Rules of Procedure

Island Model United Nations

Rules of Procedure
- GENERAL RULES Rule 1. Scope
The rules listed here are applicable to all bodies of NTPUMUN. The General
Committee reserve the right to make changes in these rules at any time.
Should a change occur, it will be announced in a timely manner.
Rule 2. Secretary General and the Secretariat
The Secretary General will provide and direct the staff required by all the
bodies of Island Model UN. This person will have ultimate authority over all
committees and may at any time transfer authority to any person in the
Secretariat. Furthermore, the Secretary General or members of the Secretariat
may at any time make written or oral statements to committees.
Rule 3. Language
English is the official and working language of all conferences.
Rule 4. Dais
Chairpersons shall:
a. Ensure the observance of the Rules;
b. Declare the opening or closure of each meeting;
c. Rule or response to Points;
d. Compose speakers lists and accord the right to speak;
e. Propose an adoption of any procedural motion and announce
decisions;
f. Direct the flow of debate and advise delegates on a possible course of
debate;
g. Adjourn a meeting;
Chairpersons may temporarily transfer their duties to another member of the
Dais. In exercise of these functions, Chairpersons shall at all times be
subjected to the Rules of Procedure, and are responsible to the Secretary
General (Rule 2).
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Rule 5. Delegates
Each Member State will be represented by one or two delegates.
Rule 6. Quorum
Chairpersons may declare a meeting begin and permit debate to proceed
(Rule 4) when at least one fourth of the Members of a committee are present.
A majority of present Members of a committee is required for any decision to
be taken.
Rule 7. Courtesy
All delegates must show courtesy and respect to the Secretary General,
Chairpersons, committee staff, counselors and fellow delegates. Chairpersons
will immediately call to order when delegates do not abide by this rule.
- RULES GOVERNING DEBATES Rule 8. Roll Call
Chairpersons should administer a roll call at the beginning of each meeting in
order to determine quorum. When names of a Member is called, their
delegates shall raise their placards and answer present or present and
voting. If delegates answer present and voting, they forfeit their rights to
abstain during a substantive voting.
Rule 9. Setting Agenda
a. In the first meeting, after roll call, delegates may raise a motion to set the
agenda. If this motion is seconded, Chairpersons will open a provisional
speakers list for a debate over for or against this motion. The speaking
sequence will be done alternatively and speeches should be oriented to
why an agenda item suggested must or must not be set first on agenda.
The default time of speech is one minute, Chairpersons may adjust it if
b.

c.

needed (Rule 4.e).

Debate over the agenda would be closed by a motion of Closure of
Debate (Rule 14.b). In situations where the speakers list is exhausted,
debate will be automatically closed even if a motion to close the debate is
not in order.
Once debate is closed, the committee will move to an immediate vote on
the motion to set agenda, which will require a simple majority for

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passage. If fails, the other agenda item will automatically be placed first
d.

e.
f.

on the agenda.
A motion to proceed to other agenda items is only in order after the
committee has adopted or rejected a resolution on the first item. A
motion to proceed to a second agenda item after a resolution has failed
requires a second member in support, and is debatable to the extent of
one speaker in favor and one against. This motion requires a vote of two
thirds of the present Members for passage.
Only Points or Motion to close a debate will be accepted during Setting
Agenda.
Once an agenda item is set, the conference will move onto the debate
procedure.

Rule 10. General Speakers List

a. The General Speakers List is the default style of debate. Delegates may
speak generally on an agenda item, address any Working Paper or Draft
Resolution on the floor, and may raise procedural or substantive motions
and points.
b. The list will be suspended when any motion is proposed.
c. The default time limit for individual speeches is one minute. Delegates
can raise a motion to set speakers time (Rule 18).
d.

At any time Chairpersons may ask whether delegates wish to be placed

on the list. Those raising their placards or submitting a written request to
the Dais will be placed on the speakers list. Members can be added to a
list for multiple times, but cannot be at the same time.

Rule 11. Moderated Caucus

a. A motion for a Moderated Caucus is in order at any time when the floor
is open.
b. Delegates making the motion must state a purpose, a total time limit

c.
d.

under twenty minutes, and a time limit for individual speeches. Time
limit is subject to Chairpersons approval (Rule 4.e).
After proposal, the motion will queue to be voted (Rule 26). A simple
majority is required for passage.
During a Moderated Caucus, delegates speak under the order of a
secondary speakers list. This motion will end by the expiration of time,
exhaustion of speakers list, or motion of closure (Rule 14).

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Rule 12. Unmoderated Caucus

a. A motion for an Unmoderated Caucus is in order at any time when the
floor is open.
b. Delegates making the motion must state a purpose and a time limit under
twenty minutes. Time limit is subject to Chairpersons approval (Rule
4.e).
c. After proposal, the motion will queue to be voted (Rule 26). A simple
majority is required for passage.
d. During an Unmoderated Caucus, the rules of parliamentary procedure
are suspended and delegates may meet informally to discuss issues of
relevance.
e.

An Unmoderated Caucus may be extended once.

Rule 13. Consultation of the Whole

a. A motion for a Consultation of the Whole is in order at any time when the
floor is open.
b. Delegates making the motion must state a purpose and a time limit under
fifteen minutes. Time limit is subject to Chairpersons approval (Rule 4.e).
c. After proposal, the motion will queue to be voted (Rule 26). A simple
majority is required for passage.
d. During a Consultation of the Whole, delegates shall remain in seats, the
moderation of committee is carried out by the speaker. This motion will
end by the expiration of time or yielding time back to the Dais.
e. A Consultation of the Whole may be extended once.
Rule 14. Closure of Debate
a. Delegates may motion to close a debate on a matter under discussion at
any time. A second delegate in support of this motion is required.
b. When a closure of debate is proposed, Chairpersons shall recognize two
speakers to speak for and two against this motion.
c.
d.

Closure of debate requires a two thirds majority for passage. If passes,

the previous procedure is closed, and move to the next procedure.
The previous procedure cannot be restored after a closure.

Rule 15. Suspension of the Meeting

Delegates may raise a motion to suspend a meeting in order to postpone all
debates until next meeting. Delegates should specify a time for reconvening,
which is subject to Chairpersons approval (Rule 4.e). If seconded by a
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Rules of Procedure

Member, it will be put to immediate vote. A simple majority is required for

passage.
Rule 16. Adjournment of the Meeting
Delegates may raise a motion to adjourn a meeting after a Resolution is
adopted for an agenda item. If seconded by a Member, it will be put to
immediate vote. A simple majority is required for passage. An item shall not
be discussed after the adjournment.
- RULES GOVERNING SPEECH Rule 17. Speeches
Delegates may not address to a committee without having a permission from
the Dais. Chairpersons may call speakers to order if their remarks are not
relevant to the subject under discussion or are offensive to other Member
States or staff. Furthermore, Chairpersons may ask speakers to apologize
(Rule 7 and 4.a).
Rule 18. Speakers Time
a. To ensure that delegates have the appropriate time to express opinions,
Chairpersons may recommend a committee to set speakers time.
b.
c.

Members raising a motion to set speakers time must specify a time limit,
and the time shall be within the range of thirty to ninety seconds.
This motion requires a simple majority for passage.

Rule 19. Yields

Only during the formal debate in the General Speakers List may speakers
yield their remaining time in one of the following three ways:
a. Yield to Chair: If delegates do not wish to yield to questions or other
Members, they may yield the time back to the Dais. Chairpersons
b.

c.

will then continue the procedure.

Yield to another Member: The remaining time will be offered to the
Member chosen by the speaker. That Member may not, however,
make any further yields.
Yield to questions: Questioners will be selected by Chairpersons. All
questions shall concern the substance of the speakers speech.
Chairpersons may call questioners to order when their questions are
rhetorical, misleading, or not designed to elicit information. Only the
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Rules of Procedure

speakers answers to questions will be deducted from the speakers

remaining time.
Rule 20. Point
If Member States have any request or inquiry, they may immediately raise a
Point and specify the purpose. Chairpersons shall decide or response after
Points are specified.
- RULES GOVERNING SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS Rule 21. Working Papers
a. Delegates may propose Working Papers for committee consideration.
b. Working Papers are intended to aid a committee in its discussion and
formulation of Draft Resolutions but need not to be written in resolution
c.

format.
Working Papers are not official documents, but do require a signature of
a Chairperson to be copied and distributed. Working Papers require
neither signatories nor votes for approval.

Rule 22. Draft Resolutions

a. Draft Resolutions shall follow the format outlined by the Secretariat.
b.

c.

d.

Draft Resolutions have to be approved by Chairpersons and require one

fifth of present Members signatories. Following by a signature of a
Chairperson and a number label, the document is referred to as Draft
Resolutions.
Signing a Draft Resolution only indicates a desire to have it brought to
the floor for further discussion. Members who compose a Draft
Resolution are in support of it, and are regarded as sponsors of that Draft
Resolution.
More than one Draft Resolution may be on the floor at any given time
and may be referred to by any delegate.

Rule 23. Introduction to Draft Resolutions

a. Once a Draft Resolution has been approved, and has been copied and
distributed to all delegates to a committee, one of the sponsors may raise
a motion to introduce the Draft Resolution.
b. During an introduction, the rules of parliamentary procedure are
suspended and delegates shall remain in seats at all times.
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c.

d.

e.

Chairpersons may decide whether to ask sponsors to come to the floor

and read the operative clauses (Rule 4.e). Then Chairpersons will move
onto vote on this motion. A simple majority is needed for passage.
Once passed, that Draft Resolution is considered officially on the floor
and is subject to debate. No delegate may refer to a Draft Resolution until
it is formally introduced.
There can only be one Resolution passed per one agenda item.

Rule 24. Amendments

Once a Draft Resolution is officially on the floor, its content may solely be
amended. Only operative clauses may be amended. Amendments of
amendments are out of order. An amendment requires one eighth of present
Members signatories and an approval of Chairpersons. If a submitted
amendment contains any typological errors, a corrected version should be
submitted to the Dais only and need not be circulated to a committee.
a. Friendly Amendments: Amendments may be considered friendly if
supported by all sponsors of the Draft Resolution, and do not
fundamentally change the intent of the Resolution as a whole. Friendly
amendments, pending reviewed by Chairpersons, are shortly presented
by a Chairperson and immediately incorporated into the Draft Resolution
without a vote.
b.

Unfriendly Amendments: Amendments which are not supported by all

sponsors of the Draft Resolution, is considered unfriendly. Therefore, a
motion to introduce an approved unfriendly amendment (Rule 23) may
be raised when the floor is open. After this motion, Chairpersons shall
read the amendment aloud. A simple majority is required for passage.
- RULES GOVERNING VOTING -

Rule 25. Voting

a. Each Member of a committee have one vote on both substantive and
procedural matters.
b. Each member present and voting shall cast an affirmative vote (Yes) or a
negative vote (No) (Rule 8), each Member present may also abstain from
voting (Abstain). Abstentions on procedural matters are not allowed.
c. After Chairperson have announced a beginning of voting procedure, no
delegate is allowed to leave the room or interrupt the procedure. Only

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Rules of Procedure

Points and three motions are allowed: motion for Roll-Call Vote, motion
d.

for Vote and motion for Reordering Draft Resolutions.

All voting will be considered procedural voting, apart from voting on a
Draft Resolution.

Rule 26. Voting Sequence of Motions

The voting sequence of all motions shall be carefully observed by the Dais.
a. Sequence of types are listed in Precedence of Motions (Precedence of
Motions).
b. A motion with longer total time has voting priority.
Rule 27. Voting by Acclamation
Before beginning the vote on a particular motion, Draft Resolution or
amendment, chairpersons may ask Members whether they have any. If no
Member objects, then the motion will automatically be adopted without the
committee going into a formal vote. A single objection will mean that the
committee will go into normal voting procedure.

Rule 28. Roll-Call Voting

A delegate may request a roll-call vote after the debate procedure is closed. A
roll-call vote can only be in order for substantive votes. A motion for a
roll-call vote shall be made from the floor and seconded by half of the
members.
a. In a roll-call vote, Chairpersons will call Members in an alphabetical
order.
b. In the first sequence, Members may vote Yes, Yes with Rights, No,
No with Rights, Abstain, or Pass. Members who vote either Yes with
Rights or No with Rights reserve a right to explain their vote. Members

c.

who voted Pass during the first sequence of the roll call must vote (i.e.
may not abstain or pass) during the second sequence.
Members who had requested the right of explanation will be granted
time to explain their votes. The speaking time will be set at the discretion
of the Dais, not to exceed thirty seconds.

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Rules of Procedure

- PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS I.

Motions will be considered in the following order of precedence:

1. Point
2. Adjournment of Meeting
3. Suspension of Meeting
4. Unmoderated Caucus
5. Consultation of the Whole
6. Moderated Caucus
7. Introduction of Draft Resolution
8. Introduction of Amendment
9. Closure of Debate

II.

At the start of voting procedure, the following points and motions are in
order, in the following order of precedence:
1. Point
2. Reordering of Draft Resolution
3. Motion for a Roll-Call Vote

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Rules of Procedure

- Appendix A: R.O.P. Flow Chart Roll call (present or present and voting)

Motion to set agenda (needs second)

(automatically)
Debate (for or against list)

Motion to Close the Debate (needs two against, 2/3 to pass)

Vote for the agenda (1/2)

(automatically)
General Speakers List

Motion

Motion to introduce DR

Caucuses or Consultation
(limited within 20/15 minutes)

Read operative clauses

(automatically)
Vote (1/2)

Vote (1/2)
===
Motion to introduce amendment

Read the amendment

Vote (1/2)
===
Motion to Suspend the Meeting (needs second)

Vote (1/2)
===

Motion to Close the Debate (needs two against, 2/3 to pass)

Voting procedure: Vote by Acclamation (move to other voting method if member

object)
===
Motion for Roll Call Vote (needs second)
Motion to Adjourn the Meeting

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Rules of Procedure

Appendix B: ROP Quick Reference

No.

Rule

Vote

Debate

21

Point

None

None

Use at any time when a delegate

has a request or inquiry

16

Adjournment of Meeting

1/2

None

End the whole agenda item

15

Suspension of Meeting

1/2

None

Suspend until the next meeting

13
11

Unmoderated / Moderated
Caucus

1/2

None

12

Consultation of the Whole

1/2

None

14

25

24

Closure of Debate

Introduce Amendment

Introduce Draft Resolution

Comment

Motion requires purpose and time

2/3

1/2

1/2

limit for caucus; maximum time is

20 minutes
Motion requires purpose and time
limit; maximum time is 15 minutes

Closes debate on substantive

Two
matter. If passed, current
for/aga
procedure closed and committee
inst
moves to next part
None

After the approval of the Dais and

signatures of at least one eight
members in the conference room

None

After the approval of the Dais and

signatures of at least one fifth of
members in the committee

10

Motion to Set Agenda

1/2

None

If motion fails, proceed

automatically to the other topic
area

28

Roll-Call Vote

None

None

Vote by roll call

19

Set the speakers time

1/2

None

Set or change speakers time limit

None

(1) to another Member State

(2) to chair
(3) to question

20

Yielding

None

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Note

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