Rules of Procedure

Preface
These Rules of Procedure are based on the United Nations Charter and manifest the official orders that the MUN is to be conducted by. The main objective of these rules is to provide the MUN with clearly devised rules of conduct, behavior and procedures. Nonetheless, The ROP might vary from MUN to MUN, but not with major changes.

Art. 1 Decorum
Delegates are to conduct themselves as diplomats at all times. They will be called to order by the President if necessary.

Art. 2 Official and Working Language
English shall be the official and working language of the House during Formal Session and informal meetings.

Art. 3 Dress Code
(1) Male delegates are to be suitably dressed, wearing long trousers, jacket, shirt and tie.

(2) Female delegates are to wear a trouser-suit or coat and skirt. Hair must be worn up.

(3) Wearing traditional costume of the represented country is alternatively in order.

(4) Neither blue jeans nor sneakers are allowed.

(5) Non-compliance with the dress code may lead to a reprehension and is to be corrected for the further proceedings of the conference.

Art. 4 Plagiarism
Proven plagiarism leads to the exclusion of the relevant document from the discussion. The President will, in this case, make use of his power to declare a reprehension.

Art. 5 General Rules of Conduct
(1) The President and the members of a forum are to be addressed in third person singular only.

(2) Each delegate refers to himself / herself in third person singular or first/third person plural only, when speaking on behalf of his / her delegation.

(3) The delegates always rise in order to speak and remain standing while speaking and receiving answers.

(4) There is no dialogue on the floor.

(5) Delegates are to be on time to all sessions. Late arrivals will require a notepaper to the President giving an explanation.

Art. 6 Misconduct
(1) The President will warn delegates if their conduct does not conform to these guidelines.

(2) If misconduct continues after this warning, the President may take action which might include the exclusion from the debate.

Art. 7 Notepapers
(1) The passing of notepapers is a possibility for the delegates to communicate within their forum solely on agenda-related issues. They have to be written in English and their content has to comply with Art. 1 of these Rules of Procedure.

(2) By raising a hand a delegate signals to be in need of a notepaper or an amendment sheet and is provided with the necessary form by the administrative staff. The notepaper will be screened by the administrative staff for its compliance with paragraph (1) of this article. If not in order it is handed over to the President for further consideration.

(3) The President may at any point of time suspend notepaper passing.

Art. 8 Quorum
(1) A majority of the expected members (one half of the total plus one) of a committee shall be present for committee session to be opened. Regardless of quorum, the President may open any meeting and commence with its proceedings at his/her discretion.

(2) A quorum is required to have a substantial vote, i.e. to vote on a resolution and/or amendment.

Art. 9 The President
(1) The term President in these rules of procedure refers to persons in the position of presiding at any forum at the MUN.

(2) If the President finds it necessary to be absent during a meeting or any part thereof, his Deputy automatically takes his place. A Deputy acting as President shall have the same powers and duties as the President.

(3) The Chairs of the committees of the General Assembly are thus representatives of the President.

(4) The President or his representative may make oral as well as written statements to any delegation concerning any issue.

Art. 10 General Functions of the Presidency
(1) The President shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting.

(2) The President, subject to these rules, shall have complete control of the proceedings at any meeting and shall moderate discussion, announce decisions, rule on points and motions and ensure the observance of these rules.

(3) The President decides upon any doubtful or conflicting interpretation concerning these Rules of Procedure.

(4) The President must, in any case, be able to explain in what manner his decision is in complete accordance with the fundamental principles of the MUN. He will be at all times subject to these rules and responsible to the Secretary-General.

(5) For the clarification of a doubtful or conflicting interpretation, the President may call upon the Secretary-General for advice.

(6) The President may declare reprehensions consequent to a delegate’s non-compliance with Art. 1, 3 and 5. Three reprehensions lead to the delegate’s exclusion from the debate for an amount of time to be set by the President. In case of a serious violation of these rules the exclusion may come into effect immediately. While excluded from the debate a delegate may not participate in the voting procedures.

Art. 11 Discretion of the President
All procedural matters in Formal Session are subject to the discretion of the President. The President may undertake any action that is not covered in the Rules of Procedure in order to facilitate the flow of the debate.

Art. 12 The Secretary-General
(1) The Secretary-General is the final and sole institution concerning any decision upon the interpretation of these rules.

(2) In her performance of duties the Secretary-General shall not seek or receive instructions from any person or from any other authority external to the organization. (3) The Secretary-General may designate her Deputy to act on her behalf.

(4) The Secretary-General is to be addressed either with ’Your Excellency’ or ’Most distinguished Ms. Secretary-General’.

(5) The Secretary-General or her Deputy may take either oral or written statements to any forum at the MUN concerning any question under consideration by it.

(6) Her office is the Office of the Secretary-General. The official MUN delegate-service staff follows her instructions.

Art. 13 Conference Manager
The Conference Manager is the final and sole institution concerning any decision upon the organization of the MUN session. The official MUN staff follows his instructions.

Art. 14 Secretariat
(1) The Secretariat shall receive, print and distribute documents, working papers and draft resolutions of all MUN forums.

(2) It shall have the custody, proper preservation and distribution of all documents and credentials.

(3) The Secretariat shall generally perform all other work which the forums may require.

Art. 15 Speeches
(1) Any delegates wishing to speak shall raise their placards in order to indicate this to the President. The order in which speakers are recognized is left to the discretion of the President.

(2) The President may, in the interest of the debate, or in order to work towards a consensus, call upon a particular delegation to speak, even if they have not requested the floor. The President may also, for the same purposes, restrict the speaking time of an individual delegate.

Art. 16 Floor
(1) No delegate may address the body without the previously obtained permission of the President.

(2) The President may call a speaker to order if his or her remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion.

(3) The speaking time is set by the Presidency. It can be limited or extended. The President shall enforce the time limit.

Art. 17 Approval Panel
(1) The Approval Panel consists of MUN-Directors who scan the typed version of the working paper for formal correctness.

(2) Each working paper has to go through the Approval Panel and has to be marked as formally cleared before proceeding to the President.

Art. 18 General Debate on the Agenda Item
Speakers may speak on the agenda item being considered and may adress any proposed working paper on the floor. Working papers may be proposed only when the committee is in general debate on the relevant topic.

Art. 19 Working Papers
(1) A working paper is a written form of a country’s opinion about one item under discussion that shows the format of a resolution.

(2) It is to be prepared by each delegate prior to the opening of the official conference. Working papers shall be introduced in writing.

Art. 20 Agenda
The House shall deal with the agenda topics in the order determined in the first committee session. The time allowed for the debate of each agenda topic shall likewise be determined in the first session.

Art. 21 Submission of Working Papers
(1) Working papers shall be submitted to the President typed.

(2) In order to be submitted, working papers shall require the signature of at least 10% of the Quorum. One delegation cannot sign more than one working paper per agenda item.

(3) The three working papers with the most co-submitters, which have been handed in by the end of general debate, are admitted into debate by the Presidency. In the event of a tie, the Presidency will decide to again enter informal caucus, by which the committee may force a decision on its own.

Art. 22 Introduction of a Draft Resolution
(1) A draft resolution is an approved working paper that is introduced in the committee.

(2) Following the agreement to introduce the three draft resolutions with the most co-submitters, the operative clauses are read out loud by the respective submitters and elaborated in a speech. Points of Information are not in order.

(3) In the following, the floor is open for debate on the draft resolutions.

Art. 23 Formal Debate on a Draft Resolution
(1) Every formal debate on a draft resolution commences in general debate.

(2) After general debate the operative clauses of the draft resolution will be discussed separately. Following the debate on each operative clause, the corresponding amendments will be discussed.

(3) Amendments which stipulate the introduction of new operative clauses will be dealt with subsequently. Amendments may be submitted to newly added operative clauses. They will be discussed immediately after the operative clauses have been added.

(4) Afterwards, amendments, which change the order, will be discussed.

(5) After the debate on the finished draft resolution the committee is to vote on the draft resolution as a whole.

(6) If the draft resolution fails to reach a majority, the debate on the next draft resolution is to be commenced. If there are no further draft resolutions the agenda item is closed.

(7) As soon as a resolution has been passed, the agenda item is closed. Reopening a closed agenda item is not possible.

(8) If the last remaining draft resolution is withdrawn, the committee may resume general debate on the agenda item at the discretion of the presidency.

Art. 24 Amendments
(1) An amendment is a proposal that adds to, deletes from, or revises part of a draft resolution. Furthermore, the order of the operative clauses can be changed. Only operative clauses can be amended – amendments to preambulatory clauses are not in order.

(2) Amendments shall be submitted to the Presidency in written form.

(3) If there are several amendments to a specific operative clause, the committee shall first vote on the amendment diverging the most from the original proposal, then on the amendment diverging the second most, and so on, until all amendments have been put to the vote. According to this procedure, the order will be laid down at the discretion of the President.

(4) As soon as an amendment is debated upon, the submitter state will be given the opportunity by the Presidency to present and explain its proposal in a speech.

(5) Following the speech, there will be general debate on the amendment.

(6) Once debate on the amendment is closed, the committee will move to an immediate vote.

Art. 25 Friendly Amendments
Friendly amendments are changes that are immanently non-substantive matters, including but not only grammar or spelling mistakes. Such an amendment is automatically included in the draft resolution and does not need to be voted upon if the main submitter of the draft resolution agrees to the amendment.

Art. 26 Procedure on Draft Resolutions of Subsidiary Bodies
(1) A subsidiary body decides upon the order of the draft resolutions to be introduced to the supreme body by vote.

(2) Following the introduction of the draft resolution the operative clauses are read out loud by the respective submitters and elaborated in a speech. Points of Information are not in order.

(3) In the following, the floor is open for general debate on the draft resolution as a whole. Amendments are not in order.

(4) After the debate on the draft resolution the committee is to vote on the draft resolution as a whole. Voting clause by clause is not in order.

(5) If the draft resolution fails to reach a majority, the debate on the next draft resolution is to be commenced.

(6) A draft resolution becomes a resolution if it passes in the General Assembly.

Art. 27 General Procedure on Points
(1) If not stated otherwise, points may not interrupt a speaker.

(2) It is up to the President if a point is entertained.

(3) Points are not put to a vote.

Art. 28 Point of Personal Privilege
(1) During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may raise a Point of Personal Privilege. The President shall immediately address the point.

(2) A point of personal Privilege may interrupt a speaker in an urgent matter and must refer to a matter of personal comfort, safety or well being of the members of the House.

Art. 29 Right of Reply
The President shall recognize the Right of Reply only in instances of a grave personal insult. The delegates must state which remark he/she considered to be an offense and then answer to it diplomatically.

Art. 30 Point of Order
(1) Points of Order must relate to the observance of the rules of the House or to the way the President is exercising his or her power.

(2) A delegate raising a Point of Order may not speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.

Art. 31 Point of Information
(1) After a delegate has given a speech, Points of Information can be raised by delegates from the floor.

(2) The President grants Points of Information only after asking the speaker whether he/she accepts these points. Points of Information are directed to the speaker and allow other delegations to ask questions in relation to speeches, amendments and draft resolutions.

(3) Points of Information must be phrased as questions.

(4) One follow-up question is in order if requested by the delegate and accepted by the chair.

Art. 32 Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
A delegate may raise a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to request clarification on all procedural matters from the President.

Art. 33 General Procedure on Motions
(1) In general, a simple majority is required.

(2) If not stated otherwise an objection to a motion is possible, the delegate who has brought forward the motion and the one who has objected may shortly explain their reasons.

(3) If a motion has been seconded at least twice and not objected, it is automatically accepted

(4) If there is an objection the motion needs to be voted on.

(5) It is up to the President if a motion is entertained.

(6) Points of Information are not in order. There will be no debate.

Art. 34 Appeal to the President’s Decision
(1) An appeal is raised when a delegate feels that the President has made an incorrect ruling.

(2) The appeal shall immediately be put to a vote.

(3) A two-thirds majority is required.

Art. 35 Motion to Go into Q&A Session
(1) A Q&A session allows the delegates to pose questions to a single delegate. The delegate to be questioned must be named and must agree to the proposal.

(2) If the motion passes, the President will moderate the questioning.

Art. 36 Motion to Suspend the Meeting for Informal Caucus
(1) Upon the motion of any delegate, the House may consider a Motion to Suspend the Meeting for the purpose of informal caucus.

(2) The motion must specify the purpose and the duration of the proposed suspension.

(3) A two-thirds majority is required.

Art. 37 Motion to Suspend Formal Debate for Moderated Caucus
(1) The purpose of suspending formal debate for moderated caucus is to have a less formal debate moderated by the president in order to clarify countries’ positions.

(2) The motion must propose the duration of the proposed suspension.

(3) A two-thirds majority is required.

Art. 38 Motion to Limit/Extend Speaking Time
The delegate must propose speaking time.

Art. 39 Motion to Table Debate/Motion to Resume Debate
(1) During the discussion of any matter, the House may consider a Motion to Table Debate on the item under discussion at the recommendation of the President or any delegate.

(2) If a Motion to Table Debate is passed, the topic is considered tabled and no further actions or votes will be taken on it.

(3) A topic may be reintroduced to the House so that debate can resume through the same process.

(4) A two-thirds majority is required.

Art. 40 Motion to Close the General Debate
(1) The acceptance of the motion entails the progression to the next stage.

(2) A two-thirds majority is required.

Art. 41 Motion to Move Directly into Voting Procedure on the Draft Resolution as a Whole
A two-thirds majority is required.

Art. 42 Motion to Vote by Roll Call
(1) A roll call vote may be requested on draft resolutions. This motion is automatically approved and does not require a vote.

(2) The roll call vote shall be taken in alphabetical order of the English names of the member states present. During a roll call vote, delegations may answer with an affirmative vote, a negative vote, an abstention.

Art. 43 Motion to Exclude the Public
(1) The motion must specify the purpose and the duration of the proposed exclusion.

(2) A two-thirds majority is required.

Art. 44 Motion to Invite a Guest Speaker
A guest speaker can be invited to give a speech concerning one of the agenda items.

Art. 45 Order of Procedural Motions
The points and motions shall have precedence as listed above.

Art. 46 Methods of Decision
(1) In general, procedural decisions shall be made by a simple majority of the quorum. Delegations physically present may not abstain on procedural motions.

(2) Decisions on substantial matters (draft resolutions and amendments) shall require a simple majority of the delegations voting. Each present delegation shall have one vote. Each vote may be in favor, against, or abstention.

(3) Observer States and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are not allowed to vote on substantial matters.

Art. 47 Voting Procedure
The House shall usually vote by show of placards while answering with ‘in favour’, ‘against’ or ‘abstention’.

Art. 48 Conduct while in Voting Procedure
(1) After the President has announced the beginning of voting, no representative may enter or leave the room, nor shall any representative interrupt the voting except on a Point of Personal Privilege, Point of Parliamentary Inquiry, or a Point of Order in connection with actual conduct of the voting.

(2) Delegates will be silent and will not pass notepapers.

V. Course of Procedural Events
V.1 Opening Ceremony

Art. 49 Official Opening
The Secretary-General declares the session as open.

Art. 50 Opening Speeches
(1) Opening Speeches are delivered after the official opening of the conference. They allow the ambassador of each delegation to set forth his country’s position concerning the items on the agenda. Opening speeches are limited to one minute.

(2) After every five opening speeches, three points of information will be entertained by the President. They must clearly refer to the past five speeches. Points of NGOs are in order.

Art. 51 Presentations of the Resolutions of the Security Council, the UNFCCC, the ECOSOC and the UNESCO
(1) After the General Assembly has discussed and voted on the draft resolutions of its subsidiary bodies (according to Art. 26), the resolutions of the Security Council, the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, the ECOSOC and the UNESCO will be presented by their chairs.

(2) After the introduction the members of the MUN are given the opportunity to comment on these resolutions.

Art. 52 Right to Express Declarations and Reservations
Any member state may express their dissenting opinion on the resolutions in a written declaration or reservation which might be appended to the Goldberg Declaration.

Art. 53 Official Closing
The Secretary-General officially declares the conference as closed.

Art. 54 General
Rules mentioned in this section are special to the Security Council and thus to be primarily considered by it.

Art. 55 Primary Right of Consideration
While the Security Council is discussing any dispute or situation assigned to it, no other forum shall make any recommendation with regard to that dispute or situation unless the Security Council so requests.

===Art. 56 Right of Invitation The delgate of any member nation of the MUN which is not a member of the Security Council, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the Security Council, may be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute.

Art. 57 Voting Procedures
(1) Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote.

(2) Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.

(3) Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including all votes of the permanent members.

(4) The delegates are to be silent. There will be no notepaper passing.

Art. 58 Current Issue
The Secretary General shall immediately bring to the attention of all representatives on the Security Council all communications from states, organs of the United Nations, or the Secretary General concerning any matter for the consideration of the Security Council in accordance with the provisions of the Charter.

Art. 59 Amendments to Rules of Procedure
These rules of procedure may only be amended by a decision of the Office of the Secretary-General.