Rules of Procedure for Committees in English for IUSMUN 2011

8/3/2019 Rules of Procedure for Committees in English for IUSMUN 2011

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RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR COMMITTEES IN ENGLISH

Rule 1. Scope

The following Rules of Procedure are valid in the Security Council andthe World Trade Organizations committees of IUSMUN 2011. These Rules

establish the debate procedures as well as the behavior that shall be

observed by the delegates. These Rules of Procedure are unique and self-

sufficient and will be considered as adopted prior to the beginning of the

first session, except for further modifications or additions made by the

Secretariat such as the President of each committee, in order to improve

the committees dynamic prior notification to the delegates.

In case of controversy in the interpretation and application of these

rules and any other matter not included in this text, the Secretariat will

have the last decision.

Rule 2. The Secretariat

The Secretariat of IUSMUN 2011 is composed by the Secretary General,

the Academic Secretary, Logistics Secretary, Linkage Secretary and the

Protocol Manager. The Secretary-General or his representative may submit

oral as well as written statements to any committee concerning any issue.

Rule 3. Language

English will be the official and working language during formal and

informal debate, thus, delegates shall avoid expressions in any other

language.

Rule 4. Composition of the Chair

The President will exercise the maximum authority of the committees.

His decisions shall be considered as final and not subject to appeal, and


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among with the Moderator, Conference Officer and pages will compose the

Chair.

Rule 5. General Powers of the ChairThe functions of the Chair, including but not limited to, are:

A.The President:a) Declare the opening and closing of each session but also its

suspension, adjournment or postponement.

b) Decide whether the points and motions proposed are in order or not,as well as the Rights of Reply and take necessary disciplinary

measures whenever is needed.

c) Establish the time allocated for the delegates speeches in order tomake the most of it.

d) Notify the delegates about any communication made by theSecretariat.

e) Make recommendations in order to clarify the matters regarding aspecific topic and orient delegates regarding the rules of procedure.

f) Withdraw the points of order and personal privilege, either by theirexcessive or indiscriminate use, deciding the proper time when they

may be reestablished.

g) Suspend written communications whenever it may be considered asnecessary.

h) Request for the participation of any delegation having few or nullparticipation in the debate.

i) Approve the Working Papers using the criteria established in theseRules of Procedure.

B. Moderatora) Conduct the debate, yielding the floor in order to facilitate the flow of

it by encouraging the participation of all the delegates.

b)Announce the decisions taken by the Chair.


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c) Open and close the floor.d) Along with the Conference Officer, act as a consultant when

preparing Working Papers, Draft Agreements or Amendments.

C.Conference Officer

a) Call the roll every sessionb)Add to the speakers list all delegates wishing to use the floor.c) Assist in the recording of the voting results and the warnings

imposed by the Chair.

d) Facilitate the written communications between delegates and withthe Chair.

e) Monitor the Speech time of each Delegate.

Rule 6. Delegations

Each delegation shall be formed by one or two delegates who will

represent only one State, Custom Union, Person or International

Organization whether members or not of the United Nations.

Those delegations that are not members will be considered as observers

and will have the very same rights as any other delegation; however, they

will not have the right to vote neither the Draft Agreements nor the

Amendments. Each delegation has the right to only one vote. The decisions

made by one member of a co-delegation will affect both of its members.

Rule 7. Obligations of the delegates

a) Delegates shall present the Position Papers to the Chair in a timelyfashion; via e-mail by the date established by the President and in

hard copy in the first session.

b)All delegations must, at all times, show proper respect and deferencetowards any member of the Secretariat, the Chair and other

delegates.

c) Delegates badge must be worn at all time.


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d) Be on time and remain in order every session. Food and drinks areforbidden in the committees rooms.

e) Speak in third person at all times.f)

No delegate may use the floor without the approval of the Chair.

Rule 8. Ambassadors and Visitors

Ambassadors are the representatives, coordinators and counselors of a

group of students participating as delegates in IUSMUN 2011, they have

the purpose of establishing a link between the Secretariat and the

delegates, as well as providing advice to both.

Ambassadors and visitors may not interfere during the debate in any

form, and must following these Rules of Procedure. The Chair may

discretionally ask Ambassadors and Visitors to leave the room whenever

they breach these Rules.

Rule 9. Dress Code

Delegates shall abide the following dressing code:

Women. A dress, suit, slacks or skirts (no jeans), a blouse or sweater

will be required. Dress shoes must be worn.

Men. A suit or jacket and dress pants (no jeans), a dress shirt and tie

will be required and dress shoes must be worn.

In case a delegate decides to attend a session wearing traditional or

ethnic attire, the Chair must approve it.

The Chair will strictly supervise the above rules of dress code. Non-

compliance with these rules will merit a warning.

Rule 10. Communication

Delegates, observers, ambassadors and visitors may only communicate

with each other though written means, unless the Chair decides to

suspend this type of communication.


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Excepting the caucus, the direct contact between delegates is forbidden.

Ambassadors are banned from having direct contact with the delegates or

participating in the Committees working procedures. The breach of this

rule could merit a warning for the delegates involved.The Chair reserves the right to look through all written communications

that are not addressed with respect and courtesy to its recipient. Such

action will worth a warning.

Rule 11. Code of Behavior

At the Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico (UNAM) is strictly

forbidden to introduce or consume alcoholic beverages as well as the

consumption or possession of narcotics, illegal psychotropic or addictive

substances. TheAntigua Escuela Nacional de Jurisprudenciais considered

as part of UNAM, therefore any vandalistic act against the facilities is

banned.

Any person committing the acts aforementioned will be expelled from

IUSMUN and sent to the proper authorities.

It is strictly forbidden to smoke, eat or drink any beverage inside the

rooms where the committees hold sessions.

Rule 12. Electronic Devices

Prior authorization of the Chair, the use of laptop during sessions is

permitted; however delegates are not permitted to access the Internet; a

delegation using these devices without approval may be warned. The use of

any other electronic devices is prohibited.

Under no circumstances the organization of IUSMUN 2011 will be

responsible for the loss or theft of such devices.


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Rule 13. Nature of the Debate

The debate in each committee will be divided in General Debate, in

respect to the topics at hand; and Particular Debate regarding the Working

Papers.

Rule 14. Agenda

After calling the roll and declaring the first session as open, the

committee will establish the Agenda, for that purpose the Chair shall recall

the topics that will be discussed. Then, a delegation must establish a

motion of Procedure to discuss the opening of one of the Topics, that

motion shall be seconded and voted.

Once the motion has passed, the Chair shall establish a provisional

speakers list with two delegations speaking in favor and two against the

motion. It is forbidden for delegates to refer to the other topic at hand in

their speeches.

Delegations will alternately speak in favor and against the topic chosen;

the first speaker will be the one that proposed the motion. After the

provisional speakers list is exhausted, the committee shall move into an

immediate vote. A simple majority is required for the motion to pass;

otherwise automatically the other topic will be discussed.

Rule 15. Speakers List

Once that the topic to be discussed has been established, a motion of

procedure to open a speakers list will be in order, the delegate proposing

the motion will be the first to speak and the one seconding will be the

second in the Speakers List. A delegate may request its inclusion in the list

by raising the placard. If a delegate is absent from it as-of-yet, must do it

through a written message. If the Chair considers it appropriate, a new

speakers list will be established every sessions day.


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Rule 16. Voting Criteria

All procedural decision have to be voted by all the delegates, and only

once, which may be in favor, against or abstention.

The delegations to propose a motion should vote in favor to avoidcontradictions.

The Specific voting criteria for the WTO committee and Security Council

will be established in the corresponding annexes.

Rule 17. Quorum

For debate to commence, the President must declare the session as open

and allow the debate to start when at least a simple majority of the

delegations that are present.

Rule 18. Sanctions

In the event a delegate breaches these Rules, the Chair or any member

of the Secretariat may issue the following sanctions:

Call to attention: A mention made by the Chair to a delegate due to a

breach of the Rules, discipline or in the development of the committees

procedure.

Warning: A measure imposed by the Chair for delegations repeating a

conduct that breaches the Rules, discipline or the development of the

committees procedure.

Suspension of the session: Delegates warned twice must abandon the

room immediately, not being able to go back until the next session.

Expulsion of the Model: Delegates accruing 3 warnings from the Chair

will be banned from the Model.

Rule 19. Points and Motions

Delegates may use points and motions in the formal debate to suggest a

situation or proposal for consideration. The type of points and motions are:


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a) Point of Orderb) Point of Personal Privilegec) Point of Parliamentary Inquiryd)

Motion of Procedure

The Points of order, Personal Privilege and Parliamentary Inquiry may be

established at any time, they may even interrupt a speaker, hence must be

used with utmost discretion.

The Motion of Procedure can only be established when the floor is open.

a) Point of order:A Point of Order must relate to the inobservance of the rules of the

committee or appoint improper conducts from delegates or the

Chair. A point of order over a point of order cannot be established.

b) Point of Personal PrivilegeIf a delegate experiments any discomfort that prevents him or her

from participating fully in the proceedings may request it. This

motion must be fully heard by the Chair, however if this discomfort

is not urgent to fix, it could be sent through written means to the

Chair.

c) Point of Parliamentary Inquiry Through this point, a delegate may ask the Chair about the

procedure that must be followed; these questions must be relevant

to the procedure at hand.

d) Motion of ProcedureThis motion is used when the floor is open; it modifies the normal

course of the debate.

Rule 20. Yielding of Time

A delegate, who has been recognized to use the floor, may yield his

remaining time as described below. The delegate must communicate his

decision to the Chair at the end of his speech.


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a)To another Delegate. The other delegate may use the time, but maynot yield it again. In case that the delegate to whom the time is being

yielded does not accept it, the yielding delegate will be warned.

b) To Questions. Delegates allowed to present their questions will bechosen by the chair and will only be permitted to ask one. Time will

be deducted exclusively from the speakers answers.

c)To Comments. The Moderator may authorize two comments from theforum about the content of the former speakers speech. The

delegates cannot yield their time, which will be of exactly 30

seconds.

d) To the Chair. The Chair may use it or not as they consider itappropriate.

Rule 21. Extraordinary Session of Questions

After a delegations Speech, while the floor is open a delegate may ask

the Chair for an Extraordinary Session of Questions, which may not be of

less than two or more than five questions.

The delegate to be questioned must accept this Motion but could deny it

without any justification; equally the motion has to be seconded and voted,

being accepted by a Simple Majority.

Delegates proposing and seconding the motion will have the right to

make one question and whenever is needed a follow up that clarifies an

early answer.

It is the questioning Delegates prerogative to establish a brief preamble

to his question. Such right must be exercised by requesting a Point of

Personal Privilege; notwithstanding such a right cannot be applied in the

case of follow-ups.

There will not be in order two subsequent extraordinary session of

questions.


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Rule 22. Right of Reply

A delegate whose personal integrity or national honor has been harmed

by another delegate may request a Right of Reply by written means. The

President will announce the decision of the Chair, which is final. If theChair decides that the Right of Reply is in order, the offence shall be

recognized.

A Right of Reply over a Right of Reply is out of order.

Rule 23. Caucus

A caucus entails a space to debate without a defined format; its purpose

is to make communication more fluid between delegates, negotiate or draw

up Working Papers and Draft Agreements. A delegate may propose a

Caucus whenever the floor is open; the motion must be seconded and

voted affirmatively by a Simple Majority.

The time-limit must be specified as musts its purpose. The Moderator

may declare it out of order. A motion of procedure should be voted likewise

and could be extended for a time shorter than the one established initially.

Rule 24. Moderated Caucus

During a Moderated Caucus, the Chair shall recognize the delegates for

remarks without the use of a Speakers List; delegates may speak by only

raising their placards. The motion to ask for a Moderated Caucus shall be

seconded and voted affirmatively by a Simple Majority.

Rule 25. Working Papers

A Working Paper is a document in which delegates will present the most

condensed ideas that have been discussed; it is the step prior to a Draft

Agreement. Working Papers do not need a strict format; only the signature

of the Chair to be presented and should be sponsored by one third of the

delegations.


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Before their formal presentation, Working Papers shall be approved by

the Chair, who may modify their layout and format and whenever is

needed its content.

Rule 26. Draft Agreements

All Draft Agreements must contain solutions to the problem at hand and

while not approved by the chair shall be called Possible Draft

Agreements. In order to be presented to the Chair they shall have a

defined format and count with the acknowledgment of minimum 30% of

the Delegates who may sponsor only one Draft Agreement per topic.

The Chair may suggest modifications in the layout, format or content of

the Draft Agreement; such suggestions must be informed to the signing

delegates for their appraisal.

The Draft Agreement shall be distributed to all parties to be discussed,

amended and voted during the Particular Debate. No Draft Agreement

written before the simulation will be approved for discussion or voting.

Once approved by the Chair, the Draft Agreement shall be presented to

be discussed in a Particular Debate.

Rule 27. Particular Debate

The Chair will ask three delegates to present the Draft Agreement within

five minutes; five questions will then be in order.

The Particular Debate may have two modalities: Open or Closed Debate.

This situation will be put to the vote of the delegates. Being approved by a

Simple Majority, the chosen debate may and will be changed whenever the

Chair deems it necessary.

a) Open DebateThe Moderator will grant the word to the delegates by raising their

placard. The floor will not be open, thus motions will be out of order.


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The Chair will decide the proper moment to declare this debate as

closed.

b) Closed DebateThe Chair shall establish two Speakers Lists, one in favor and oneagainst the Draft Agreement by taking into account the regional and

ideological diversity. Each speaker will be able to use the floor for

two minutes in order to make a comment and/or propose an

amendment. Whenever an Amendment is proposed it shall be read

by the Chair to the forum. After having presented the Amendments,

the Chair might discretionally accept or reject them.

One or Two Questions could be made to each Delegation using the

floor prior to the voting of the amendment proposed. Delegations

making comments without proposing Amendments in favor or

against the Draft Agreement may yield the remaining time of their

speeches to other Delegation or the Chair.

Rule 28. Amendments

Amendments add to, delete from or modify parts of a Draft Agreement;

however they cannot transform the original essence of the document.

Proposed Amendments must be communicated to the Chair in a written

fashion and approved by the Chair during the Particular Debate in any of

its modalities.

A Friendly Amendment will require 100% of signatures from the

delegates. A Conventional Amendment shall require 30% of signatures

from the delegates. Approved Amendments shall be read by the Chair.

Votes can be collected through written messages passed viapage to other

delegates.

The voting of the amendments will not be binding and abstentions

cannot take place. Amendments are to be approved by a Qualified

Majority.


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Rule 29. Closure of the Debate

In order to vote a Draft Agreement, the debate regarding it and its

Amendments must be closed; thus, a motion to Close the Debate will be in

order, this motion shall be seconded. The floor will be momentarily openfor two delegates to speak against the Closure of the Debate. After the

speeches voting will take place needing a Qualified Majority to be

approved. Once the debate is closed the Draft Agreement may be voted.

Rule 30. Division of the Question

The Division of the Question implies that certain clauses of a Draft

Agreement will be voted separately, so that only the clauses that are

passed become part of the final Agreement.

Immediately after the debate has been closed, a delegate may propose a

motion to vote each Operative Clause of the Draft Resolution in an

individual manner. The floor will be momentarily opened to allow this to

happen. A Speakers List will be opened with one delegate in favor and one

against the Division of the Question, and this motion requires a Qualified

Majority to pass.

If all the Operative Clauses of the Draft Agreement are rejected, the

Agreement shall be rejected; if any passed, an Agreement on that specific

topic shall be considered.

Rule 31. Voting

Each Member has the right to only one vote. Abstentions shall not be

taken into account as votes against. Draft Agreements shall be approved

as established in the annexes for each committee. The President will guide

the delegates to vote in alphabetical order following the procedure laid out

thus:

1. First Round: Delegates may vote in favor, against, abstain or pass.Those delegations passing may define their vote in the second round.


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They may ask the Chair for a Right of Explanation to make an

exposition to the Council about the votes reasoning.

2. Second Round: The Council will hear the right of Explanation of thedelegates that have asked for it within 30 seconds. The delegatesthat passed must vote either in favor, against or abstain.

3.Third Round: The Chair will invite the delegates who voted againstthe Agreement to reconsider their vote, and will then call upon them

again to vote alphabetically. The votes casted in this round will be

definitive.

Rule 32. Closure of the Session

To Close the Session the floor must be open and a delegate must

propose either the closure until the next session (leading to a recess) or a

definite Closure of the simulation (if current session is the last one). This

motion shall be seconded and voted.


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ANNEX 1

SECURITY COUNCIL SPECIFIC RULES OF PROCEDURE

Voting CriteriaThere are three criterions to consider a vote as passed. In all cases, all

delegations present and recognized by the Chair to participate in the

session are to be considered, except for the votes reserved to members.

1) Simple Majority: More votes in favor of those who are against.Abstentions are not taken into account.

2) Absolut majority: 50% +1 (fifty percent plus one) of the attendingDelegations in the time that the decision is taken.

3) Qualified Majority: 2/3 (two thirds) of the attending Delegations inthe time that the decision is taken.

Quorum

There will be no distinction between permanent or non-permanent

members for the determination of quorum.

Draft Agreements

The correct term for the Security Council shall be Draft Resolutions.

Voting

Considering the special characteristics of the Security Council, all the

Agreements shall be adopted without vetos right of the five permanent

members (United Stated of America, Republic of France, United Kingdom,

Popular Republic of China and Russian Federation).

The vote of non-present members will be counted as an abstention. The

absence of a member will be recorded in the final text of the resolution. A

Resolution of the Security Council requires nine affirmative votes and no

negative vote of a permanent member to be approved. The voting of a


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Presidential Statement in the Security Council requires the affirmative vote

of two thirds of the members.

Once the voting has started it cannot be interrupted. During the voting

procedure contained herein, doors and any other kind of access to theroom will be closed and must not open until said premises must leave the

room, equally, delegates will not be allowed to leave the room.

The voting procedures will occur as established in Rule 31; however, a

fourth round of voting will take place:

4) Fourth Round: In this round only the five permanent members canbe in the room. In this round the veto right of the five permanent

members may be exercised.

Presidential Statement

The Presidential Statement is a document expressing the opinion and

will of the Council; it does not contain operative clauses. The text of the

Statement has to be signed by two thirds of the delegations and approved

by the Chair. The approved text has to be introduced to the Council by two

or more delegations for discussion by a Motion of Procedure. The

Statement can be submitted to vote after its text has been discussed by a

Motion of Procedure.

Press Release

The Press Release is a document expressing the position of the

participants and the agreements reached during the debate. It requires a

simple majority to pass. The text has to be signed by half of the delegations

and approved by the Chair. The approved text has to be introduced to the

committee before it is voted. A delegate may request the Chair to add,

modify or eliminate a point referring to its delegation on the Press Release

by a Motion of Personal Privilege before it is voted.


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ANNEX 2

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE SPECIFIC RULES OF

PROCEDURE

Agenda

The Chair will announce the Topic that will be discussed first to the

delegates by e mail. On the first session, the Chair will remind the

delegates the pre-established Agenda

Voting Criteria

There are three criterions to consider a vote as passed. In all cases, all

delegations present and recognized by the Chair to participate in the

session are to be considered, except for the votes reserved to WTO

members.

5) Simple Majority: 50% +1 (fifty percent plus one) of the attendingDelegations in the time that the decision is taken.

6) Qualified Majority: 2/3 (two thirds) of the attending Delegations inthe time that the decision is taken.

7) Consensus: No Member, attending at the meeting when the decisionis taken formally objects to the proposed decision.

Closure of the Debate

Due to the nature of the WTO Committee, in order to vote an Agreement,

both topics in the Agenda shall be discussed in general and particular

debate and amended.

Voting

Considering the special characteristics of the WTO Committee, all the

Agreements shall be adopted by consensus (no delegate may vote against

the Agreement). In the WTO Committee only one voting will take place, the


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Agreements made in both topics shall be voted simultaneously and as a

whole.

Once that the voting of an Agreement has started it cannot be

interrupted. During the voting procedure contained herein the doors andany other kind of access to the room will be closed and must not open

until said premises must leave the room, equally delegations will not be

allowed to leave the room.

Observers, Ambassadors and Visitors shall leave the room in order to

start with the voting.

Documents

Rules of Procedure for Committees in English for IUSMUN 2011