IES Manuel de Falla

Global Classrooms – Points, Motions, and Vocabulary

Motions Description What do you say? Interrupt Vote

“Honorable Chair, speaker? required?
(Country Name)...

Motion to Allows delegates to “Honorable Chair, No Yes, simple

Open the sign up for the (Country Name) moves to majority
Speakers List Speakers List by open the Speakers List.” required
raising their
placards.

Motion to Set Specifies the time “Honorable Chair, No Yes, simple

the Speaker’s allowed for (Country Name) moves to majority
Time speeches during set a speaker’s time of (x) required
caucusing. (usually >2 minutes).

Motion to Enters into informal “Honorable Chair, No Yes, simple

Suspend debate. A specific (Country Name) moves to majority
Debate time must be suspend debate for the required
(for a included. purpose of a
moderated or moderated/unmoderated
unmoderated caucus for (x) minutes.”
caucus)

Motion to Ends debate and “Honorable Chair, No Yes, 2/3

Close Debate moves into voting (Country Name) motions majority
procedure. to end debate on the required
topic of (x).”

Adjourn Ends the meeting for “Honorable Chair, No Yes, simple

Debate a specific purpose (Country Name) motions majority
(e.g. lunch, dinner, to adjourn the debate for required
etc.) the purpose of (x).”

Points Description What do you say? Interrupt Vote

“Honorable Chair, speaker? required?
(Country Name)...

Point of Addresses any “Honorable Chair, Yes No

Personal personal discomfort (Country Name) has a
Privilege (e.g. can’t hear, point of personal
room is too hot...) privilege...”

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 IES Manuel de Falla

Points Description What do you say? Interrupt Vote

“Honorable Chair, speaker? required?
(Country Name)...

Point of Addresses any “Honorable Chair, No No

Inquiry clarification of (Country Name) has a
parliamentary point of inquiry...”
procedure.

Point of Addresses other “Honorable Chair, No No

Information delegates to ask (Country Name) has a
them questions point of information...”
about speeches and
draft resolutions.

Vocabulary Terms Definition

Agenda The order in which the issues before a committee will be
discussed.
Chair A member of the dais (the group of people incharge of the
Model UN conference) that moderates debate, keeps time,
rules on points and motions, and enforces the rules of
procedure.
Placard A piece of paper with a country´s name on it that a
delegate raises in the air to signal to the Chair that he or
she wishes to speak.
Delegate Representative of a country.
Motion A request made by a delegate that the committee as a
whole do something.
Point A question or comment by a country related to the
structure of the meeting.
The floor The place where the delegates sit in the UN meeting.
To ¨have the floor¨ The right or opportunity to speak.
The floor is closed When another delegate is speaking.
Simple majority More than 50% of the delegates support the vote.
Two-thirds majority More than two-thirds of the delegates support the vote.
Second To agree with a motion being proposed.
Blocs Groups of countries with a similar opinion on a particular
topic.
Resolutions A document passed by an organ on the UN that aims to
address a particular problem or issue. The Equivalent of a
law.
Amendments A change to a draft resolution on the floor.