Rules of Procedure

Aside from notes to crisis, debate in committee is organized through points, motions, and directives. The different types of points and motions are listed in the table below. Delegates should raise their placard when the chair asks for points or motions if they wish to raise a point or a motion, or to introduce a directive.

Points are raised individually by a delegate to ask a question or point something out to the committee. Examples include factual questions, like “How many fighter jets did you say we have?” or questions about procedure, like “Can I introduce a directive now?”

Motions are raised by delegates in order to move the debate in a specific way. They must be voted on by the committee, and require either a ⅔ or a 50% majority, depending on the type of motion. Some motions require speakers for and against before they can be voted on. Examples of motions are motions to open or close debate, and most commonly, to move into caucuses.

Caucuses are the main avenue through which the committee will engage in formal debate. A moderated caucus consists of formal speeches on a certain topic, with a certain length and speaking time. The chair will, not surprisingly, moderate the caucus by calling on speakers and timing their speeches. An unmoderated caucus also lasts a set amount of time, but, also unsurprisingly, is not moderated: delegates can move about the room, talk to members of the committee, and, most importantly, write directives.

Directives are short action plans written by one or more delegates, addressing the crisis at hand. They can also be collective communiqués or press releases to be issued by the whole committee. They usually must have sponsors, who participate in the writing of the directive, and signatories, who agree to what the sponsors have written. Directives must be submitted to the chair and introduced to the committee, after which they can be debated, amended, and voted on.

Usually, the committee should first have moderated caucuses on a given topic to establish the delegates’ positions. They can then motion for an unmoderated caucus, to coordinate with fellow delegates and write directives. (They can also pass notes to each other!) After some debate in moderated caucus, they can then motion to enter voting procedure on a directive. Directives should be passed quickly, since inaction will only worsen the crisis!