Rules of Procedure

Rules of Procedure
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Flow of Debate and Rules of Procedure

The Flow of Debate usually consists of the following major phases:
- Roll Call
- Setting the Agenda and Speaking time (depending on the conference)
- Procedural Debate
- Substantive Debate
- Closing Debate
- Voting Procedures

Role Call
The Roll call is the first order of business in a Model AL council. The
chairperson will begin the formal session with introductory remarks, and then
by calling the session in order taking the roll call. A member of the Dias reads
aloud the names of each member state in the council in a descending
alphabetical order.
When delegates hear their countrys name they answer by present
or present and voting. If the delegate replied with present then
he or she may vote upon a resolution (yes or no) or may abstain
(neither say yes nor no); On the other hand if a delegate replied
with present and voting he or she must vote and may NOT
abstain.
Countries with direct concern to the topic are more likely to answer
with Present and Voting (ex. Qatar if the topic is natural gas export)
Countries who try to exercise prestige and show status are more
likely to answer with Present and Voting too (ex. Egypt as a regional
political weight)
Delegates who are absent or tardy for the roll call must send a
written note to the Chair indicating the reason for their absence or
tardiness in order to be recognized as present or present and voting.

Setting the Order of the Agenda
The agenda is the order in which the issues before the council will be
discussed. The first duty of a council following the roll call is usually to set the
order of the agenda.
The Chairperson would ask: Are there any points or motions on the
floor?
A delegate typically makes a motion to set the order of the agenda,
either in favor of Topic A or Topic B
Once the motion has been made, three delegates must speak in
favor of topic A and three other delegates must speak in favor of
Topic B, and NOT against topic A.
Setting the agenda needs a simple majority vote to pass (simple
majority is 50%+1 of the quorum; the simple majority for a council
of 22 countries is 12)



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Procedural Debate (Speakers List)

The Dais maintains a speakers list and delegates speak in the order
they are listed where they have the opportunity to share their views
with the entire council. It is set through a motion from a delegate
(different motions could be entertained specifying different time; 50
to 90 seconds are most ideal).
Delegates make speeches by adding their countrys name to the
speakers list. The Chair then chooses randomly the countries to be
added to the speakers list. In the speakers list, delegates could state
their general policy, answer questions, introduce and debate
resolutions or discuss amendments.
Procedural debate is important to the councils work. By not
knowing the rules of procedure, delegates slow down the debate and
hold back their committees council progress.
The speakers List has to be established all throughout the
conference, thus, upon exhaustion, the chairperson will renew the
speakers list and delegates will be added again.

Substantive Debate
In order for debate to change styles away from procedural debate, delegates
take a break in which they can more easily discuss a topic. Thus, caucusing is
used in order to facilitate debate especially when there is a long speakers list.
Also, substantive debates are used to transcend the procedural debate into a
more dynamic and specific discussion of the topic at hand.

Moderated Caucus: A type of caucus in which delegates remain
seated and the Chair calls on them one at a time to speak for a short
period of time, after raising their placards. During, the meeting is
suspended and the session moves into a moderated caucus, which
enables freer exchange of opinions than would be possible in formal
debate.
The motion for this suspension is triple-folded: it must specify the
specific sub-topic, the total time and the speakers time.
Ex: if the topic is Education in the Arab World, a typical moderated
caucus could tackle the following subtopic: the significance of
enrollment rates in secondary schools to the educational method.
Here, delegates could talk about their countrys enrollment rates
and how this has helped/hindered their efforts for a better
education.
The correct formatting of the motion should be as follows: The
Delegate of (X) motions to suspend the rules of the meeting to
discuss the significance of enrollment rates in secondary schools to
the educational method, total time (X) minutes and speaker time
(X) minutes/seconds.



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Unmoderated Caucus: A type of caucus in which the rules are
suspended and the council breaks for a temporary recess. This
enables the free sharing of ideas to an extent not possible during
procedural or even moderated caucus.
The motion for this suspension is double-folded: it must specify the
specific purpose and the total time.
Ex: The delegate of (X) motions to suspend the meeting to discuss
the working papers for a total time of (X) minutes.
This suspension is generally known as an Organized Chaos, it
could carry different purposes such as: starting the working papers,
forming blocs and alliances or drafting the resolutions.

Closure of Debate
Once delegates feel that the topic has been thoroughly discussed, a delegate
will motion to close the debate. This motion permanently ends debate on the
topic, the draft resolutions and the unfriendly amendments. Closure of debate
could be put into discussion with two pro and two con speakers, and is then
put to an immediate vote requiring a two-thirds majority (in a council of 21
countries, two-third majority is 15 countries). If this motion passes, the
Council then votes on the resolutions it has worked upon.

Voting Procedure
If the Motion to Close the Debate on a Resolution passes, the Council
automatically moves into voting procedures.
Voting is first on all unfriendly amendments concerning the resolution then
on the resolution itself. Once all of the resolutions are voted on, the committee
moves to the next topic on the agenda.

Rules of Procedure:

Yields:
Basically, yields are passing over a delegates remaining time. There are 3
main yield:
1) Yield to the Chair: Signifies that the delegate who has the floor
wishes to have his or her time expire and do nothing with it.
2) Yield to Another Delegate: Allows a second delegate in the Council
to use the remainder of the first delegates time to address the
Council; time yielded to a second delegate cannot be yielded again.
This is the only time where a point of information could be
entertained
3) Yield to Points of Information: Allows other delegates to ask
questions to the speaker regarding the content of his or her speech.
After the speaker yields, the Chair recognizes delegates on the floor
who raise their placards to motion for Points of Information.
Note You may only yield time during procedural debate (speakers list), and
you cannot yield a yielded time.

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Motions:

There are two main types of motions: Oral and Written.

Oral Motions: these are raised in order to move from one phase of the flow
of debate to another. There are 10 main types of Oral Motions;

1) Motion to establish the speakers list:
Allows a delegate to make a motion to set the speakers list specifying
the time per speaker, after setting the agenda.
Ex: The delegate of (X) would like to Motion to establish the speakers
list, speaker time of (X) minute/seconds
Requires simple majority

2) Motion to set the order of the Agenda: Allows the Council to determine
the order in which it will consider the agenda topics assigned to it
Ex: Motion to set the Order of the Agenda in favor of Topic B
Requires 2/3
rd
majority

3) Motion to Suspend Debate on the Agenda topic: To move from one
topic in order to discuss the other. It needs 2/3
rd
majority to pass
Ex: Motion to suspend the debate on the agenda topic (A) to discuss
topic (B)
Requires 2/3
rd
majority

4) Motion to Limit Debate: Limits the Councils debate to a discussion on
the draft resolution or the amendment only. Once this motion passes,
the council will strictly discuss the draft resolutions and the
amendments; no more speeches or discussions on the topic.
After limiting the debate a Motion to Set a New Speakers List should
be entertained. In case a point was found to be very important and
extremely necessary to go back to, the Chair can entertain a Motion to
re-open the previous formal Speakers List for a certain period of time
decided by the chair.
Ex: Motion to limit the debate to discuss the draft resolutions.
Requires 2/3
rd
majority

5) Motion to Suspend the Rules: Suspends the procedural debate and
enters into a moderated caucus.
Ex: The delegate of (X) motions to suspend the Rules in order to
discuss (X), total time (X) minutes and speakers time (X)
minute/seconds
Requires simple majority

6) Motion to Suspend the Meeting: Allows the Council to go into a recess
or an un-moderated caucus where delegates debate the topic on the
floor in an informal manner.

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Ex: motion to suspend the meeting to discuss forming blocs and
alliances, for a total time of (X) minutes
Requires simple majority

7) Motion to Close Debate: Ends permanently the debate on the topic, the
draft resolution, or the unfriendly amendment.
Ex: motion to close the debate and move into voting procedures
Requires 2/3
rd
majority

8) A Motion to Adjourn the Meeting: Concludes the session for lunch,
break, next session, or concludes the whole conference. It is a motion
that is only in order at the end of the Council Session.
Ex: motion to adjourn the meeting for (X) minutes/hours for lunch
purposes
Requires 2/3
rd
majority

9) Motion to Temporarily Revoke Voting and Speaking Privileges:
Passes if a delegate insists on behavior that is unacceptable and
disruptive to the debate process. Requires two speakers for and two
against, and is only acceptable upon the Chairs discretion
Ex: motion to temporarily revoke voting and speaking privileges of the
delegate of (X) for their unacceptable, offensive or aggressive behavior
for a total time of (X)
Requires 2/3
rd
majority

These conditions are required to entertain this motion:
i. Attacking the personal integrity of any delegate
ii. Ruling a speaker out of order by the Chair if he or she engages in
such conduct.
iii. Responding by retributive comments by the attacked party is
likewise inappropriate.

10) Motion to Reinstate Privileges: Restores the revoked privileges to the
delegate that has conducted the inappropriate or disrespectful
behavior. As Chair deems the time appropriate for this motion, he or
she shall entertain this motion
Ex: motion to reinstate speaking and voting privileges upon the
delegate of (X)
Requires 2/3
rd
majority
Written Motions:

There are two main types of written motions:
1) Motion to Appeal the Decision of the Chair: Reconsiders a Chairs
decision. This motion is made when a delegate feels that the chairperson
has made an unfair decision. This motion needs to be submitted in
writing to the Chair.

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2) Right of Reply: Permits the Chair, during debate, to accord a Right of
Reply to any delegate if a speech by another delegate contains
extraordinary language clearly insulting to personal or national dignity.
A delegate requesting a Right of Reply must submit the request and the
proposed Reply in writing to the Chair, who may read the Reply if he or
she deems it appropriate. The decision of the Chair on a Right of Reply
is not subject to appeal.
Note: Written motions are passed to the Chair through the ushers.

Points:

There are four main points;

1) Point of Order: Expresses a complaint of improper usage of parliamentary
procedure. The Chair shall immediately rule upon the point and his or her
decision shall stand unless successfully appealed.
Ex: If delegate (X) motioned for a moderated caucus without
specifying the total time, delegate (Y) could use a point of order to
clarify the malformation of delegate Xs motion (of course, given
that the chair did not immediately correct delegate Xs motion)
Can interrupt the speaker

2) Point of Personal Privilege: Brings the Chairs attention to physical
distractions that impair the delegates ability to participate in the
proceedings. If the delegate faces any personal or physical discomfort, a
Point of Personal Privilege is usually raised.
Ex: The delegate of (X) cannot properly hear the speaker.
The delegate of (X) wishes to be excused to go outside.
The delegate of (X) is disturbed by the noise outside.
Can interrupt the speaker

3) Point of Parliamentary Inquiry: Permits a delegate to address the Chair
for questions concerning the rules or proceedings of the Council.
Ex: the delegate of (X) wishes to inquire about the correct phrasing
for a moderated caucus, what needs to be specified?
Cannot interrupt the speaker

4) Point of Information: Allows other delegates to pose questions to the
speaker regarding the content of his or her speech. A delegate must yield
his or her time to a point of information first.
Ex: Only in the procedural debate (the speakers list), if delegate
(X) finish their speech and decides to yield their remaining time to
a point of information, delegate (Y) could use it to ask them a
question regarding the content of their speech
Cannot interrupt the speaker.