as follows:

1. Point of Personal Privilege
2. Point of Information
3. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
4. Point of Order
5. Motion to Appeal to the Moderator
6. Motion for Unmoderated Caucus
7. Motion for Moderated Caucus
8. Motion to Introduce Amendment
9. Motion to Table
10. Motion to Recess or Adjourn
11. Motion to Resume Tabled Debate
12. Closure of Debate

At start of voting procedure, only the following points and motions are in order, in order of precedence:

1. Point of Personal Privilege
2. Point of Order
3. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
4. Motion for a Roll Call Vote