RMUN Procedure Guide

RMUN’s procedure is a hybrid of modern Model UN convention and “Parliamentary Procedure,” derived from British parliamentary rules.

Content:

1. Motions and Points

2. Writing Format Guide

3. Crisis Structure / Crisis Notes Guide

Motions:

• Motion to open a speakers list

  • With a speaking time of X

  • Or, propose a separate motion to set the speaking time

• Motion for a moderated caucus, with speaking time of X, total time of Y, and topic Z

• Motion for an unmoderated caucus of time X

• Motion to present working papers / resolutions on the floor

• Crisis only — Motion for a round robin with speaking time X

• Motion to enter voting procedure

• Motion to suspend, open, or close debate

Points:

• Point of Order

• Point of Personal Privilege

• Point of Inquiry

• Right to reply

Summaries

Speakers list: An opportunity for delegates to make speeches without a set topic, typically used to decide the direction of debate prior to a common agenda. Typically, the chair will suspend the speakers list at their discretion when a clear committee direction has been identified. If there are multiple topics, there will be both a primary and secondary speakers list. The primary will concern advocating on a topic before voting on it. Then, the second speakers list will resemble that which you would see in a one topic committee. Uniquely to speakers list, delegates may (but are not required) to yield their time to questions. It is generally advocated that delegates use their own speaking time instead.

Moderated Caucus: An opportunity to make a speech on a set topic. Unlike a speakers list, the total time of the caucus is generally defined, leading to a specified number of speakers. Topics are suggestions, but chairs will note when delegates do not adhere to the topic.

Unmoderated Caucus: A suspension of speeches so that delegates may meet, talk, and write amongst themselves. During this time, technology will be allowed in General Assemblies. Otherwise, it is not. This is not a suspension of decorum, delegates must be respectful and professional during unmoderated caucuses.

Motion to present: This motion indicates the beginning of presentation procedures, wherein Q&A, introductions, and for and against speeches may occur. The specifics of the presentation procedure will either be voted on or will rest on the chairs discretion.

Round Robin: In crisis committees, delegates are enabled to perform a round robin, wherein each delegate is offered a set speaking time to make a speech without a topic. This serves like a speakers list in a general assembly, but given the smaller committee sizes may be more effective and equitable.

Motion to enter voting procedure: This motion indicates the beginning of voting procedures. The chair will tally up the votes of all delegates present and pass/fail directives and resolutions. Following the motion to enter voting procedure, delegates may motion to divide the question, which will separate a paper on the floor into multiple sections to be voted on separately. All other sub-motions to voting which you may have heard of at other conferences are not going to be listed here, as their admissibility falls to chairs’ discretion.

Motion to suspend, open, or close debate: These are formalities used to indicate when scheduled break time is taking place. They can be fun, but they are not required and often the chair will simply announce a break instead.

Point of order: A point of order indicates a delegate’s feeling that the chair has made a procedure mistake. Most commonly, this will occur if 1) a delegate made a motion but did not get to select to speak first or last, 2) a delegate was skipped on a speech for which they were demarcated, 3) a motion was skipped for voting. Chairs make honest mistakes, the point of order is primarily a way to make sure each delegate is receiving their due speaking time.

Point of personal privilege: This indicates a desire to change something about the committee circumstance. For example, the room is too hot or cold. Another, that the committee has not yet been released for break even though they are past the appropriate time.

Point of Inquiry: A question to the chair. This is NOT a tool to ask another delegate a question, nor to clarify elements of debate. RMUN highly frowns upon using it as such, as it disrupts the equitable flow of speaking time. Rather, it can clarify points like: 1) when chairs expect papers to be submitted, 2) what time breaks are, or 3) where our incredible conference T-shirts are being sold.

Right to reply: If a delegate has been personally insulted, they may have the right to reply. Note, personally insulted. A delegate calling your position on an issue disgusting does not warrant a right of reply, that is a use of rhetoric against a country policy. A delegate calling you disgusting certainly does, it is an improper ad-hominem and you then have the right to reply.

Writing Style (General Assembly)

RMUN GAs employ the convention of clause-format. In particular, the elements of a resolution in a general assembly:

• Sponsors - a list of contributors to the paper

• Signatories - a list of those who would like to see the paper presented (not that they strictly support it)

• Pre-ambulatory clauses - clauses which indicate the opinions of the authors

• Operative clauses - the provisions and solutions advocated by the authors

• Title, committee, etc. (Whatever items of heading make the paper’s origin clear)

A paper must have a certain amount of total sponsors + signatories to be presented.

Certain words must be employed in the beginning of pre-ambulatory clauses, and separate words in the beginning of operative clauses. Here is a guide that I like, google can help you find other ones as well. Operative clauses have their first word underlined, pre-ambulatory clause first words are italicized. All clauses should end in commas or, if subclauses are to be employed, a colon. There should be no periods except for the last line of a resolution. There should be no unpunctuated clauses either. Semicolons may be employed stylistically in the midst of clauses, but should never end them.

Operative clauses should be contiguously numbered, pre-ambs should not. There should be no more than a few pre-ambs. Authors may choose to employ section headers for clarity, these should not be more than a few words, and may be unpunctuated. Headers as well as words in clauses may be bolded, italicized, or otherwise accentuated to stylistic preference. Please do not use atypical fonts, line spacings, or otherwise contrive the reading of the document.

Directives

Directives in a crisis committee do not adhere to any formatting requirements. They should be structured, literally, as directives, which are intended to be interpreted by agents of the committee body such that they may perform intended acts.

Directives may be written also as press releases, in which case it will be assumed that the exact words of the release make it out to the public at large via available channels.

Notes

In any committee, adhere to chair discretion on procedure and style.

Note that any motion you have heard of in another conference, or motion you have made up, is likely possible. That being said, you will have to ask the chair informally whether such a motion is possible, and often they will say no.

In parliamentary procedure, provisions are often made on the content of speaking. For example, parliamentary speakers may not refer to themselves or others in the first or third pronouns. Such rules do not apply at RMUN, nor at the actual UN. The way in which delegates speak is intended to be stylistically open to enable a diversity of methods of dialogue. That being said, chairs may gavel down and/or penalize any delegate who’s speeches do not adhere to decorum, which is a general respect for the intellectual endeavor being underwent and for the other members of committee.

Crisis

Crisis committees are unique in that they have two spheres, the “frontroom” and “backroom.” The frontroom is the literal committee room, wherein delegates will be debating and working together to build directives which solve committee issues.

The backroom is a collection of chairs who maintain an “external world,” wherein “current events” are in flux over the course of the crisis. In particular, chairs will come into the room to provide crisis updates, which indicate a significant real world event to which delegates are expected to respond. Further, delegates can send the backroom personal directives (aka, “crisis notes”), which will direct external characters under the delegate’s control.

The RMUN backroom utilizes a two-pad system, which means that delegates will be provided with two legal pads at the start of committee. When they send in a personal directive, they will be able to write on the other pad while it is being read by the backroom. The backroom will return after a set period to return the round of notes they just read, and will at that time pick up those notes which were being written.

All crisis notes must be addressed to external characters. These can be real characters, or fictional ones. It should be apparent from the note the details of the character, and how they fall under the influence of the note-writer. Also, it should be clear what is being asked of the character. Stylistic flare which brings the characters to light and builds a compelling personal narrative is highly encouraged as well.

Ultimately, these personal notes will have an external world impact which the backroom will attempt to track. Consequently, crisis updates may derive from delegate notes and the content of delegates personal directives may interfere with one another. Further, directives written in the frontroom will have a similar external world impact, but will be derived from the authority of the committee as a whole body. Check the competition guide for more info about what makes personal directives competitive.

Also, if delegates are still confused, some very small-scale reference of crisis notes are provided by this great source from the University of Chicago’s conference.