Parliamentary Procedures

Parliamentary Procedures By: Alisha Somji and Vivian Lee

Parliamentary Procedures • the procedure or method in which order is sought by both the Chairs AND the delegates in a formal conference

Rules to Follow During Debate • Decisions of the Chair are final. • Do not argue with the Chair. • Only the Chair can allow members to speak. • All speakers must stand and address the Chair first prior to speaking. • The chair may extend or reduce debate times, limit points of information and suspend note passing. • There is no suspension of rules or changes in the order of debate except when ordered by the Chair. • Eating, drinking, and laughing are out of order. • Debate in a formal matter. • Address your fellow delegates before speaking. • Do not use personal pronouns such as “I” and “We”. You are representing your country, not yourself. • If you have something to say to the chair or a delegate, write a note. DO NOT SPEAK.

Modes of Address • do NOT use slang • NEVER refer to yourself in first person, you are representing a COUNTRY • Here are some commonly used phrases: • Honourable Chair, Fellow Delegates • Is the delegate of ______ (not) aware…? • _____ yields the floor to the Chair/to the delegate of…

Notes to Follow When Speaking • Act confident and be professional • Speak clearly • Do not read off your paper. • Be friendly. You are trying to make allies, not enemies. • Do not take criticism personally. • If you are the main submitter of a resolution, try to be the last speaker in open debate. You want the delegates to remember the positive points of the resolution.

Notes to Follow Continued • If you can’t answer a question immediately, ask the Chair to have the delegate repeat their question. This will give you time to think. • Plan with other delegates to use the same key phrases. Repeating your message will have other delegates know your main point. • Address the Chair and your delegates as “Honourable Chair” or “Honourable delegates” • You have no obligation in answering questions. After you speak, the Chair will ask you if you are open to any Points of Information and you may say no. • If you want a certain country to speak after you, you may ask the Chair if you may yield the floor to that country.

Definitions you should know… • Chair: conducts the debate and maintains order while remaining impartial • House: all members of the General Assembly • Motion: a request or point a delegate would like to bring to the Chair’s attention • Amendment: a change that is proposed to improve the resolution • Submitter: person proposing a motion (this can be either a resolutions or amendment) for debate • Have the floor: Given the right to speak in a debate • Yield the floor: Give up the right to speak in a debate • Order of the day: The topic to be discussed at the moment • Point: similar to “motion” except they are directed to delegates, not the chair (however, you cannot actually speak to the delegate)

Points • These are statements directed at fellow delegates in regards to their speeches for or against a resolution • Point of personal privilege: A point stated in reference to individual preference (ex. volume of the speaker, temperature of the room, etc.) • Point of Clarification: A point stated when the delegate is unclear in their arguments and needs to further elaborate • Point of Information: The most frequently used point to acquire more information on the delegate’s argument. This point can only be raised when a speaker is finished their speech • Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: A point of information directed at the Chair for clarification on rule of Parliamentary Procedure

Points of Information • After a delegate completes a speech, the Chair will ask whether the speaker is open to any Points of Information. Only if the speaker says “yes” can you raise your placard and ask a question. • You may only ask one question at a time. • Address the speaker with respect. • Try to phrase your question so it will not be a “yes” or “no” question. • You may ask for a follow-up question if you feel the delegate did not answer the previous question well. • Immediately challenge the speaker when they state a fact without proper support. • Listen carefully to other Points of Information to make sure you do not repeat theirs. • Write down your questions first before saying them. • You may ask another delegate to ask your question if you have already been called on many times.

What is Lobbying? • designated time for you to meet with other delegates and to attempt to have others sign on to your resolution. You may also merge with other resolutions.

How do you Merge? • Join your resolution with another to come up with an even stronger one • Done between countries with similar interests • If you see a resolution that you like, written by a “powerful” country, then you might ask if you can become a co-submitter or to sign on to it • Signing on means you completely agree with the resolution

Lobbying Checklist • List the national priorities of your delegation • Identify the issues on the agenda that fits your national priorities Decide on the degree of flexibility in your positions and in your resolution. Be sure to identify your key clauses that must be included. • Develop “dummy” clauses. These clauses are the ones that you argue passionately for but you really don’t care if you lose them. That way when you agree to give them up, it looks like you are conceding something important while still protecting your key clauses. • Identify member states that share your delegation’s priorities, those with different or opposing views and those in between. • Be confident. This will lead others into thinking that you really do know what you’re talking about, and will feel the need to merge with your resolution. • Never let your guard down. The other side may have been waiting for such an opportunity.

Order of Debate • Chair calls house to order. • Chair calls upon the main submitter of the resolution to read their paper aloud to the house. • The Chair fixes debate time. • The Chair yields the floor to the submitter, who delivers a speech in favour of the motion. • Points of Information may be taken. • The Chair will recognize another member to speak in favour of the motion. This procedure will be continued until the debate time has been exhausted. • The Chair will then recognize a member of the house to speak against the motion. The procedure listed above is followed until debate time is exhausted. • Amendments may be offered to the resolution. To do this, the speaker must first have the floor and have previously offered a written copy of the amendment to the Chair. • The Chair may then propose an extension of time or close the debate and put the motion to vote. To vote, one must raise their placard for “in favour”, “against”, or “abstaining”. The chair makes the final statement. All debate is finalized.

Parliamentary Procedures