SIDMUN Website Rules

I. Website Use

Posting:When posting on the SIDMUN website wall, or on the committee sections, that you do not post obscene materials, rude comments, or post comments insulting anyone. We take this very seriously, and all IPs are stored.

Rules of Procedure at the Lee Marcus Invitational SIDMUN

I. Sessions

Opening date:  The annual Lee Marcus Invitational Sewanhaka Intra-District Model United Nations (hereafter referred to as SIDMUN) will convene at one of the five high-schools in the Sewanhaka Central High School District on a day in April.

Notification of Session:  The Secretaries-General will communicate the topic to the members of SIDMUN, along with a list of committees that will convene prior to opening session

 

II. Delegations

The Secretaries-General will inform each delegate of his/her specific committee assignment at least 40 days before SIDMUN convenes.  Delegations must be at least one, and no more than two delegates in each committee to which they are assigned.

 

III. Secretariat

Secretaries-General:  The Secretaries-General shall act in that capacity in all meetings at SIDMUN and may at any time make oral or written statements to the committees of the assembly.  The Secretaries-General may designate a member of the Secretariat of SIDMUN to act in his/her place at any meeting of SIDMUN and its committees.

Powers of the Directors:  The members of the Secretariat, collectively referred to as the Chair, are responsible for the efficient operations of the committee which they direct. Each member of the chair will hold one of the positions described below and all members will rotate these positions throughout the conference:

-Chair 1 will act as the moderator of the committee. He/she shall declare the opening and closing of committee, direct the discussion of the meeting, and ensure the observation of all the rules.  He/she shall rule on points of order and subject to these rules, have complete control over the proceedings of each committee session.

-Chair 2 will reserve the right of approval of any resolution, working paper, or other official document presented to the committee and help the delegates in creation of such a document

-Chair 3 will be responsible for the evaluation of each delegate in his committee attending SIDMUN.  He/she will critique each delegate on his strengths and weaknesses

-Chair 4 will assist the moderator in running the committee by keeping accurate records of the Speaker’s List and delegates who have spoken

 

IV. Rules Governing Debate

Agenda:  The first order of business will be the consideration of the Agenda.  A motion should be made to put a topic area first on the Agenda.  A speakers’ list will be established for and against this motion.  Closure of debate on the Agenda will be in order after two speakers have spoken for and against.  When debate is closed, the motion will be put to an immediate vote.  If this motion fails the other topic area will be debated first.

Caucus:  A motion to caucus is in order at any time. The delegate making the motion must briefly explain its purpose and specify a time limit for the caucus no to exceed twenty minutes.  The motion will be immediately put to a vote.  A majority of members present and voting is required for passage.

Moderated Caucus:  The purpose of moderated caucus is to facilitate substantive debate at critical junctures in the discussion. In moderated caucus, the chair will call on delegates who wish to speak about the matter at hand.  The delegate making the motion must specify a time limit for the moderated caucus not to exceed 15 minutes.  The motion is voted on, and requires a majority of members present and voting for passage.

Postponement/Resumption of Debate:  A delegate may move to postpone debate on a resolution or an amendment currently on the floor.  The motion requires a 2/3 majority to pass, and will be debated to the extent of one speaker for and one against.  Motion to resume debate on an amendment or resolution will require a majority to pass and will be debated to the extent of one speaker for and one against.

Closure of the Speakers’ List:  During the course of debate, a delegate may motion to close the Speakers’ List.  This motion requires a simple majority vote to pass.  If the motion passes, no other names may be added to the Speakers’ List.  The Speakers’ List can later be reopened, however;  a 2/3 majority is required to do so.

Closure of Debate:  The chair will inform the delegates when a motion for closure of debate is in order.  Two speakers against will be heard.  Closure requires a 2/3 majority vote to pass.  If debate is closed, the committee moves into voting procedure.

Adjournment of a Meeting:  The chair will entertain such a motion only if it should coincide with the predetermined schedule of meetings of SIDMUN.

 

V. Rules Governing Speeches

Speeches:  No delegate may address a SIDMUN committee without having obtained permission of the chair.  The chair shall call upon speakers in the order in which they signify their desire to speak.  The chair may call a speaker to order if the speaker’s remarks are not relevant to the subject under discussion

List of Speakers:  The Chair will formally open a Speakers’ List for the first topic to be discussed.  Delegates shall be accorded the right to speak as they  are recognized            by the Chair during the creation of the Speakers’ List.  Any delegate who would like to be added to the Speakers’ List shall submit a request in writing to the Chair.

Yields:  An intention to yield must be announced prior to speaking.  A delegate may yield in any of the following ways:  a) to another delegate;  b) to questions from the committee;  c) to the Chair

Comments:  Comments on substantive speeches will be in order after a substantive speech in which the delegate has not yielded

Right of Reply:  A delegate whose personal or national integrity has been violated by another delegate may request a Right of Reply.  The Chair’s decision is final.

 

VI.  Points

Point of Personal Privilege:  Whenever a delegate experiences personal discomfort which impairs his/her ability to participate in the proceedings, he/she may rise to a Point of Privilege.  This point may interrupt a speaker, and delegates must use this power with the utmost discretion.

Point of Order:  During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may rise to a Point of Order, and that point shall immediately be decided by the Chair in accordance with these rules of procedure.  A Point of Order must relate to the observance/maintenance of the rules or the manner in which the Chair runs the committee.

Point of Parliamentary Inquiry:  When the floor is open, a delegate may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to ask the moderator a question regarding the rules of procedure.  A Point of Parliamentary Inquiry may never interrupt a speaker

Order of Procedural Motion:  The motions indicated below shall have precedence in the following order over all other proposals or motions before the committee:

            -Point of Order

            -Point of Parliamentary Inquiry

            -Suspension of the Meeting

            -Adjournment of the Meeting

 

VII. Rules Governing Substantive Matters

Resolutions and Amendments:  Resolutions and amendments shall be submitted to the person acting in the capacity of Chair 2 and must be submitted in writing.  Under certain circumstances, the chair may allow amendments and resolutions to be discussed even if they have not yet been circulated throughout the committee.

Creation of a Resolution:  There will be no sponsors of resolutions at SIDMUN.  To introduce a resolution to the body will require the signatures of five countries.  No country names will appear on any final draft.

Introduction of a Resolution:  Once a resolution has been approved, copied, and distributed to the committee, a delegate may motion to introduce the resolution.  The content of such an introduction will be limited to reading the operatives and answering questions about the structure of the resolution.  All substantive questions will be out of order at this time.

Amendments:  An amendment adds to, deletes portions, or revises a resolution. Amendments must be submitted in writing to the Chair.  All amendments require the prior approval of the Chair.  An approved amendment may be introduced when the floor is open.  A motion to close debate will be in order after at least two speakers for and two speakers against have spoken.  When debate is closed on the amendment, the committee will move into an immediate vote.  After the vote, debate will return to the general Speakers’ List.

 

VIII.  Voting

Voting Rights:  Each country represented at SIDMUN has one vote for all substantive and procedural matters.

Methods of Voting:  Voting will be done by a show of placards, however, any representative may request a roll call vote on substantive matters.  If a roll call is requested, it must be seconded by ten delegations.  A vote by roll call shall be taken in the English alphabetical order of the names of the members.  The name of each member shall be called and a delegate shall answer “Yes”, “No”, “Abstain”, or “Pass”.  Members who pass will be skipped and returned to later.  At this time, they must answer yes or no;  they cannot abstain.  Any member who votes yes, no, or abstains may request the right to explain their vote.  This should only be done if the delegate voted in a way that vastly differed from the policy of his/her nation.  The Chair will allow a 30-second explanation, if requested, when all voting is concluded.  Members who pass their first round waive their right to explain their vote at the conclusion of voting procedures.

Division of the Question:  A delegate may move that operative parts of the resolution of an amendment be voted on separately.  If an objection is made to the motion to divide the question, that motion will be debated to the extent of two speakers for and two speakers against, to be followed by an immediate procedural vote on that motion.  If the motion passes, each division will be voted on separately from the most severe to the least.  Parts of the resolution or amendment which are subsequently passed will be recombined into a final document and will be put to a substantive vote as a whole, requiring a simple majority to pass.

 

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