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MUN Parliamentary Procedure and

Term
Parliamentary procedure is the procedure or method in which order is sought
by both the Chair AND the delegates in a formal conference. It is composed of
many rules and motions created to make a conference easier for everyone.

Modes of Address
First well start with the obvious: do not use slang when speaking in a
conference, all speeches should begin with Honorable Chair, fellow
delegates and not: Yo wutup?! Remember, you are trying to solve a
world issue, not hosting a party with all your friends.
Heres perhaps the most important aspect of parliamentary etiquette: NEVER
REFER TO YOURSELF IN THE FIRST PERSON. That also goes for your
peers. When speaking, use the name of your delegation: e.g. The
delegation of China firmly believe... or the (honorable) delegate of Russia
would like to know
The following are some phrases that can be used by delegates:
o

Honorable Chair

The delegation of ________ has a point of ________ (see below under

motions of parliamentary procedure)

Is the delegate of __________ not aware

Does the speaker not realize that

The delegate of _______ yields the floor to the chair/to the delegate of
______

Does the speaker not agree

Motions of Parliamentary Procedure

A motion is a point or request that a delegate would like to bring to the Chairs
attention. These should never be used to interrupt a speaker (at least wait
until s/he has finished his/her sentence). Here are the most common and
most often used motions:
Point of Personal Privilege: This is a motion used to let the Chair and
the speaker know that something is bothering you (the speaker is too loud,
too quiet, too fast, too slow or unclear). When wishing to bring across a
point of personal privilege simply raise your countrys name card and say
Point of Personal Privilege and the Chair will determine whether or not it
is in order and s/he will ask the delegate to rise and state the reasoning
behind his/her point.
Point of Information: This is a question a delegate might have for the
speaker after s/he has finished his/her speech. A Point of Information can
only be brought forth when the Chair has asked for them (after a speakers
speech, s/he may or may not agree to be open to points of information.)
When the Chair has authorized points of information, simply raise your
countrys name card and wait to be called on. Here are some tips to Point
of Information:

Use proper etiquette and stay respectful

Only ask ONE question when called on

If the delegate has not answered the question to your

satisfaction you may ask for a follow-up question by saying
Request follow-up. The Chair may or may not recognize
these

Points of Information are not only used to make the speaker

look like s/he has said something wrong; it is very helpful to an
argument if the delegate agrees with the speaker but do it in a
form of a question. E.g. Does the delegate of
_________(speaker) not agree.

Point of Order: This is the motion used when you want to bring the
Chairs attention to a speakers or another delegates mistake in or
violation of parliamentary procedure. If a delegate breaks any of the rules
or regulations stated above or in following sections, wait for the speaker to
finish his/her sentence then raise your countrys name card and say Point
of Order. The Chair will determine whether this is appropriate or not. If

appropriate, s/he will ask you to rise and state your point, i.e., is it in order
for the Delegate of Kuwait to do a cartwheel?
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: This is a question directed to the
Chair concerning parliamentary procedures in regard to time and related
issues.
Motion to Move into time for/against: This motion is directed to the
Chair. If the meeting is going slowly (e.g., no one is speaking) then you
may say Motion to move into time for/against this resolution." If the house
agrees, someone will second this motion. If there are no objections, the
Chair will suspend that time frame and move into the next.
Motion to Move into Voting Procedure: Again, if the meeting seems
not to be productive, you may raise your countrys name card and say
Motion to move into voting procedure if another delegates agrees, s/he
will second this motion. If there are no objections, then voting procedure
will take place.

Amendments
An amendment is a fixture you want to make to the resolution at hand. You
can fix a clause of the resolution, strike a clause, add a clause etc. To
propose an amendment, you first write it clearly on note paper and send it to
the Chair. When called on by the Chair, you will read your amendment and the
Chair will set time for and against it. When time has elapsed for the
amendment, there will be a vote on it.

Behaviour
Behaviour in an assembly is very important. NO TALKING BETWEEN
DELGATES WILL BE TOLERATED. All communication between delegates
will be through notes passing. MUN meetings are very serious and is a forum
to discuss world issues such as declaring war on another nation and therefore
is not funny and laughing is out of order. Respect must be kept when
speaking as well. If the Chair deems it necessary, s/he may issue a warning
to a delegation who repeatedly breaks parliamentary procedure. After three
warnings, a delegation will be asked to leave the conference.
*Adapted from http://www.worldmun.org/

Flow of Debate:
1) At the beginning of the conference, the Chair calls the house to order: Chair: May the House please com to order?
2) The Chair then proceeds with roll call to ensure all nations are present.
3) Debate begins with the Chair selecting one main submitter of the resolution
to be discussed so that it may be introduced.
-Chair: We will now move into the debate on (topic). Will one of the main
submitters of the resolution submitted by (list of main submitters) please
request the floor?
4) Main submitters wishing to speak raise their placards and the Chair selects
one to read the operative clauses and defend the resolution.
-Chair: Delegation of (nation selected), you have been recognized -Main
Submitter: Clause 1 [...] Decides to remain actively seized on the matter.Chair: The House has heard the resolution. Is there a second? -Delegates:
Second!
5) The Chair sets the debate time for time in favor and against the resolution.
He or she then yields to the main submitter for opening remarks. Later, if the
main submitter agrees, the Chair may select other nations to make points of
information. The main submitter may also yield to another delegation at this
time.
-Chair: (Main submitter), please proceed with your remarks-Main Submitter:
Delegates, the resolution at hand [...]-Chair: Thank you. Is the delegate
open to any points of information?-Main Submitter: Any and all-Chair: All
nations wishing to make a point of information to the delegation of (main
submitter) please raise your placards high. Delegation of (delegation asking),
you have been recognized.
6) After the Chair decides that the time for points of information for that
speaker has elapsed, he or she will request that the speaker yields the floor
back to the Chair.
-Chair: Will the delegate please yield the floor back to the Chair? - Main
Submitter: So yielded.
7) Other delegates can now request the floor to speak in favor of the
resolution until the time for the resolution has expired, at which point the
committee will move into time against the resolution.

-Chair: Debate time in favor of this resolution has expired, so the House will
now move into time against this resolution. All nations wishing to speak
against the resolution please raise their placards high.
8) At this time, amendments can be submitted and, if acceptable, debated.
The Chair will read the amendment, set a debate time for and against it, and
call upon the submitter to explain it. As in other speeches, the speaker may or
may not be open to points of information. After both time in favor and time
against have elapsed, the committee will move into voting procedure for that
amendment.
-Chair: Debate time for this amendment has elapsed, so the committee will
now move in to voting procedure for the amendment on the floor. All those in
favor of the amendment please raise your placards high. All those against
please raise your placards high. This amendment passes (or does not pass)
with a vote of X in favor and Y against. We will now resume debate on the
resolution.
9) The resolution is debated until the allotted time is elapsed, at which point
the committee will move into voting procedure for the draft resolution as a
whole.-Chair: Debate time on this resolution has elapsed, so the committee
will now move into voting procedure for the draft resolution as a whole. All
those in favor of the resolution, please raise your placards high. All those
against the resolution, please raise your placards high. All those abstaining,
please raise your placards high. With a vote of X in favor, Y against, and Z
abstentions, this resolution passes (or does not pass).
10) After debating all other resolutions and when the time for committee
session comes to a close, there is a motion to suspend debate until the next
committee session.
-Chair: The Chair would look favorably upon a motion to suspend debate.Delegate: Motion to suspend debate.- Other Delegate: Second.
-Chair: Are there any objections? This motion passes and debate has been
suspended until (time at which committee reconvenes).
*Adapted from BRAMUN delegate guide