Model UN Rules of Procedure: A

Beginner's Guide
Greetings Delegates,

First-time participation in MUN can be scary. A mess of rules and protocols that seem
needlessly complex at first. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide. It's designed to
provide you with clear, simple explanations, multiple real-world examples, and an FAQ section,
all to ensure you feel informed and ready for your MUN.

Every great speaker starts somewhere, and if this is your beginning, we’re here to support you.
You have the potential to become a confident diplomat, and our goal is to help you unlock that
talent.

So take a deep breath. Stay calm, and stay confident. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or ask
questions; those are essential parts of the learning process. We believe in your ability to shine
as a delegate and hope you believe in yourself as well.

Regards,

Team AHMUN.
Rules of Procedure
Rules of Procedure, or ROP, are guidelines for speeches, debates, behaviour, and voting in the
committee. They are basic rules that help the committee run smoothly and fairly. All delegates
must follow them to give structure to the committee.

Roll Call
At the start of the committee, the Executive Board (EBs) will call out country names in
alphabetical order.

Upon hearing your country's name, you may reply with:

● Present: This means you are attending the committee but may choose to abstain from
voting on the resolution.
● Present and Voting: This means you are attending and will vote on the resolution. You
cannot abstain.

After the roll call, a delegate will make a motion to set the agenda.

Structure: "Motion to enter into the formal session with the agenda [State the agenda topic]."

This motion must be supported by at least half the delegates present to pass. Once passed, the
committee will discuss the agenda.

General Speakers' List (GSL)

A General Speakers' List (GSL) is created after the agenda is set. It allows delegates to share
their views on the agenda and contribute to the debate.

EBs will ask for countries that wish to be added to the GSL. Interested delegates will raise their
placards to be recognised.

Each delegate usually gets 60-90 seconds to speak.

Note: The committee automatically returns to the GSL when no other motions are being
discussed.
Yielding Time
If you have leftover time after your speech is over, you may yield it in one of four ways:

1. To the Chair: Causes the committee to move to the next speaker, or, by the chair’s
discretion, any other yield.
2. To Another Delegate: If you finish your speech early, you may yield your time to an ally,
who may use that extra time in their speech.
○ Note: If a yield to another Delegate has not been previously discussed with said
delegate, then it is the chair's discretion whether to allow the yield.
3. To Questions: If you yield your time to questions, the chair or other delegates may ask
you questions regarding your speech, and you may use your remaining time to answer
these questions.
4. To Comments: If you yield your time to comments, other delegates may offer brief
comments or reactions to your speech, using your remaining time.

Points
Points are formal requests or concerns that delegates can raise in a committee.

There are four types of points:

● Point of Personal Privilege: May be raised by the delegate in case of personal

discomfort. This is the only point that may be raised during a speech.
Example: If you are unable to hear the delegate who is speaking, or if you are cold and
want to increase the room temperature.
● Point of Order: May be raised when the Rules of Procedure (ROP) are violated or a
procedural error has been made.
● Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: Used to clarify the Rules of Procedure (ROP) with the
chair. This point helps delegates understand the proper procedures during committee
sessions.
● Point of Information: Used to question another delegate regarding something they
have said in a speech.
● Right to Reply: The Right to Reply can be used when another delegate has directly
insulted you or your country, and you wish to respond. This is granted at the Chair's
discretion.
Caucuses
A caucus is a period in the committee where delegates may step away from the GSL to discuss
specific topics.

There are two types of caucuses:

● Moderated Caucus: A structured debate regarding a specific topic. When raising a

motion for a Moderated Caucus, you must specify the total time for the caucus and the
speaking time for each delegate.
Structure: "The delegate of (Country) would like to raise a motion for a moderated
caucus with a Total time of xyz minutes and per speaker time of abc minutes on the
topic (topic).
● Unmoderated Caucus: An informal session where delegates can lobby with each other.
When raising a motion for an Unmoderated Caucus, you must specify the time limit.
Delegates may request the chair to extend the time limit.
Structure: "The delegate of (Country) would like to raise a motion for an unmoderated
caucus for xyz minutes"

Resolutions:
A resolution is the final document with your committee's solutions to the issues. You
will work with other delegates to write it.

Every resolution has two main parts:

Preambulatory Clauses:

These clauses explain why the committee is discussing the issue. They refer to past
actions, laws, and the significance of the problem. They serve as the foundation for your
solutions.

Keep in Mind:
● Start with a perambulatory phrase (ex, Acknowledging, Deeply concerned,
Recalling).
● End with a comma
● The phrases are italicised in the final document

Examples:
● Acknowledging the urgent need for global cooperation,
● Deeply concerned by the escalating humanitarian crisis,
● Recalling UN Security Council Resolution 2401,
Accepted Preambulatory Clauses:

Acknowledging Fully believing

Acting Further deploring
Affirming Further recalling
Alarmed by Alarmed Anxious Guided by
Appreciating Having adopted
Approving Having considered
Aware of Having devoted attention
Bearing in mind Having examined
Believing Cognizant Having received
Concerned Having adopted
Confident Having approved
Conscious Having decided
Considering Keeping in mind
Contemplating Mindful Noting
Convinced Noting further
Declaring Noting with deep concern
Deeply concerned Noting with regret
Deeply conscious Noting with satisfaction
Deeply convinced Observing Reaffirming
Deeply disturbed Realising Recalling
Deeply regretting Recognising
Deploring Desiring Recognising with satisfaction
Determined Referring Regretting Reiterating
Emphasising Encouraged Reiterating its call for Reminding
Expecting Seeking Seized
Expressing appreciation Stressing
Expressing concern Taking into account
Expressing its appreciation Taking into consideration
Expressing its satisfaction Taking note
Expressing satisfaction Taking note further
Firmly convinced Underlining
Fulfilling Viewing with appreciation
Fully alarmed Viewing with apprehension
Fully aware Welcoming

Operative Clauses:

These clauses list the specific actions and solutions that the committee proposes to
solve the issue. They are the core of your resolution, detailing what needs to be done
and how it will be achieved.
Keep in Mind:
● Start with an operative phrase (ex, Decides, Calls upon, Urges)
● Every clause ends with a semicolon, except the last one, which ends with a
complete stop, marking the end of the Draft Resolution.

Examples of Operative Phrases:

1. Decides to establish a new international task force;

2. Calls upon member states to increase financial contributions;

3. Urges all parties to engage in peaceful dialogue.

Accepted Operative Phrases:

Accepts Expresses its regret
Acknowledges Further invites
Adopts Advises Affirms Further proclaims
Also calls for Further recommends
Also recommends Further reminds
Also strongly condemns Further requests
Also urges Further resolves
Appeals Has resolved
Appreciates Instructs
Approves Introduces
Authorises Invites Notes
Calls Notes with satisfaction
Calls for Proclaims Reaffirms Recalls
Calls upon Recognises Recommends
Commends Regrets
Concurs Reiterates
Condemns Reminds
Confirms Renews its appeal
Congratulates Repeats Requests
Considers Requires
Decides Solemnly affirms
Declares Stresses
Declares accordingly Strongly advises
Demands Strongly condemns
Deplores Strongly encourages
Designates Suggests Supports
Directs Takes note of Transmits
Draws the attention Trusts
Emphasises Trusts
Encourages Underlines
Endorses Underscores
Expresses its appreciation Urges
Expresses its hope Welcomes
Members involved in resolving:

When a Draft Resolution is created, it needs signatures from delegates to be formally

introduced:

● Sponsors (Authors/Co-Authors): These are the delegates who actively write

the resolution and fully support all its contents. There can be a maximum of 2-3
authors.
● Signatories: These are delegates who want to see the resolution discussed in
the committee. A draft resolution can have multiple signatories.

The Executive Board will inform you of the number of sponsors and signatories required
and accepted for a resolution to be introduced.

Working Papers and Draft Resolutions:

Working Papers Draft Resolutions (DRs)

Brainstorm ideas, gather initial Present final solutions for official review
thoughts, and find common ground. and voting.

Informal (ex, usage of bullet points, Formal (structured with Preambulatory

short paragraphs). and Operative Clauses).

Easily changed, combined, or Changes require formal amendments.

discarded.

Not voted on. Voted on by the committee.

No sponsors or signatories required. Requires a minimum number of

sponsors and signatories.

The foundation for a Draft Resolution. The final proposed solution.

Position Papers:
A position paper is a formal document that states a country's official view on the
committee's topics. It shows your research, the country's history with the issue, and
your initial solutions.

Note: Position Papers will only be required for INTERPOL and ECOFIN.

What to include:

● Briefly state your country and the topic.

● Summarise the issue from your country's viewpoint.
● State your country's official position, including any national laws and relevant
foreign policies.
● Offer clear ideas and solutions that your country believes will fix the problem.
● Display your country's commitment to solving the issue.

Amendments:
An amendment is a proposed change to a Draft Resolution. This is how delegates can
modify, add to, or remove parts of a DR after it has been introduced.

How to propose an amendment: Write your proposed change clearly, saying which
part of the DR you want to alter (ex, "Add a semicolon after Operative Clause 2" or
"Discard Preambulatory Clause 4").

Types of Amendments:
● Friendly Amendment: If all the original sponsors of the Draft Resolution agree
to your change, it becomes a friendly amendment. The change is automatically
added to the DR, and no vote is needed.
● Unfriendly Amendment: If even one original sponsor of the Draft Resolution
does not agree to your change, it is considered an unfriendly amendment. The
committee will then vote on your proposed change. If it passes, it's added to the
DR. If it fails, the DR remains unchanged.

How to Raise an Amendment: To introduce an unfriendly amendment, a delegate

would say: "Motion to introduce an unfriendly amendment to (Draft Resolution Name)."
The EB will then guide the debate and vote.
Voting Procedure:
This is when the committee makes its final decisions on resolutions and amendments.

Vote Options:

When your country's name is called during a roll call vote, you can say:
● Yes: You support the resolution or amendment.
● No: You do not support the resolution or amendment.
● Abstain: You choose not to vote "Yes" or "No."

"Present" and "Present and Voting":

● "Present" delegates: If you said "Present" during Roll Call, you could abstain
during voting. This means you are present but choose not to take a side.
● "Present and Voting" delegates: If you said "Present and Voting" during Roll
Call, you cannot abstain. You must vote "Yes" or "No" on all issues like
resolutions and unfriendly amendments.

Secondary Speakers' List (SSL):

The SSL usually discusses a specific Draft Resolution. The motion is similar: "Motion to
open the Secondary Speakers' List on (topic)."

Press Releases and Press Conferences:

Press releases are public statements issued by delegates or groups of delegates to
share their actions or views with the broader public.

Press conferences are chances for delegates (or groups) to talk directly with the Press
Corps.
● They explain recent actions, answer questions from journalists, and further shape
public opinion.
● The delegate would usually motion for a press conference. If approved, a time
and place would be set. Delegates would then give their statements and answer
questions from the other delegates.
Presidential Statements:
A presidential statement is a formal declaration made by the President of a
committee. Unlike a resolution, it is not legally binding, but it still carries significant
political weight and reflects the consensus view of the committee.

Keep in mind:

● Issued by the President of the committee.

● Expresses the committee's agreement on a particular issue or situation.
● Does not require a formal vote.
● Usually used for quick responses to urgent situations