Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN)

Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN)

Parliamentary Procedures

1. Point of Order - During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may raise a point of order with regard to the conduct of business. A point of order may interrupt a speaker. There is no debate on a point of order, so the Chair should immediately issue a ruling pertaining to the point of order according to the rules.

2. Point of Information - A delegate may raise a point of information to make inquiries to or request clarification from the Chair concerning parliamentary procedure or any other relevant questions pertaining to the business of the committee. A point of information cannot interrupt a speaker.

3. Point of Personal Privilege - A delegate may raise a point of personal privilege concerning a personal matter or the conduct of another delegate. The Chair should respond appropriately to the matter. A point of personal privilege cannot interrupt a speaker.

4. Point of Inquiry - During debate on a resolution or amendment, a delegate may raise a point of inquiry. The point of inquiry must be directed through the Chair and may be made only after the speaker has finished speaking, but before the speaker has yielded the floor. A point of inquiry cannot interrupt a speaker.

5. Motion to Recess - A delegate may offer a motion to temporarily suspend the meeting in order to go into recess. A motion to recess requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. A motion to recess should indicate the time at which the meeting will reconvene. A motion to recess is not debatable, so the Chair should immediately call a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor on the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). When the meeting has reconvened following a recess, the business shall continue from the point at which the meeting was suspended. The Chair may declare a suspension of a meeting at any time.

6. Motion to Adjourn - A delegate may offer a motion to adjourn the meeting at the end of the regular meeting of the committee or council. A motion to adjourn requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. A motion to adjourn is not debatable, so the Chair should immediately call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

7. Motion to Suspend for a Caucus - During general debate on an agenda item, a delegate may offer a motion to suspend the meeting for the purpose of going into caucus to informally discuss the agenda item and prepare resolutions pertaining to the agenda item. A motion to suspend for a caucus requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. A motion to suspend for a caucus is not debatable, so the Chair should immediately call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

8. Motion to Set the Order of Agenda Items - Following the convening of a committee of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a delegate may offer a motion concerning the order of consideration of agenda items. The motion should specify the precise order of consideration of agenda items. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved is a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

9. Motion to Change the Order of Consideration of Agenda Items - After the committee or council has completed business on an agenda item, a delegate may offer a motion to change the order of consideration of the remaining agenda items. The motion should specify the precise order of remaining agenda items. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

10. Motion to Set the Order of the Working Agenda (Security Council) - Following the convening of the Security Council, a delegate may offer a motion to set the order of consideration of items on the working agenda. The motion should specify the order of consideration of items on the working agenda. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. Debate on this motion is open to an unlimited number of speakers both pro and con. The Chair should alternate between pro and con speakers. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved is a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

11. Motion to Change the Order of the Working Agenda (Security Council) - At any time during a meeting of the Security Council, a delegate may offer a motion to change the order of consideration of items on the working agenda. The motion should specify the new order of consideration of items on the working agenda. The motion requires a second, and may not interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize two speakers in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

12. Motion to Table the Agenda Item - A delegate may offer a motion to table (i.e. to lay aside for an indefinite or definite period of time) the pending agenda item. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If an agenda item has been tabled indefinitely, it does not need to be considered prior to completion of committee or council business.

13. Motion to Table the Resolution - A delegate may offer a motion to table (i.e. to lay aside for an indefinite or definite period of time) the pending resolution. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If a resolution has been tabled indefinitely, it does not need to be considered prior to completion of committee and council business.

14. Motion to Table the Amendment - A delegate may offer a motion to table (i.e. to lay aside for an indefinite or definite period of time) the pending amendment. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If an amendment has been tabled indefinitely, it does not need to be considered prior to completion of committee and council business.

15. Motion to Take from the Table - A delegate may offer a motion to remove from the table an agenda item, resolution, or amendment that had previously been tabled indefinitely. This motion is not in order if there is another motion, resolution, or amendment on the floor. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if two-thirds of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

16. Motion to Close Debate on an Amendment - During debate on an amendment, a delegate may offer a motion to immediately end discussion of the amendment. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize two speakers in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If the motion is approved, the Chair should immediately call for a vote on the amendment.

17. Motion to Close Debate on a Resolution - During debate on a resolution, a delegate may offer a motion to immediately end discussion of the resolution. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize two speakers in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If the motion is approved, the Chair should immediately call for a vote on the resolution.

18. Motion to Close Debate on an Agenda Item - During debate on an agenda item, a delegate may offer a motion to immediately end discussion of the agenda item. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize two speakers in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If the motion is approved, the Chair should immediately move to the next item on the agenda.

19. Motion to Divide the Question - Prior to a vote on a resolution or amendment, a delegate may offer a motion to divide the question (i.e. propose that specific parts of the resolution or amendment be voted on separately). Motions for division apply to both activating and pre-ambulatory clauses. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If a motion to divide the question is approved, the Chair should call a vote on the separate parts of the resolution or amendment as specified in the previous motion. Following completion of the votes on the parts of the resolution or amendment, those parts of the resolution or amendment that were approved should be put to a vote as a whole. If all of the operative clauses of a resolution have been rejected, then the resolution should be considered rejected (no vote is required).

20. Motion to Consider a Draft Resolution - During debate on an agenda item, a delegate may offer a motion to consider a draft resolution. Resolutions that do not pertain to the pending agenda item will not be allowed for consideration by the Chair. The draft resolution should have been approved by the Chair and give a number prior to recognition of the delegate for the purpose of offering this motion. No second is required for this motion, but the resolution should have at least three cosponsors in order to be considered. The motion is not debatable, and no vote is required on this motion. The main sponsor of the resolution will be allowed by the Chair to be the first speaker on the resolution.

21. Motion to Consider an Amendment to a Draft Resolution - During debate on a resolution, a delegate may offer a motion to consider an amendment to a resolution. The proposed amendment should have been approved by the Chair and given a number prior to recognition of the delegate for the purpose of offering this motion. No second is required for this motion, by the amendment should be cosponsored by at least one other delegate in order to be considered. The motion is not debatable, and no vote is required on this motion. The sponsor of the amendment will be allowed by the Chair to be the first speaker on the amendment.

22. Motion to Question the Competence of the Committee - During debate on a resolution, a delegate may offer a motion to question the competence of the committee to consider a particular resolution (i.e. the resolution is not within the jurisdiction of the committee). The motion must be offered before the vote on final approval of the resolution. This motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair shall call a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes). If the motion is approved, the resolution cannot be further considered and no vote can be taken on the resolution.

23. Motion to Extend the Time Limit - During debate on an agenda item, resolution or amendment, a delegate may offer a motion to extend the time limit for speeches by a specified time period. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair shall call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

24. Motion to Change the Time Limit - During debate on an agenda item, resolution, or amendment, a delegate may offer a motion to change the time limit for speeches to a different time period. A motion to change the time limit requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

25. Motion to Reconsider - Following a vote on a resolution, a delegate may offer a motion to reconsider the vote on a resolution (whether the resolution was approved or rejected by the committee). A motion to reconsider requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The motion must be offered by a delegate who voted on the prevailing side of the resolution. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved if two-thirds of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

26. Motion to Appeal the Decision of the Chair - Immediately following a ruling by the Chair, a delegate may offer a motion to appeal the decision. The motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. The Chair should recognize one speaker in favor of the motion (the chair has the right to be this speaker) and one speaker in opposition to the motion. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The question shall be: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" A "yes" vote (or abstention) will signify support for the Chair. A "no" vote shall signify support for the appeal. A tie vote results in sustaining the ruling of the Chair.

27. Motion to Request the Presence of a Representative of a Party to a Dispute (Security Council) - At any time during debate on an item on the working agenda, a delegate may offer a motion to request a representative of a party to a dispute to come to the Security Council. The motion should specify the country whose representative is requested, and whether debating privileges are to be granted to the representative. This motion requires a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker. Debate on this motion is open to an unlimited number of speakers both pro and con. The Chair should alternate between pro and con speakers. Following the speeches, the Chair should call for a vote on the motion. The motion is approved is a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are considered "no" votes).

_________________________________________________________