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Rules Governing Debate:

After the initial roll-call has been taken, the committee goes into the
General speaker’s list (GSL).
The General Speakers’ List (GSL) is a crucial part of any MUN
conference, as it helps to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to
partake in the debates and discussions in the conference. The GSL
consists of delegates who take turns speaking on topics, ensuring that
everyone’s voice is heard. As the General Speakers’ List is a key element
of MUN, it is important to understand how it works and how it is used. In
this blog post, we’ll explore what the General Speakers’ List is and how it
is used in MUN conferences. We’ll also discuss the importance of the
GSL and how it helps to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and
respected.

Yields
On conclusion of any speech in the speaker’s list a delegate may choose
to yield in any one of the following ways:-
1. Yield to other delegates: In case delegate has some time left to speak
and does not wish to utilise it then he/she may choose to yield his/her
remaining time to other delegate. A delegate who has been yielded time
by other delegate may use it to make substantive speech but cannot
further yield to time.
2. Yield to questions: A delegate may also choose to questions; in which
case the chair will recognize two other delegates wishing to ask that
delegate a question. When asked a question a delegate may either choose
or refuse to answer the question.
3. Yield to the chair: A delegate should yield to the chair any leftover
time is considered null and the chairperson will move on to the next
speaker in the speakers’ list.
Moderated Caucus
A moderated caucus is presided over by the chairperson, and delegates
wishing to speak must raise their placards so that they may be selected
by the chairperson to speak.
A motion for Moderated Caucus would be in order at any time when the
floor is open. It would entail the director calling on the delegates to
speak on a particular issue on the topic being debated upon, the delegate
proposing the motion must state its purpose and specify a time limit for
the moderated caucus as well as the speaking time per delegate. The
motion would then be put to a vote with a simple majority needed
Format:
 Time Limit: A time limit is set for the caucus (e.g., 10-20 minutes).
 Speakers: Delegates raise their placards to be recognized by the
chair, who then calls on them to speak.
 Time to Speak: Each delegate usually has a limited amount of
time to speak (e.g., 1-2 minutes).
Structure: Unlike an unmoderated caucus, where delegates can move
around and discuss freely, a moderated caucus is more controlled, with
the chair managing the flow of discussion. This helps keep the
conversation focused.
Preparation: Delegates should prepare by understanding the topic,
knowing their country’s position, and being ready to engage with other
delegates’ viewpoints.

UNMODERATED CAUCUS
This will be an informal session of the committee in which delegates can
decide what should they proceed with, then can prepare their speeches,
decide mod caucus topic, discuss among them in any way they want.

DRAFTS
Draft will be a document which will focus on solutions of the agenda
discussed in the committee. Drafts also include all the important matter
discussed in the committee. In the draft there will be, SPONSERS those
delegates who create the draft and SIGNATORIES those delegates who
wish that this draft should be discussed or the delegates who agree on
the draft. A group of delegates will make and present the draft.

QUESTION-ANSWER SESSION
A motion for a question-answer session may be initiated when a working
paper, draft resolution or amendment has been introduced on the floor. A
question-answer session would entail questions asked by the committee
to the authors of the aforementioned working papers, draft resolutions or
amendments and it may be motioned for by any delegate who wishes
further clarification from the authors. When a delegate motions for a
question-answer session after which the motion is put to vote and
requires a simple majority to pass. A question answer session is presided
over by the chairperson and delegates who wish to ask questions must
raise their placards. In case of multiple authors, the authors may decide
as to whom amongst them will answer a question, or may also decline a
question.

PARLIAMENTARY POINTS
1. Point Of Order: During the discussion of any matter, a delegate
may rise to a point of order if he/she feels the point being made, by
the delegate who has the floor is invalid. A point of order can never
interrupt a speaker although, to maintain decorum in committee, a
delegate who feels another delegate has stated something incorrect
must quietly raise his/her placard. If a delegate raises his/her
placard while another is speaking, he/she will be called upon by the
chairperson to state his/her point and he/she must then state-"The
delegate of (country) incorrectly stated that, while in fact the truth
is that." A point of order cannot be a question or a comment; it
must be a statement what the speaker has stated incorrectly and a
correction to that statement.

2. Point Of Personal Privilege: Whenever delegate experiences


extreme discomfort, which impairs him/her from taking part in the
proceedings, he/she may rise to point of personal privilege, so that
the discomfort may be corrected. Such a point can interrupt a
speaker only in cases where the delegate raising the point is unable
to hear the speaker and therefore impairs the delegate from
partaking in committee proceedings.
3. Point Of Parliamentary inquiry: When the floor is open, a delegate
may rise to a point of parliamentary inquiry to ask the Chairperson
a question regarding the rules of procedure. This however, may
never interrupt speaker.

RIGHT TO REPLY
A delegate whose personal or national integrity has been affronted by
that of another delegate, within the scope of formal debate, may request
the Right to Reply. If approved by the secretariat, the respective delegate
will be incumbent to serve reprimand and possible exclusion from further
committee proceedings. Delegates are requested to employ the Right to
Reply with utmost discretion as the chair considers a Right to Reply
extremely serious.

WORKING PAPERS
Delegates may propose working papers for committee consideration.
Working papers are intend-ed to aid the committee in its discussion and
formulation of resolution need not be written in resolutions need not be
written in resolution format. Working Papers require the signature of the
director to be copied and distributed. They are concise and an abridged
form of the resolution.

RESOLUTION
A draft resolution may be introduced when it has the required number of
signatures as well as the signature of the committee Director. There are
no official sponsors of a draft resolution. Signatories actually sign to see
the resolution on the floor in debate, and being a signatory in no way
expresses support for a resolution.
Each resolution must have at least 3 signatories. A resolution is divided
into perambulatory clauses (that state the situation) and operative
clauses (that solve the situation).
FORMAT FOR THE RESOLUTION
Headings: The title should be centred, and can be as 3. Operative clauses
are numbered and state action to be taken by the committee. These
clauses begin with present tense active verbs, which are generally
stronger words that those used in the preamble. Each operative clause,
excepting the last, terminates in a semicolon(;). The last operative clause
end with a period(.). simple as "Draft Resolution". Other headings include
Committee and Topic Area, both of which should be left aligned, and
presented below the title. The resolution is technically a long sentence,
with the following rules:

1. The resolution begins with your committee’s name (look to


example).
2. The next section consists of Pre-ambulatory Clauses that describe
the problem being addressed. Pre-ambulatory Clauses should
include references to past action taken, history of the problem and
should offer support to the purpose of the resolution. Each clause
should begin with an underlined phrase and end with a comma(,)
3. Operative clauses are numbered and state action to be taken by the
committee. These clauses begin with present tense active verbs,
which are generally stronger words that those used in the
preamble. Each operative clause, excepting the last, terminates in
a semicolon(;). The last operative clause end with a period(.).

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