ILLINOIS MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Official Rules of Procedure

Model United Nations Illinois XXI

Chapter 1: Introduction
Rule 1.1 Scope

The rules of procedure contained in this rulebook are the official rules of procedure for
the Model United Nations at Illinois Conference. They are self-sufficient, and only
subject to change by the Secretariat.

Rule 1.2 Conference Staff

The Secretary General shall appoint undersecretaries general, chair staff and all other
staff members, who shall hold their position until the end of the conference.

Rule 1.3 Staff Responsibilities

The Chair, or his/her chosen representative, will open and close each committee
session, enact limitations to ensure continuity of debate and determine speaking order.
The Chair, or his/her chosen representative, shall have final say on all procedural
committee matters. Members of the dais may transfer responsibilities at any time.

Rule 1.4 Discretion of the Dais

The dais has the power to alter these rules as it sees fit at its discretion.

Rule 1.5 Language

English shall be the only operating language of committee sessions. Delegates are
permitted to use phrases from other languages when appropriate. The use of affected
accents is not permitted and is considered a breach of diplomatic courtesy (Rule 2.4).

Chapter 2: Delegates
Rule 2.1 Attendance

Attendance is required for all sessions, and only faculty advisors may excuse delegates.

Rule 2.2 Credentials

Registered schools have pre-reviewed and accepted credentials. Delegates are not
permitted to challenge credentials in committee, and all complaints pertaining to this
matter shall be addressed in writing to the dais.
Delegates without credentials will forfeit their voting rights in committee and will not
be granted entrance to the delegate dance.

Rule 2.3 Decorum

Delegates must adhere to common standards of decorum at all times.

Rule 2.4 Courtesy

Delegates shall show diplomatic courtesy towards all staff and all other delegates.
Delegates shall be attentive to speakers and maintain decorum during all sessions. The
dais will retain discretion in determining what is in and what is out of order.

Rule 2.5 Attire

Delegates are required to wear Western business attire (international business attire)
and their own credentials during all sessions. The Secretariat retains the right to require
a change of attire during the duration of the conference.

Rule 2.6 Controlled Substances

The consumption of alcohol, tobacco and all other controlled substances is strictly
prohibited for the entirety of the conference, with the exception of prescribed
medications. Any violation of this is subject to disciplinary action by Model United
Nations of Illinois, the City of Champaign and the individuals respective school
administration.

Rule 2.7 Curfew

The City of Champaign maintains a curfew from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM from Sunday
night to Thursday night, and 12:00 PM to 6:00 AM on Friday night and Saturday night
for individuals aged 14-16. Delegates must also obey the curfews set by their own
faculty advisors.

Rule 2.8 Diplomatic Immunity

Delegates are granted no diplomatic immunities, and must obey all local laws and
regulations as well as those of their respective schools/faculty advisors.

Chapter 3: Order for Conducting Business

Rule 3.1 Roll Call

After the Chair has opened committee session, a roll call shall immediately be taken.
Each delegation will be read allowed by the acting Chair in alphabetical order and
delegations shall respond present. Present delegations will be recorded. A delegation
may also respond present and voting, thereby waiving their right to abstain on any
vote during that committee session. Voting procedure cannot occur without all
delegations which responded present and voting being in the room.
If a delegation is not present at the time roll call is taken, a representative thereof shall
declare their presence in writing to the dais.

Rule 3.2 The Agenda

Motions to set the agenda are in order (defined under Rule 3.8).

Rule 3.3 Recognition of Speakers No person is permitted to address the committee prior to receiving recognition from the
acting Chair. Delegates shall seek recognition by raising their placards. Speaking out of
order is strictly prohibited and considered a breach of diplomatic courtesy (Rule 2.4).
Rule 3.4 Formal Debate

Formal debate begins immediately after roll call, and consists of a speakers list. A
delegate must motion to open a speakers list. The chair will form the speakers list by
calling on individual delegations that wish to speak. A delegation may also be added to
the speakers list upon writing to the dais.

Rule 3.5 Informal Debate

Informal debate can be motioned for, in either the form of a moderated informal
session or an unmoderated informal session. For moderated informal sessions there
shall be established a length, speaking time and specific subtopic to debate. For
unmoderated informal sessions there shall be established a length and a specific
purpose.

Rule 3.6 Yields

A delegate who has been recognized to speak on a substantive matter only may yield
any remaining time to another delegate or to the chair. The right to yield time lies only
with the originally recognized speaker. Time yielded to the chair is not reallocated to
anything and signifies the end of a speech.

Rule 3.7 Points

A point is raised when a delegate needs to interact with the chair. The following are the
only points that can be made and for what purposes.
Point of Order: This point is raised when a delegate believes that the committee is out
of order, namely when the rules are not being followed properly.
Point of Personal Privilege: This point is raised when a delegate feels physical
discomfort which is preventing them from participating in committee business.
Point of Parliamentary Information: This point is raised when a delegate has a question
about the rules or procedure.
Point of Inquiry: This point is raised when a delegate has a question for another who
has just spoken. A delegate has the right to refuse points of inquiry, though not
selectively.

Rule 3.8 Motions

A motion is used to compel the entire committee to do something. Motions are brought
to a placard vote and passed by simple majorities, unless otherwise stated. A simple
majority is when there are more yes votes than no votes.
Motion to Adjourn the Meeting: This motion ends the conference.
Motion to Suspend the Meeting: This motion ends the committee session.

Motion to Suspend the Rules: This motion is used to depart from standard procedure
for a specified amount of time in order to conduct non-traditional business. This motion
is passed purely at the discretion of the acting Chair.
Motion to Close Debate: This motion ends debate on an agenda item and immediately
commences voting procedure. There are allowed two speakers to speak against this
motion
Motion to Open a Speakers List: This motion, given after roll call, allows for the
creation of a speakers list and the beginning of the formal session.
Motion for an Informal Session: This motion is used to enter informal debate, either
with a moderated or unmoderated session.
Motion to Set the Agenda: This motion is used to set the agenda to a specific topic area.
Motion to Table an Agenda Item: This motion tables an item on the agenda and
automatically sets debate to the next item on the agenda. If there are no more items on
the agenda, the committee shall return to formal debate by using the Speakers List.
There are allowed two speakers for and two speakers against this motion.
Motion to Reconsider an Agenda Item: This motion forces the committee to return to a
previously tabled agenda item. There are allowed two speakers for and two speakers
against this motion.
Motion to Introduce a Draft Resolution or Amendment: This motion introduces
specified documents to the committee and allows for debate on them.
Motion for a Closed Session: This motion seals the committee room by barring
entrance to anyone other than committee members, dais staff, conference staff,
university staff or faculty advisors. There are allowed two speakers for and two
speakers against this motion.
Motion for the Participation of a Non-Member: This motion gives speaking rights to a
non-member. At no point can voting rights, on matters procedural or substantive, be
given to a non-member.
Motion to Appeal the Decision of the Chair: This motion is used when a delegate
believes the Chair has ruled disingenuously, unfairly or incorrectly. This motion is
primarily symbolic and will be granted at the discretion of the dais. The acting Chair, in
coordination with the rest of the dais, is expected to receive this motion with the utmost
sincerity.
Motion to Divide the Question: This motion is used only during voting procedure and
must be stated before a resolution is voted on, and requires a second. This motion
commences procedure for Division of the Question (Rule 5.6).
Motion for a Roll Call Vote: This motion may only be used during voting procedure
and only applies to substantive votes. If a roll call vote is motioned for, it requires a
second and shall immediately pass, unless it is ruled dilatory by the acting Chair.
Motion to Reestablish Quorum: This motion compels roll call to be taken at any time,
and requires a second.
Motion to Adopt by Consensus: This motion is made before a substantive vote, and if
no objection is made, would see the relevant resolution or amendment before the
committee automatically passed.
Rule 3.9 Precedence

The order in which points and motions will be taken is the order of most disruptive to
least, as presented in the lists in Rules 3.7 and 3.8. Points are always entertained before

motions, and points of order and personal privilege may interrupt any speakers,
including the Chair, at any time.

Chapter 4: Resolutions
Rule 4.1 Resolutions

A resolutions is the main operating document of the general assemblies. Resolutions

must contain both preambulatory and operative clauses and should seek to address the
problems in the given topic area.

Rule 4.2 Draft Resolutions

A draft resolution, or working paper, is a resolution that has not yet been introduced.
Draft resolutions must have at least one sponsor and 1/6 th of the present delegations as
signatories before they can be submitted to the dais. They must be submitted to the dais
and approved before they can be introduced.
Prewritten draft resolutions are strictly prohibited at MUNI, under penalty of exclusion
from all conference awards. Prewritten draft resolutions are any clauses, perambulatory
or operative, that were written prior to the start of the first committee session.

Rule 4.3 Sponsors/Signatories

Sponsors are the primary authors of a draft resolution. Signatories are delegations who
would like to see the draft resolution debated, but that dont necessarily support it.

Rule 4.4 Amendments

Amendments are written to change a resolution that has already been introduced. A
friendly amendment is an amendment which is supported by all of the sponsors to a
resolution, and is immediately incorporated. An unfriendly amendment is one that is
not supported by all of the sponsors and must be voted on in congruence with the
resolution itself.

Chapter 5: Voting Procedure

Rule 5.1 Quorum

In order to enter voting procedure, there must be a quorum of 1/4th of the entire body. If
there is no quorum, no voting may occur until quorum is established.

Rule 5.2 Eligibility

Only delegations that are present, as noted by the most recent roll call, are able to vote.
Each delegation is allotted one vote. Delegates must have proper credentials in order to
vote.

Rule 5.3 Majority Votes

Substantive matters require more yes votes than no votes in order to pass.
Abstentions are in order for such votes and an abstention will not be counted towards
majorities.

Rule 5.4 Voting Logistics

If there is no motion for a roll call vote, a placard vote will be taken. Once the placard
vote has begun, there can be no motion for a roll call vote. Strict decorum will be
observed during voting procedure, and the chamber will be sealed by a member of the
dais staff acting as Sergeant-at-Arms.

Rule 5.5 Consensus

After a motion to adopt by consensus has been made and no objection has been
verbally stated, the relevant resolution or amendment automatically passes. Abstentions
are still in order, but must be voiced after the motion is made and there has been made
sufficient time for an objection.

Rule 5.6 Division of the Question If a motion to divide the question has been made and seconded, it will be voted on. If
the motion passes, the delegate who made the motion will state the nature of the
division. Preambulatory clauses may not be separated, and therefore all of them must
be a part of any division.
Once the clauses that the delegate wishes to divide out have been expressed and made
widely known to the body, they can be voted on. The divided out clauses shall be voted
on first, followed by the entire resolution. If there is more than one proposed division,
they will be ordered by the acting Chair and the order will be announced.

Chapter 6: Special Rules for Special Committees

Rule 6.1 Procedural Rules

The rules and format of a crisis committee should follow the rules in chapters 3 and 5,
and any alterations to these rules will be made known in the background guides.

Rule 6.2 Moderated Caucus

Crisis committees will be in a perpetual moderated informal session.

Rule 6.3 Directives

Directives are the main operating document in any special committee, and will follow
the same procedure as resolutions, without needing perambulatory clauses.

Chapter 7: Special Rules for the Security Council

Rule 7.1 President

The President of the Security Council shall be the acting Chair, responsible for all
duties therein. Furthermore, the President shall not be elected from among the
members, but instead shall be chosen by the Secretary General from members of the
staff.

Rule 7.2 Smaller Bodies

The Security Council may appoint either a commission, or a committee, or a rapporteur

for specific questions, bodies that can be accorded precedence by the President.

Rule 7.3 Parties to the Dispute

UN member states that are not members of the Security Council may be invited at any
point to speak and participate without voting rights. These nonmembers may propose
resolutions, but only members may sponsor them and/or bring them to the floor.

Rule 7.4 Presidential Statements With consensus, the Council may craft a statement to the UN as a whole, delivered by
the President.
Rule 7.5 Press

The body may release press releases, voted on as a directive.

Rule 7.6 Voting

Voting will follow the same procedure as outlined in Chapter 5 of these rules. The five
permanent members of the Security Council will have veto power on all substantive
matters.

Rule 7.7 Peacekeepers

The Security Council is authorized to deploy peacekeepers.

Rule 7.8 Directives

The main operating document in the Security Council shall be directives.

Chapter 8: Special Rules for the International Press Delegation

Rule 8.1 Role

The International Press Delegation (IPD) is responsible for ensuring that substantive
information is conveyed to participants for the duration of the MUNI conference. The
IPD shall edit and disseminate the MUNI Insider.

Rule 8.2 Press Releases

Any delegations may submit press releases to the IPD for publication.
Security Council press releases take precedence over all other press releases if
necessary. Press releases must be in accordance with diplomatic courtesy and decorum
guidelines, and are approved at the discretion of MUNI staff.

Chapter 10: Awards Policy and Criteria

Rule 10.1 Philosophy

Although Model United Nations is intended to primarily be a pedagogical activity, the

availability of awards allows for a competitive atmosphere in good spirit. Awards are
meant to recognize delegations that perform in an outstanding manner.

Rule 10.2 Criteria

These are the areas in which Dias staff will be evaluating delegates performance,
though they are not exclusive or exhaustive:
1) Accurate representation of ones country, as evidenced primarily through positions
taken during session

2) Outstanding efforts in all aspects of committee, including but not limited to verbal
actions, cooperation and resolution writing
3) Thorough understanding and effective application of the rules of parliamentary
procedure
4) Comprehension and appreciation of the goal of the United Nations and its role in
international affairs, including its limitations and purview
Rule 10.3 Disqualification

Delegations will be excluded from receiving awards if they are found to be in violation
of any rules found herein or local, state, national laws or requests made in good faith by
staff. Additionally, delegations that do not adhere to the spirit of diplomatic courtesy
shall also be excluded.

Rule 10.4 Authority on Awards

The Dais retains final authority on awards and appeals are not in order. Prior to the
conclusion of the penultimate day of the conference, delegations may nominate peers in
writing if these nominations are accompanied by sophisticated reasoning. The Dais is,
however, not bound by any such nomination.