Model United Nations

BGIC PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES AND DEBATING RULES

1. In the lobbying period delegates must try and gather support for their resolutions. They may merge their resolutions with those of other delegates if they wish. A resolution must have at least five co-submitters and/or  co-sponsors to present the resolution to committee. Delegates can only co-submit two resolutions and co-sponsor up to four.
    

2. When a resolution has at least five co-submitters it must be sent to the faculty vetting committee for approval and or rewriting. Once the resolution has been approved by the vetting committee it must be sent to the Chair of the appropriate committee by the opening of day two. The chair will  choose the resolutions to be discussed in committee and draw up a speaker’s list. In committee the speakers will present their arguments for and against the resolutions.
    

3. Speaking -when ever a delegate wishes to speak they hold up their placard and are addressed by the chair  to which point do you rise, which the delegate responds with I raise to a … Point of Order, Point of information etc … Also delegates are required to use formal language at all times.
    

4. A roll call will be called at the opening of the committees and General Assembly. Each country must respond with present and voting.
    

5. After the formal roll call each delegate will be invited to give an opening speech of not more then one minute. Each delegate must make an opening speech.
    

6. Debate starts with a reading of the operative causes of the resolution followed by Points of Clarification.
    

7. The chair then allows debate on the resolution by a set number of debating rounds following the speaker’s list the chairs have arranged. Debate is set at a minimum of 2 rounds but can be extended upward on the desecration of the chair. The chair will set rounds according to the number of speakers on their list, but can extend debate after the initial rounds if the chair feels additional debate time is needed. Speakers will be invited to speak for or against a resolution, chairs will not allow  any delegate  to speak to the resolution.
    

8. If a delegate wishes to take time out to discuss a resolution or amendment they must raise their placards and ask for a Motion for Recess. The chair has the right to refuse the motion. If the chair accepts there will be a vote and if a majority of delegates vote for a recess, then caucusing shall be allowed at a time limit set by the chair, with a minimum of 5 minutes.
    

9. All debate speeches must be no longer than two minutes.
    

10. All speakers will be asked if they are open to points of information, and can respond with no or any and all.
     

11. If a delegate wishes to ask a question after a speaker has addressed the floor they must raise their placard and when addressed by the chair state that they raise to a point of information. They will then be invited to state their question to the speaker. Follow ups to Points of Information are limited to one and at discretion of the chairs.
     

12. If a delegate wishes to amend a resolution, the amendment must be written clearly on an overhead projector sheet – then sent to the chair who will present amendments at their desecration and at any time during the debate process. The chair acknowledges a proposed amendment then  sets 1 or 2 rounds of debate at their discretion. An amendment  is added to a resolution if it receives  a simple majority.
     

13. All voting on a resolution is by role call, all other voting including that for amendments is done by a placard vote. Delegates  may abstain from any vote. A delegate may propose to the chair that another delegate explain their vote by rising to a motion to request an explanation. The chair will  ask why the request has been made and if the chair feels the reason warrants the request can allow it. The delegate is then asked to explain their vote  and given  the option  to change their vote.    
     

14. If a delegate wishes to make a statement they may request a Right to Statement. A Right to Statement can only be allowed when no other business is being addressed (i.e. in between resolutions etc..) and at the prompting of the chair are their any Rights of Statement on the floor. Were the chair not to ask the question a delegate at the appropriate time can raise to a point of order and request  a Right of Statement.  All Rights to Statement are allowed at the chair’s discretion. A Right to Statement will allow a speak to speak up to a minute on any topic related to their country.
     

15. If a delegate cannot hear or wishes to make a short point about the conduct of the debate the delegate must raise their placard and rise to a Point of Concern.  The chair will ask them to state their concern.
     

16. When debate and amendments on a resolution are completed a delegate may feel they agree with certain clauses in the resolution but not others. In this instance the delegate may move to Divide the Question. The delegate will be invited by the chair to address the floor and explain why.  If a majority of delegates vote to divide the question each clause or group of clauses shall be voted on separately. 
     

17. If a delegate wishes to close a debate at the end of a round, feeling that all the key issues have been covered and further debate would not be useful, the delegate may raise their placard and move to Close the Debate. The chair will ask the delegate to state their reasons for the motion. If the chair deems it  a sensible reason there will be a placard vote. Two thirds of delegates in committee or General Assembly must agree to the proposal for debate to be closed, in which case the floor goes directly to voting procedures.
     

18. The chair has the discretionary right to accept as many Points of Information, Statements from the floor and Amendments as they wish. They may stop or curtail any parliamentary procedure if pressed for time or if they feel debate is being obstructed.
     

19. If a delegate is not following parliamentary procedure or being deliberately obstructive they may be given a warning. There is no penalty for the first warning. If a second warning is given the speaker will lose speaking and voting rights for an amount of time to be decided by the chair in consultation with teacher advisors, a third warning will cause the delegate to be removed for a set amount of time decided by the chair also in consultation with teacher advisors.  
     

20. Resolutions passing committee with a simple majority vote are sent on to General Assembly. A resolution passes General Assembly only with a 2/3 majority
     

21. The evening before the General Assembly meets (and altered if needed on the day the General Assemble convenes) the Secretary Generals  will draw up a list of resolutions to be debated along with a speaker’s list for each resolution. Resolutions chosen for debate are at the discretion of the Secretary Generals.  All rules for debate in committee apply also to General Assembly with the exception that a resolution requires a 2/3 majority to pass.
     

22. If a delegate feels parliamentary procedure has been breached they may rise to a point of order. Points of order can be entertained at the discretion of the chair.
     

23. If a delegate feels they or the country they represent has been insulted they may raise to have there grievances noted. The delegate can at any time rise to a grievance by standing silently but can only speak when addressed by the chair. Chairs can either request an explanation of the grievance  or simply state your grievances have been noted the delegate may please sit down.
     

24. Two Parliamentarians will serve as arbitrators and interpreters of the procedures set for BGIC, their rulings are considered final and can only be overruled by the Secretary Generals.

H. Berghuis