Standard
Debate
Procedure
Terminology, dais roles, and flowchart
Terms
Attendance
Before the start of any committee session, the Committee Chair will take attendance in alphabetical order.
Delegations can answer either “present” or “present and voting”. If you answer ‘present and voting’ you MUST vote on all resolutions, and cannot abstain.
*If you arrive late to a committee session and miss attendance, send a note to the Chair
Motion
A formal proposal that sets the direction of your committee.
Ex: “Motion to set the topic to Topic 1: ______.”
Ex: “Motion for a moderated caucus to discuss ______.”
Ex: “Motion to suspend debate until tomorrow morning at _____.”
Ex. “Motion to adjourn the session”
Ex. “Motion to Close Debate”
Dilatory Motion
Any motion that the Chair deems inappropriate, has no chance of passing, or would constitute an unnecessary hindrance to debate.
Suspension of the Debate
Debate is suspended when your committee session ends
Must be motioned for and voted on by the committee.
Adjournment of the Session
This statement ends all debate and the conference. Used when your committee has finished dealing with all committee topics at hand.
Closing Debate
Debate ends on the committee topic, and immediately moves the committee into voting procedure.
Voting Procedure
When voting is reached, each member of the Committee shall have one vote either “Yes,” “No,” or “Abstain”. Delegates cannot leave or enter the committee room once voting has begun. Resolutions require a 2/3rds majority to pass. Roll Call Voting allows each delegation to vote on the DR as a whole. Division by the Question breaks the DR into multiple parts that are voted on clause by clause.
(NOTE: All amendments, DRs, and other formal documents must be approved by the committee Dais staff before they are presented to the committee as a whole)
Primary and Secondary Speakers’ List
Primary Speaker’s list: When you walk into committee on Thursday, committee will start with the Primary Speakers list. From here, a delegation will propose a motion to start debating either Topic 1 or Topic 2.
Secondary Speaker’s list: Once the topic has been set, committee will go to the Secondary Speakers list. When it is your country’s turn to speak from the Secondary Speakers list, use this time to speak about your country’s foreign policy and opinions about the topic at hand. From here, delegates can propose a motion to hold moderated and unmoderated caucuses.
Moderated and Unmoderated Caucus
Moderated Caucus: period of time where delegates can discuss a specific issue on the committee topic. Examples of specific issues could include funding opportunities or addressing a major definition/challenge. At the discretion of the chair, it can be extended.
Unmoderated Caucus: period of time set aside to work on working papers with other delegates. There are no formal debate procedures during this time. At the discretion of the chair, it can be extended.
Working papers
Any document that has not been approved by the Dais and introduced to the committee. Working papers may become resolution papers that will be voted on.
Draft Resolution (DR)
A working paper that has at least 1/5th of committee delegates as sponsors or signatories, and that has been approved by the Dais staff. DRs are introduced to the committee by a sponsor during the secondary speaker’s list. DR sponsors may request to approach the Dais in order to present their DR to the committee as a whole. Voted on upon closure of debate in the order they were introduced.
Resolution papers
When a draft resolution passes with 2/3rds majority
Amendments
Formal proposals to add to or revise the operative clauses of a Draft Resolution (DR). Delegates may propose amendments to any DR that has been introduced. There are 2 types of amendments
Point
An informal statement made by delegates to make a correction, clarification or question. Use points to ask your Dais staff questions or bring your Dais staff’s attention to a rule of procedure that has been broken.
Types of ‘Points’
Chair, Vice chair, and FPAs
Committee Dais Staff Roles
Chair and Vice-Chair
FPAs
Your go-to person for answers about foreign policy questions during the conference.
Keep track of delegate attendance, manage the speaking list, moderates debate, and enforce rules of procedure.
Click here for a full flow chart PDF
Flow Chart
FLOW OF DEBATE
THANK
YOU
Time to start attendance!