Welcome to Rules of Committee!
Come here to learn about the general structure of how things actually work in committee, and which motions or points you should raise to be the delegate you want to be. There will also be information and examples of rules and structures that chairs impose on committee which typically define the direction they want to take committee in.
Example of Real Rules in Committee imposed by Chair
1. Scope
These rules will be applicable for the _____(Name of Committee) at the _____(Name of conference), unless otherwise stipulated by the directors (the chairs) of that committee.
2. Procedural Authority of the _____ (Role the chair plays, like President, King, UN Secretary General)
In addition to any other procedural powers and responsibilities accorded in these rules, the ______ (Chair) shall:
a. Declare the opening and closing of each meeting of the _____(Name of Committee),
b. Maintain order of the meeting and complete control over the procedures,
c. Accord the right to speak,
d. Put questions to a vote,
e. Announce decisions.
3. Discretion of the ___ (Role the chair plays)
The ____ (Role the chair plays) will have the discretion to entertain a motion, deny a motion, or to decide that a particular motion would be appropriate or inappropriate at any time.
4. Substantive Authority of the ___ (Role the chair plays)
The ___ (Role the chair plays) will have the final authority to determine any actions taken by the _____(Name of Committee)and the United States as a whole.
5. Delegation of Presiding Authority
The ___ (Role the chair plays) will have the power to delegate authority to either the ___ (Role the co-chair plays) or any other appropriate persons.
6. Attendance and Roll Call
The ___ (Role the chair plays) and his/her staff will ascertain the attendance of all members of the _____ (name of committee) l through a roll call at the beginning of each meeting. Members (role of the delegate) may indicate their _____ (name of committee) attendance by responding with “Present” when their names are called. There is no “Present and Voting” status.
7. Quorum
The _____ (name of committee) will convene and adjourn at the pleasure of the ___ (Role the chair plays). There is no minimum attendance required.
8. Majority
Unless otherwise specified, all committee votes, procedural and substantive, will require a simple majority to pass.
9. Language
English will be the official and working language of the _____ (name of committee).
10. Debate
Debate within the _____ (name of committee) will take the form of a perpetual moderated caucus by default. Speaking time will be set and may be amended at the discretion of the ___ (Role the chair plays).
11. Point of Personal Privilege
A delegate may rise to a point of personal privilege when experiencing personal discomfort that impairs the delegate’s ability to participate.
12. Point of Order
A delegate may rise to a point of order when the delegate finds a procedural error made by the ___ (Role the chair plays) or another delegate. Points of order should not interrupt another delegate who is speaking. The ___ (Role the chair plays) will rule upon the point of order immediately.
13. Point of Information
A delegate may rise to a point of information to request further information, procedural or substantive, from the ___ (Role the chair plays) and his/her staff. Points of information should not interrupt another delegate who is speaking.
14. Right of Reply
There will be no right of reply in the ____ (Name of Committee). Delegates must refrain from personal attacks in committee. They will not be tolerated in the professional environment of the ____ (Name of Committee). There are far more important matters to be addressed, and any blatantly intentional personal attacks violate the ethos and spirit of this committee.
15. Yields
There will be no yields in the ____ (Name of Committee).
16. Unmoderated Caucus
Delegates may move to suspend the meeting for an unmoderated caucus. The motion will be put to an immediate vote. No speeches for or against the motion will be entertained. The sponsor of the motion must specify the time limit for which the meeting would be suspended, pending the ___ (Role the chair plays) approval.
17. Moderated Caucus
Delegates may move to focus the debate of the committee on a specific topic through a motion for a moderated caucus. The motion will be put to an immediate vote. No speeches for or against the motion will be entertained. The sponsor of the motion must specify the total time limit, speaking time, and purpose of the moderated caucus, pending the ___ (Role the chair plays) approval.
18. Suspension and Adjournment of the Meeting
There will be no motions to suspend or adjourn the meeting, as the ___ (Role the chair plays) reserves the authority to suspend and adjourn meetings of the _____(Name of Committee) at his/her discretion.
19. Introduction of a Proposal
The ___ (Role the chair plays) also reserves the right to allow introduction of draft directives as his/her discretion. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may also set at his/her discretion a minimum for the number of sponsors and signatories needed by a draft resolution before it can be introduced. Delegates may also move to introduce draft directives to the committee. This motion requires a simple majority to pass.
20. Closure of Debate
Delegates may move to close debate and begin voting procedures on all proposed directives. Alternatively, delegates may move to vote on one specific proposal on the floor. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may entertain two speakers for and against closure at his/her discretion. The motion will require a simple majority to pass.
21. Committee Documents
Substantive committee decisions will be conveyed in the form of written directives, which consist of a set of operative clauses. Directives must first be introduced to the committee before they can be voted upon after closure of debate. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may impose a limit on the number of draft directives allowed on the floor at his/her discretion.
22. Amendments
Delegates may propose amendments to draft directives that have already been introduced to the committee. An amendment will be considered “friendly” if supported by all sponsors of a draft directive. An amendment not supported by all sponsors will be considered “unfriendly” and require majority support in voting procedure to be incorporated into the final directive. All amendments should be proposed and introduced prior to the closure of debate and voting procedures.
23. Voting Rights
Each member of the _____(Name of Committee) will have one vote in both procedural and substantive matters.
24. Order of Voting
If there are two or more draft directives on the floor at any time, the _____(Name of Committee) will vote on them in the order in which they were submitted. There will be no motion to reorder.
25. Division of the Question
During voting procedure after the closure of debate, delegates may move to divide the question. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may entertain two speakers for and against the motion at his/her discretion. The motion will require a simple majority to pass. After that, the ___ (Role the chair plays) will entertain suggestions for how the proposal will be divided. Each suggestion will be voted upon separately until one passes.
26. Conduct During Voting
Once the committee has moved into voting procedure, delegates may not interrupt voting except by raising points related to the conduct of voting. The doors of the committee will be closed and no one may enter or leave the room until voting procedures have been completed.
27. Voting by Acclamation
The standard method of voting for all substantive votes will be the vote by acclamation. The ___ (Role the chair plays) will ask for objections twice, and if there are no objections voiced by the members of the _____(Name of Committee), the proposal in consideration is adopted unanimously. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may, at his/her discretion, utilize the vote by acclamation on procedural votes.
28. Voting by Division
The standard method of voting on all procedural votes will be the vote by division. The ___ (Role the chair plays) will ask members of the _____(Name of Committee) to raise their placards to indicate their support or opposition.
29. Voting by Roll Call
A vote by roll call may be initiated under two circumstances: first, when the initial vote by acclamation fails on a substantive measure, and second, when a delegate moves for a vote by roll call in voting procedures. During a vote by roll call, the ___ (Role the chair plays) will call upon each delegate to indicate support or opposition. Delegates will not be allowed to abstain in the _____(Name of Committee).
These rules will be applicable for the _____(Name of Committee) at the _____(Name of conference), unless otherwise stipulated by the directors (the chairs) of that committee.
2. Procedural Authority of the _____ (Role the chair plays, like President, King, UN Secretary General)
In addition to any other procedural powers and responsibilities accorded in these rules, the ______ (Chair) shall:
a. Declare the opening and closing of each meeting of the _____(Name of Committee),
b. Maintain order of the meeting and complete control over the procedures,
c. Accord the right to speak,
d. Put questions to a vote,
e. Announce decisions.
3. Discretion of the ___ (Role the chair plays)
The ____ (Role the chair plays) will have the discretion to entertain a motion, deny a motion, or to decide that a particular motion would be appropriate or inappropriate at any time.
4. Substantive Authority of the ___ (Role the chair plays)
The ___ (Role the chair plays) will have the final authority to determine any actions taken by the _____(Name of Committee)and the United States as a whole.
5. Delegation of Presiding Authority
The ___ (Role the chair plays) will have the power to delegate authority to either the ___ (Role the co-chair plays) or any other appropriate persons.
6. Attendance and Roll Call
The ___ (Role the chair plays) and his/her staff will ascertain the attendance of all members of the _____ (name of committee) l through a roll call at the beginning of each meeting. Members (role of the delegate) may indicate their _____ (name of committee) attendance by responding with “Present” when their names are called. There is no “Present and Voting” status.
7. Quorum
The _____ (name of committee) will convene and adjourn at the pleasure of the ___ (Role the chair plays). There is no minimum attendance required.
8. Majority
Unless otherwise specified, all committee votes, procedural and substantive, will require a simple majority to pass.
9. Language
English will be the official and working language of the _____ (name of committee).
10. Debate
Debate within the _____ (name of committee) will take the form of a perpetual moderated caucus by default. Speaking time will be set and may be amended at the discretion of the ___ (Role the chair plays).
11. Point of Personal Privilege
A delegate may rise to a point of personal privilege when experiencing personal discomfort that impairs the delegate’s ability to participate.
12. Point of Order
A delegate may rise to a point of order when the delegate finds a procedural error made by the ___ (Role the chair plays) or another delegate. Points of order should not interrupt another delegate who is speaking. The ___ (Role the chair plays) will rule upon the point of order immediately.
13. Point of Information
A delegate may rise to a point of information to request further information, procedural or substantive, from the ___ (Role the chair plays) and his/her staff. Points of information should not interrupt another delegate who is speaking.
14. Right of Reply
There will be no right of reply in the ____ (Name of Committee). Delegates must refrain from personal attacks in committee. They will not be tolerated in the professional environment of the ____ (Name of Committee). There are far more important matters to be addressed, and any blatantly intentional personal attacks violate the ethos and spirit of this committee.
15. Yields
There will be no yields in the ____ (Name of Committee).
16. Unmoderated Caucus
Delegates may move to suspend the meeting for an unmoderated caucus. The motion will be put to an immediate vote. No speeches for or against the motion will be entertained. The sponsor of the motion must specify the time limit for which the meeting would be suspended, pending the ___ (Role the chair plays) approval.
17. Moderated Caucus
Delegates may move to focus the debate of the committee on a specific topic through a motion for a moderated caucus. The motion will be put to an immediate vote. No speeches for or against the motion will be entertained. The sponsor of the motion must specify the total time limit, speaking time, and purpose of the moderated caucus, pending the ___ (Role the chair plays) approval.
18. Suspension and Adjournment of the Meeting
There will be no motions to suspend or adjourn the meeting, as the ___ (Role the chair plays) reserves the authority to suspend and adjourn meetings of the _____(Name of Committee) at his/her discretion.
19. Introduction of a Proposal
The ___ (Role the chair plays) also reserves the right to allow introduction of draft directives as his/her discretion. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may also set at his/her discretion a minimum for the number of sponsors and signatories needed by a draft resolution before it can be introduced. Delegates may also move to introduce draft directives to the committee. This motion requires a simple majority to pass.
20. Closure of Debate
Delegates may move to close debate and begin voting procedures on all proposed directives. Alternatively, delegates may move to vote on one specific proposal on the floor. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may entertain two speakers for and against closure at his/her discretion. The motion will require a simple majority to pass.
21. Committee Documents
Substantive committee decisions will be conveyed in the form of written directives, which consist of a set of operative clauses. Directives must first be introduced to the committee before they can be voted upon after closure of debate. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may impose a limit on the number of draft directives allowed on the floor at his/her discretion.
22. Amendments
Delegates may propose amendments to draft directives that have already been introduced to the committee. An amendment will be considered “friendly” if supported by all sponsors of a draft directive. An amendment not supported by all sponsors will be considered “unfriendly” and require majority support in voting procedure to be incorporated into the final directive. All amendments should be proposed and introduced prior to the closure of debate and voting procedures.
23. Voting Rights
Each member of the _____(Name of Committee) will have one vote in both procedural and substantive matters.
24. Order of Voting
If there are two or more draft directives on the floor at any time, the _____(Name of Committee) will vote on them in the order in which they were submitted. There will be no motion to reorder.
25. Division of the Question
During voting procedure after the closure of debate, delegates may move to divide the question. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may entertain two speakers for and against the motion at his/her discretion. The motion will require a simple majority to pass. After that, the ___ (Role the chair plays) will entertain suggestions for how the proposal will be divided. Each suggestion will be voted upon separately until one passes.
26. Conduct During Voting
Once the committee has moved into voting procedure, delegates may not interrupt voting except by raising points related to the conduct of voting. The doors of the committee will be closed and no one may enter or leave the room until voting procedures have been completed.
27. Voting by Acclamation
The standard method of voting for all substantive votes will be the vote by acclamation. The ___ (Role the chair plays) will ask for objections twice, and if there are no objections voiced by the members of the _____(Name of Committee), the proposal in consideration is adopted unanimously. The ___ (Role the chair plays) may, at his/her discretion, utilize the vote by acclamation on procedural votes.
28. Voting by Division
The standard method of voting on all procedural votes will be the vote by division. The ___ (Role the chair plays) will ask members of the _____(Name of Committee) to raise their placards to indicate their support or opposition.
29. Voting by Roll Call
A vote by roll call may be initiated under two circumstances: first, when the initial vote by acclamation fails on a substantive measure, and second, when a delegate moves for a vote by roll call in voting procedures. During a vote by roll call, the ___ (Role the chair plays) will call upon each delegate to indicate support or opposition. Delegates will not be allowed to abstain in the _____(Name of Committee).
Disclaimer
This example of the procedural structure and rules of committee was taken from the United States National Security Council at PACMUN 2017. It has been modified to be applicable to all committees no matter the topic.