Global Model UN 2009 Geneva

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Q&A on Rules of Procedure

Questions and Answers

• When a Member State moves to suspend the meeting, does he/she have to give the reason?
• When the Chair suspends a meeting is it put to a vote?
• Does the Chair suggest a time limit for the suspension if the representative fails to?
• Does the debate stop if a quorum is no longer present in the committee room?
• What kinds of informal consultations are possible?
• How are recommendations from the General Committee communicated to Member States? Is it annotated with explanations or simply a recommendation to adopt or not adopt?
• Can the Chair close the list of speakers without a vote?
• Can the Chair choose to keep the list of speakers open throughout the discussion phase?
• Can the Chair limit time allowed to each speaker and the number of times each Member State can speak during the action phase? If so, does this have to be put to a vote?
• Do the time limits set by the Chair during the discussion phase have to be put to a vote?
• Can a Member State request to speak more than once on the same agenda item during the discussion phase?
• Does a Member State have to move for a closure of debate before a motion to vote on a draft resolution is put forth?
• Can Member States vote on a draft resolution if there are more than two drafts being considered? What happens to the other resolution if one of them is adopted?
• What is meant by the Chair’s text? When is something like this introduced?
• When a draft resolution is introduced does it need to be seconded before it is discussed?
• When voting on a procedural motion by hand vote, do you need to count if it is obvious that the majority is in favor?
• Can a Member State interrupt another Member State who has started delivering a statement to raise a point of order?
• Can you amend the Preamble?
• How are recommendations of the ACABQ communicated to a Committee? What is the review process like?
• Can Member States decide to amend a resolution that has been adopted in the Committee during the GA plenary?
• What if there is a majority present to take action, but the number of abstentions is so high that the number of Member States considered to be present and voting is less than the quorum? Is the vote considered valid?

Questions and Answers

• When a Member State moves to suspend the meeting, does he/she have to give the reason?
  
  No reason needs to be given.
  
   
• When the Chair suspends a meeting is it put to a vote?
  
  If the Chair proposes that the meeting be suspended and there is no objection, no vote is necessary. It is only when a representative objects to this proposal that a vote would be required.
   
  If a representative objects, the chair can explain why he/she recommends that the meeting be suspended but if the representative continues to object, then it is put to a vote.
  
  [According to Rule 41, a motion to suspend shall not be debated but is immediately put to a vote. If this is the case, then why wouldn’t the Chair’s motion be put to an immediate vote?]
  
   
• Does the Chair suggest a time limit for the suspension if the representative fails to?
  

  Yes, the Chair can suggest a time limit but only with the consent of the representatives. If any object, then it should be put to a vote. The Chair always remains the authority of the body.

  
   
• Does the debate stop if a quorum is no longer present in the committee room?
  

  Yes, debate continues but no decisions can be made unless there is a majority of members present.

  
   
• What kinds of informal consultations are possible?
  
  The Chair can suggest that a meeting be suspended for an informal consultation in which the delegates remain in the room but the Rules of Procedure are suspended so that the discussion can be frank. The Chair could moderate this informal discussion; Member States could talk among themselves in the room or move to another location. Informal consultations can also continue outside of formal meetings when delegates are socializing during dinner, ect.
  
   
• How are recommendations from the General Committee communicated to Member States? Is it annotated with explanations or simply a recommendation to adopt or not adopt?
  

  Recommendations regarding the provisional agenda are communicated in a report with justifications for the recommendations.

  
   
• Can the Chair close the list of speakers without a vote?
  
  Yes, the list of speakers can be closed at the Chair’s discretion without a vote. The Chair can say something like “I see no more speakers on my list. I now recommend we take action on…”
  
   
• Can the Chair choose to keep the list of speakers open throughout the discussion phase?
  

  Yes.

  
   
• Can the Chair limit time allowed to each speaker and the number of times each Member State can speak during the action phase? If so, does this have to be put to a vote?
  
  It is not UN practice to do so.
  
   
• Do the time limits set by the Chair during the discussion phase have to be put to a vote?
  
  The time limits are suggested by the Chair. Most Member States adhere to the suggestion but they exceed the time limit if they want to.
  
   
• Can a Member State request to speak more than once on the same agenda item during the discussion phase?
  

  Yes, but there is an unwritten code against speaker more than once. When a Member State speaks more than once they always apologize for doing so.

  
   
• Does a Member State have to move for a closure of debate before a motion to vote on a draft resolution is put forth?
  

  They can. No general statements are made during the action phase; what is said, however, must be directly relevant to the vote.

  
   
• Can Member States vote on a draft resolution if there are more than two drafts being considered? What happens to the other resolution if one of them is adopted?
  

  Can the sponsors of the other draft move to vote on that as well? There is no limit to the number of resolutions that can be adopted. Sometimes two different resolutions are adopted on the same agenda item. The two drafts cannot be contradictory but one is usually less concrete than the other.

  
   
• What is meant by the Chair’s text? When is something like this introduced?
  

  The Chair sometimes initiates a text as a last resort when it seems like nothing else will work. Sometimes Member States will see the Chair is impartial and accept this sort of initiative on behalf of the Committee. The text is always introduced in informal consultations where the Chair can get a sense of whether Member States would agree to it. If there is no consensus on the text it should be withdrawn.

  
   
• When a draft resolution is introduced does it need to be seconded before it is discussed?
  

  No.

  
   
• When voting on a procedural motion by hand vote, do you need to count if it is obvious that the majority is in favor?
  

  A vote should always be tallied(X for, Y against).

  
   
• Can a Member State interrupt another Member State who has started delivering a statement to raise a point of order?
  

  Yes.

  
   
• Can you amend the Preamble?
  

  Yes.

  
   
• How are recommendations of the ACABQ communicated to a Committee? What is the review process like?
  

  Recommendations can be communicated either in a report or orally by the Chair.

  
   
• Can Member States decide to amend a resolution that has been adopted in the Committee during the GA plenary?
  

  Yes.

  
   
• What if there is a majority present to take action, but the number of abstentions is so high that the number of Member States considered to be present and voting is less than the quorum? Is the vote considered valid?
  

  Or put another way; is there any situation in which the number of abstentions can render a vote invalid?