Arkansas Model United Nations (AMUN)

                             Outline of Committee/Council Meetings

I.  Formal Convening of the Committee/Council - Chair (or Co-Chair) formally

    convenes the committee/council by banging the gavel and requesting that the 

    committee/council come to order.

     A.  The Chair shall pass around a "sign-up" sheet. Delegates should clearly print their 

          name and country on the sheet. (The sheet should be returned to the Legal Counsel 

          once all of the delegates have printed their name on the sheet.)

     B.  Chair shall announce the rule concerning the time limit for speaking (e.g. five 

          minutes for speeches). Chair shall also announce that the chair will enforce the time 

          limits unless a motion to extend the time limit or a motion to change the time limit  

          is approved by the committee.

II.  Quorum - As the sign-up sheet is being passed around the room, the Chair shall announce

     a roll call of member-states of the committee (Chair should only call out those countries that

     are registered for the conference).

     A.  When the name of a country is called out, the delegate representing that country should

           raise their placard and say "present and voting" or an observer representing that country

           should raise their placard and say "present."

     B.  The Legal Counsel shall record the "roll call" information on the "committee/council

          voting form" in the committee/council binder. (The Legal Counsel should indicate the

          day and time on the form.)

III.  Agenda Items - For most of the committees/councils, the Chair shall announce that he 

       or she will entertain a motion to set the order of agenda items. The motion, which 

       requires a second, should propose discussion of the committee topics in a specified order.

       [Note:  In the case of the Security Council, a delegate may offer a motion to set the 

       order of the working agenda.  The agenda of the Security Council is not limited to any 

       topics that the AMUN Secretariat provided in advance of the conference.  In the case 

       of the Historical Security Council, the topic or topics are predetermined by the AMUN 

       Secretariat. Delegates will be given "press releases" throughout the conference pertaining 

       to one or more crises that occurred during that particular historical year.]

     A.  Once a motion regarding the agenda of the committee has been offered, the Chair shall

          recognize one speaker in favor of the motion and one speaker in opposition to the motion.

     B.  Once discussion of the motion has been completed, the Chair shall call for a vote on the

          motion. The Chair should announce: "All those in favor of the ____ motion regarding the

          agenda of the committee raise your placard; all those opposed to the ____ motion raise

          your placard; all those abstaining raise your placard."

          [Note:  The Co-Chair is responsible for counting the number of "yes" votes, "no" votes, 

          and "abstentions", and reporting the tabulations to the chair.  It is generally not necessary 

          to maintain permanent records of the results of voting on procedural motions.]

     C.  The first motion regarding the agenda of the committee that obtains a majority of the vote

          will determine the order of discussion of the committee topics. 

          [Note: Abstentions shall be counted as "no" for the purpose of determining whether or not a 

          motion has received a majority of the vote.]

     D.  At any time during committee consideration of an agenda item, a delegate may offer a

          motion to table the agenda item (i.e. lay aside an issue for another issue). The Chair

          shall recognized one speaker in favor of the motion to table and recognize one speaker

          opposed to the motion to table. After the time limit has expired on the speeches, the Chair

          shall call a vote on the motion.  The motion is approved if a majority of the delegates votes

          in favor of the motion.

     E.  After committee consideration of an agenda item has been completed, any delegate may

          offer a motion to change the order of consideration of agenda items. Such a motion

          must be seconded by another delegate, and the motion is not debatable. Chair

          immediately calls for a vote on the motion. If the motion obtains a majority of the vote,

          the motion is approved and the agenda is changed.

          [Note: In the case of the Security Council, a delegate may offer a motion to change the

          order of the working agenda.  The Chair shall 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.]

IV.  Speaker’s List - The Chair shall announce that he or she has established a speaker’s list

       consisting of all of the delegates in the committee, in alphabetical order according to the

       names of the countries represented on the committee.

V.  General Debate - Once the speaker’s list has been announced, the Chair will open general

      debate on the first agenda item by recognizing the delegate from the first country on the

      speaker’s list. Chair will remind the delegates of the rule concerning the time limit for

     A.  Delegates should limit their speeches to general comments regarding their country’s position 

          on the agenda item or topic. Delegates should not refer to any specific draft resolution during

          general debate. Chair will rule comments regarding a specific draft resolution as "out of order"

          if such comments are made during general debate.

     B.  A delegate that is recognized for speaking may yield part of all of his or her time to the

          floor for points of inquiry.

     C.  During debate on an agenda item, a delegate may offer a motion to extend the time limit

           for speeches by a specified amount of time.  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 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).

     D.  During debate on an agenda item, a delegate may offer a motion to change the time limit

           for speeches to a different 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 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).

     E.  Once all of the delegates on the speaker’s list have finished their speeches and there are no

          pending motions, the Chair shall entertain a motion to suspend for a caucus for a

          specified period of time so that the delegates can informally discuss and prepare

          resolutions pertaining to the agenda item. 

          [Note:  All delegates must remain in the committee room, unless permission to leave the room 

          is granted by the Chair.]

VI.  Draft Resolutions - Delegates are allowed to offer draft resolutions pertaining to the topic that

       is currently on the agenda of the committee. Draft resolutions that do not pertain to the pending

       topic shall not be allowed for consideration by the Chair. A draft resolution must be co-

       sponsored by at least three other countries in order to be considered.

     A.  Before a draft resolution may be considered in committee, the sponsoring delegate must

          first submit the draft resolution to the Chair for approval. If the Chair approves of the draft

          resolution, the Legal Counsel will assign the draft resolution a specific number

          corresponding to the order that the resolution was approved by the Chair (e.g. the first draft

          resolution approved by the Chair of ECOSOC should be assigned "ECOSOC Resolution 1").

     B.  At least one copy of the draft resolution must be submitted to the Chair, and copies of the

          resolution must be provided to each of the members of the committee/council (in some

          rooms, the overhead projector may be used instead of distributing copies of the resolution).

     C.  Once a resolution has been approved by the Chair, the Chair shall entertain a motion for

          consideration of a draft resolution. Once such a motion has been approved by committee/

          council, the sponsoring delegate is provided up to five minutes to explain the main provisions 

          of the draft resolution and to answer points of inquiry from other delegates.

     D.  Once the sponsoring delegate has completed explanation of the draft resolution, the Chair

          shall recognize speakers in favor of or opposed to the resolution. (Delegates may also seek

          recognition to consider an amendment during this time.)

     E.  At any time during debate on a resolution, a delegate may offer a motion to close debate 

          on a resolution.  The Chair will recognize two speakers in opposition to the motion (the 

          Chair shall not recognize any speakers in favor of the motion). After discussion on the motion 

          has been completed, the Chair shall call a vote on the motion. If the motion obtains a majority

          of the vote, the motion is approved and debate on the draft resolution is closed. The Chair 

          then calls for a vote on final approval of the draft resolution (see VIII).

VII.  Amendments - During debate on a draft resolution, delegates are permitted to attempt to 

        amend some portion of the draft resolution. An amendment must be co-sponsored by at least 

        two other delegates in order to be considered.

     A.  Before a delegate will be permitted by the Chair to offer an amendment to the pending 

          draft resolution, the sponsoring delegate must fill out an amendment submission form and 

          submit the form to the Legal Counsel. If the Chair approves of the amendment, the Legal 

          Counsel will assign the amendment a specific letter along with the number of the resolution 

          (e.g. "ECOSOC Resolution 1-A"), sign the form, and return the form to the sponsoring 

          delegate.

     B.  A delegate seeking to offer an amendment to the pending resolution may offer a motion for 

          consideration of an amendment. There is no debate on these motions, and a vote on these 

          motions is not required.

     C.  Once an amendment has been brought to the floor, the committee/council shall consider only 

          the amendment, and not the draft resolution, until final action on the amendment has been 

          completed.

     D.  The sponsoring delegate shall begin by reading the amendment to the committee and answer 

          any points of information from other delegates.

     E.  After all points of information have been answered, the Chair shall recognize delegates in 

          favor of the amendment for one minute each and delegates in opposition to the amendment for 

          one minute each.  Delegates requesting recognition from the Chair should indicate whether 

          they are speaking in favor of the amendment or opposed to the amendment. Chair shall 

          alternate between speakers in favor of the amendment and delegates opposed to the 

          amendment.

     F.  The Chair will rule all secondary amendments (i.e. amendments to amendments) as "out of 

          order."

     G.  At any time during debate on an amendment, a delegate may offer a motion for closure of 

          debate on the amendment. The Chair will recognize two speakers in opposition to the motion 

          for one minute each (the Chair shall not recognize any speakers in favor of the motion). After 

          discussion of the motion has been completed, the Chair shall call a vote on the motion to close 

          debate on the amendment. If the motion obtains a majority of the vote, the motion is approved 

          and debate on the amendment is closed.  Unless there are any other motions, the Chair shall 

          call a vote on the amendment.  Prior to a vote on an amendment, a delegate may offer a motion

          to divide the question (i.e. propose that specific parts of the amendment be voted on

          separately).  These motions require a second, and cannot interrupt a speaker.  The Chair shall

          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).  If the motion to divide the question is approved, the Chair shall call a vote on the 

          separate parts of the amendment as specified in the previous motion.  Following completion of 

          the votes on the parts of the amendment, those parts of the amendment that were approved 

          should be put to a vote as a whole.  If all of the parts of the amendment have been rejected, 

          then the amendment should be considered rejected (no additional vote is required).

VIII.  Vote on Final Approval of a Draft Resolution - Once debate on a resolution has been 

          closed, the Chair shall call a vote on final approval of the resolutions as amended. The 

          resolution is approved if a majority of the delegates vote in favor of the resolution.  Prior to a 

          vote on a resolution, a delegate may offer a motion to divide the question (i.e. propose 

          that specific parts of the resolution be voted on separately).  These motions require a second,

          and cannot interrupt a speaker.  The Chair shall 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).  If the motion to divide the question is 

          approved, the Chair shall call a vote on the separate parts of the resolution as specified in the 

          previous motion.  Following completion of the votes on the parts of the resolution, those parts 

          of the resolution that were approved should be put to a vote as a whole.  If all of the operative

          clauses of the resolution have been rejected, then the resolution should be considered rejected

          (no additional vote is required).

     A.  After a vote on a resolution has been completed, a delegate that voted on the prevailing side

          of the resolution may offer a motion to reconsider. The motion requires a second.  The 

          Chair shall 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 two-thirds of the delegates vote in favor of the motion (abstentions are con-

          sidered "no" votes).

     B.  If there are no further motions pertaining to the pending topic, the Chair shall bring up the next

           item on the agenda.

IX.  Recess/Adjournment - When the committee/council is scheduled to recess (e.g. dinner or at the 

       end of the day) or adjourn (at the end of the conference), the Chair shall entertain a motion to 

       recess or a motion to adjourn. The motion requires a second, and is not debatable. 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.

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Last Updated:  January 15, 2004