Outline of Committee/Council Meetings
(1) 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.
* 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.)
* 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.
(2) 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).
* 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."
* 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.)
(3) 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. 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.
* 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.
* 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." 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.
* 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. Abstentions shall be counted as "no" for the purpose of determining whether or not a motion has received a majority of the vote.
* 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.
* 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. 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.
(4) 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.
(5) 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 speaking.
* 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.
* A delegate that is recognized for speaking may yield part of all of his or her time to the floor for points of inquiry.
* 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).
* 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).
* 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. All delegates must remain in the committee room, unless permission to leave the room is granted by the Chair.
(6) 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.
* 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").
* 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).
* 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.
* 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.)
* 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).
(7) 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* The sponsoring delegate shall begin by reading the amendment to the committee and answer any points of information from other delegates.
* 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.
* The Chair will rule all secondary amendments (i.e. amendments to amendments) as "out of order."
* 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).
(8) 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).
* 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 considered "no" votes).
* If there are no further motions pertaining to the pending topic, the Chair shall bring up the next item on the agenda.
(9) 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.