NHSMUN:

RULES OF PROCEDURE
101

Created By: Elizabeth Brunton

Director of SOCHUM 2011

Question: What is Parliamentary

Procedure?

Hello again delegates, Elizabeth Brunton your

Director here. I have put together a power point
with a few of the most common rules you will
come across. If after this presentation you still
have questions feel free to email me. ENJOY!

Answer: Parliamentary
procedure is the collection of
rules that will allow SOCHUM to
run smoothly. These rules cover
how committee will be run from
speeches to voting procedures. I
will be strictly adhering to
parliamentary procedure to
maintaining order and fairness
in such a large committee. Make
sure to be familiar with parlipro terms before coming to
committee.

Rule 18:
Change of
Agenda
A committee may change
the order in which it
considers agenda topics. The
chairman may entertain one
speaker for, and one speaker
against, a motion to change
the order. A simple majority
vote is required to change
the order in which agenda
topics will be discussed.
Directors Summation:
You can change the
order of which topics
are discussed.
Directors Warning:
This rule applies only
when the committee
has more than two
topics on the agenda.
In SOCHUM we only
have two topics, thus
this rule does not
apply. DONT WORRY
ABOUT IT

RULE 17:
Adoption of Agenda
The first official thing you will
do as a delegate will be
setting the order of the
agenda. What dose that
mean? This means from the
two topics you were given to
research the committee
decides which order we will
debate the topics . A
speakers list will be created
and debate will occur on
which topic to discuss first.
After a good amount of
debate any delegate my
move to set the agenda. A
procedural vote will be taken
at that time. If the agenda
passes , a new speakers list
will be made and we will
begin debate. If the proposed
agenda
fails ,Summation:
debate on the
Directors
order
of topics
continue.
Debating
on will
order
of topics
to be discussed

Rules 20: Speeches

Rule 20: Speeches

No Member may
address the
committee without
having previously
obtained the
permission of the
Chairman. The
Chairman shall take
a speakers list in the
order in which the
Members show a
desire to speak. The
speech will be called
to order if the
speakers remarks
are not relevant to

Directors
Summation: If you
want to give a speech
have your name put on
the speakers list and
patient (I promise, no
matter how long the
list is your name will
Directors get
Advice:
eventually
called).
On big committees
speakers list can get
very long. If you cannot
even see your name on
the speakers list it is so
lengthy, I suggest you
motion for a moderated
or un-moderated caucus
to share your ideas.
Dont get frustrated, be
creative, and use the
powers of parli-pro.

Rule 21and Rule

22

Rule 21: Language

and Interpretation

NHSMUN celebrates all our delegates and the

wide variety of linguistic backgrounds present

at the conference. However, English shall be
the official and the working language of
SOCHUM. A speech may be made in any
language other than the official language. In
this case, the Member shall provide for
simultaneous interpretation into the official
language. The time require for translation will
be counted against the speakers time.

Directors Summation:
Speeches will be made in
English or translation will need
to be provided by the Member.
For delegates whose native
language is not English please
feel free to talk with the dais if
you are confused at any time---

Rule 22: Time Limit on

Speeches
A time limit for speeches will be set by a
motion before entering into the speech
process. This time limit includes speaking
time and time allotted for question. When
debate is limited and a speaker exceeds
the allotted time, the Chairman shall call
that speaker to order without delay.
Delegates will receive a warning gavel
tape indicating 10 secs before the end of
their speech.
Directors Summation:
Pay attention to the time limits on
speeches. Please, please, please,
do not try to talk over the chairs
gavel when your time has elapsed.
There is nothing more aggravating
then walking by a committee room
that sounds like a construction
zone.. BANG BANG BANG!

Rule: 23
Questions to the Speaker
When the committee is engaged in substantive debate, a time limit has been placed on
speeches, and the speaker has not exhausted the allotted time, the speaker my inform
the chair that he or shill will accept questions for the floor. At such time the Chairman will
recognize Members to pose substantive questions to the speaker on the question being
discussed. The speaker at any time can determine that he or she will stop accepting
questions and thus conclude his or her remarks.

Directors
Advice:
1.) I wish to
accept
questions at this
time is how
you let the chair
know you want
to accept
questions.

Director s
Advice:
There will be no
cross talk. One
delegate asks a
question while
standing then
the speaker
gives a response.
This is not an
opportunity for a
public
conversation

Directors
Advice:
The Chairman
will choose the
delegates who
will be asking
questions, not
the speaker.

Directors Advice:
QUESTIONS ARE
AWSOME. Use this
opportunity to show
all that your county
knows on the issue.
Also , answering
questions in front of
everyone is a quick
way to let everyone
know your stances.
Question time is YOUR
time. Have fun with it.

Rule 24: Yields

Directors Summation:
If you have extra time
after giving a
substantive speech you
can yield or give your
time to another
delegation to speak.
Rule 24: When the time
for speeches has been
limited, a member
recognized to speak on a
substantive issue may
yield his or her remaining
time to another Member.
This member may not
yield any additional time.

Directors Warning:
Double Yielding is not
allowed. This means, that
a delegation who is
speaking on yielded time
may not pass that time to
another delegation. NO
REGIFTING.

POINT OF..
Rules: 31, 32, 33,

Rule 31: Point of

Order.
A point of order is
used only in the
case of an error in
the order of
procedure and is
used to bring the
issue to the
attention of the
chairman. This
point may
interrupt a
speaker if
necessary. Ex. The

Rule 32: Point

of
Parliamentary
Inquiry. This
point can be
used when
uncertain of the
procedural
settings of the
committee. This
point may not
interrupt a
speaker. Ex. If
you are unsure
if we are in

Rule 33: Point of

Personal
Privilege. This
point is used to
bring to the
attention of the
Chairman some
physical
discomfort that is
disrupting the
committee. This
point may
interrupt a
speaker. Ex. You
can't hear the
speaker.

Rule 35: Recess of the

Meeting
Rule 35: Recess of the Meeting: During
the discussion of any matter, a
Member may move to recess the
meeting. Such a motion should include
proposed length. Normally, recess are
used for meal breaks and evening
breaks. When are meal break or
evening break is approaching the
Chairman will indicate the need for
this motion. Please do not get this
motion confused with closure of
debate, adjournment of debate, or
adjournment of session.

RULE 43 and 44
Rule 43: Methods of
Voting
The General Assembly
normally vote by
showing placards, but
any member may
request a roll-call vote
on a resolution or
amendment. The roll
call vote will be taken
in English alphabetical
order. The Chairman
may require that a
motion for a roll-call
Directors
Note: SOCHUM
vote beSide
supported
by
is a large committee. Taking a
as much as one-fifth of
roll-call vote is time consuming
the
committee.
and
any
motions to have a rollcall vote should be seriously
considered.

Rule 44: Conduct During the

Voting
After the Chairman has
announced the beginning of
voting, no member shall
interrupt the voting except
on point of order in
connection with the actual
conduct of voting or on a
point of parliamentary
inquiry. During this time
decorum shall be maintained,
no caucusing should take
Directors
Summation:
place,
no notes
passed, and
This is the most serious part of
nocommittee.
one should
enter
or leave
Decorum
must
be
the
room
maintained.
Silence will be expected
so everyones resolution has an
opportunity to be voted on fairly.

The End
I hope this presentation helped
explain the rules. Watch the
blog for a presentation on
resolution and amendment
writing.
E. Brunton
SOCHUM Director