NATO Rules of Procedure

Negotiations and behavior in the North Atlantic Council (NAC) of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) are conducted according to these Rules of Procedure that
stipulate rights and obligations of Heads of Government and representations to the North
Atlantic Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Secretary General and Secretariat Protocol reserve every decision right in a last stance in
case of any existing controversy.

I. DEFINITIONS

1. “Council” is the North Atlantic Council.

2. “Secretary General” is the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization. The Secretary General shall have the responsibility of ensuring the
smooth operation of the Council through interpretation and enforcement of the
Rules of Procedure.
3. “Rules” are these Rules of Procedure.
4. “International Staff” is a group of persons composed by the Secretary General, the
Deputy Secretary General and other deputies which provide advice, guidance and
support to the Council. It is responsible for the preparation and follow-up of action
in all matters of the Council.
5. “Alliance” is the 28 member States of the Council.
6. “Head of Government” is the Chancellor, Prime Minister or Head of State
designed by a member of the alliance to represent it in the Council.
7. “Representation” is a representative delegation of any nonmember State of the
alliance invited as an observer to the Council.
8. “Co-representation” is composed by two persons and are ruled by the same
precept as representations. The two persons in it can establish direct contact
between them, however, it must be discreet.
9. “Speech” is a term referring to a statement, expressed by any Head of Government
or representation during the meeting of the Council where this was given the floor
by the International Staff, in accordance to these Rules.
10. “Motion” is a procedural instrument, proposed and conducted in accordance to
these Rules.
11. “List of Speakers / Speaker’s List” is a list managed by the International Staff
indicating the name and the position on the list of Heads of Government and
representations who have requested to be inscribed in the list in order to be given
the floor.
12. “Placard” is an official tag with the name of the Head of Government or
representation inscribed on it.
13. “Document” is any written text, adopted by the Council in accordance to these
Rules in the form of the documents as follows:
a) Joint statement
b) Final communiqué
14. “Electronic device” is any electronic gadget that could be used to store or acquire
information through internet, such as laptops, tablets and cellphones.
15. “Diplomatic behavior” is the verbal and non-verbal actions and behavior within
the Council that must comply with terms of respect according to these Rules. It is
composed by diplomatic posture and diplomatic language.
16. “Diplomatic posture” is the appropriate way of standing and sitting in the Council.
17. “Diplomatic Language” is the language used to respectfully address the Council.
18. “Antidiplomatic behavior” is whenever a Head of Government or representation
makes premeditated actions towards the International Staff, a Head of Government,
a representation or to any person in the Council, which cause disrespect to the
diplomatic postures, the diplomatic language or whenever the International Staff
decides those actions represent antidiplomatic behavior.
19. “Direct Contact” is when Heads of Government or representations hold eye
contact and/or verbal contact with each other. The only moment direct contact of
Heads of Government and representations with each other is allowed is during a
simple caucus.
 20. “Warning / Call of attention” is whenever a Head of Government or
representation makes a violation to these Rules. Warnings / Calls of attention will
be publicly given by any member of the International Staff. Two warnings / calls of
attention during the same working session will lead to receive an admonition.
21. “Admonition” is whenever a Head of Government or representation makes a
serious violation to these Rules. It will be publicly given by the NATO’s Secretary
General to any Head of Government or representation that gets two warnings / calls
of attention during the same working session, or whenever the International Staff
considers it, not taking into account if the Head of Government or representation
already had or not any warning / call of attention. Receiving two admonitions would
mean that the Head of Government or representation that received them must leave
the current working session, but will be able to return for the next working session.

II. GENERALITIES

22. These Rules apply for this Council of NATO and are self-sufficient for any session,
therefore, no other Rules of procedure will be applied.
23. The official language during all working sessions is English.
24. The Executive Committee of DFMUN 2015 is composed by Secretary General,
Deputy Secretary General Academic Secretariat, Protocol Secretariat, Entailment
Secretariat, Financing Secretariat y Planning Secretariat.
25. Direct contact between representations and direct contact of representations with
Heads of Government is strictly forbidden. Direct contact between Heads of
Government is allowed, as long as it is discreet. Direct contact between Heads of
Government and representations with faculties and/or observers is strictly forbidden
as well.
26. Ushers assist the International Staff with the exchange of diplomatic notes with the
Head of Government and representations and between Heads of government and
representations.
27. If a Head of Government or representation misuses diplomatic notes, the
International Staff will be notified by the ushers and such Head of Government or
representation will receive an automatic admonition.
28. Although the ushers attend any personal needs a Head of Government or
representation may have, any disrespectful behavior or inappropriate contact
towards the ushers will be sanctioned by the International Staff with an automatic
admonition.
29. The dress code for all Heads of Government and representations to enter the
Council must be formal. For men: suit, jacket, tie or bowtie and shoes are
appropriate (oxfords, loafers, cap toes, dress boots and monk strap are the only kind
of shoes allowed). For women: tailored attire, formal pants, dress or skirt are always
permitted –noting that the maximum measured upstream of any dress and skirt is
four fingers above the knee–; wearing low heels or shoes will always be permitted
as long as they are formal. It is inappropriate to wear shorts, evening dresses or
skirts, shirts and/or tennis shoes within sessions of the NAC. Wearing visible
piercings are also forbidden; only women are allowed to wear earrings. If any Head
of Government or representation violates the dress code, he/she will receive an
automatic admonition.
30. Faculties may function as a link between the Organizing Committee and the Heads
of Government and representations in NATO, as well as assessment and
coordination of such participants.
i) It is strictly forbidden direct contact between faculties and any Head of
Government or representation, unless the International Staff establishes
something different.
ii) Written communication between Heads of Government and representations with
their faculties may be allowed, nevertheless, such communication must be only
related to the current debate.
iii) The International Staff has the capabilities to review such written messages
between Heads of Government and representations with their faculties.
31. Visitors may be allowed at any time in the NAC, nevertheless, they must not
interfere with the debate.
III. THE INTERNATIONAL STAFF

32. The International Staff has the following competences:

a) Declares the session open;
b) gives warnings / calls of attention and admonitions;
c) leads the session, gives floor to Heads of Government and representations;
d) declares entering the voting procedure, leads the voting procedure and states the
result;
e) decides about technical issues, points of information, points of personal
privilege and points of order;
f) has the right to call in a guest speaker to participate in the debate;
g) may take away the floor from any Head of Government or representation;
h) may ask out any Head of Government or representation that does not comply
with the Rules;
i) has the right to directly and immediately suspend the session.
33. The Secretary General (SG) of NATO is the highest authority. He declares the
opening and closure of each session, directs the course of the debate and is the only
member of the International Staff that recognizes the entrance to the forum of any
Head of Government or representation. Operates the interface and is responsible for
the communications inside the NAC, calling role and counting votes, also, the SG
can give warnings / calls of attention to any Head of Government that does not
comply with these Rules, and is the only member of the International Staff that can
give admonitions. In addition, the SG announces International Staff decisions and
approves Joint Statements and Final Communiqués.
34. The Deputy Secretary General (DSG) directs the debate and applies these Rules,
and he is authorized to give warnings / calls of attention. In the event of the absence
of the SG, the DSG takes its place.
35. In all matters not expressly provided in the Rules, the International Staff shall act in
the spirit of these Rules in accordance to their own judgment on the matter.
36. Decisions made by the International Staff are final and shall be binding.
IV. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

37. The International Staff may declare the session open if at least one third of the
Heads of Government are present.
38. All Heads of Government shall address the Council in first person; it is strictly
forbidden to address the Council in third person.
39. All representations shall address the Council in third person; it is strictly forbidden
to address the Council in first person.
40. The desire to speak is indicated by holding up the placard.
41. During the discussion of any matter, a Head of Government or representation shall
propose a motion to change the course of the debate. Motions can only be
established when the floor is open and they must be seconded and voted in a simple
majority voting (fifty percent of the NAC in favor plus one) in order to pass. The
International Staff can accept or deny a motion depending on the interpretation of
the debate. Any Head of Government or representation can propose the following
motions:
a) Motion to open / close the session;
b) motion to establish the agenda;
c) motion to establish a session of questions;
d) motion to establish a moderated caucus;
e) motion to establish a simple caucus;
f) motion to introduce a joint statement / final communiqué;
g) motion to establish an unlimited session of questions (regarding the Joint
Statement / Final Communiqué);
h) motion to establish an unlimited moderated caucus (regarding the Joint Statement /
Final Communiqué);
i) motion to close the debate.
42. During the discussion of any matter, a Head of Government or representation shall
establish a point to change the course of the debate. Points do not have to be
 seconded nor voted. Any Head of Government or representation can propose the
following points:
a) Point of Order, which may be applied to point out a violation of these Rules or to
point out an antidiplomatic behavior of any Head of Government, representation or
any member of the international Staff. It can be established at all times in the forum,
as long as the debate is open. A Point of Order over a Point of Order regarding the
same subject is out of order.
b) Point of Personal Privilege, which may be applied to express dissatisfaction of any
Head of Government or representation that could limit their ability to participate in
the debate, such as an impossibility to listen to other Head of Government or
representation’s speech, to give their speech from their place, etc. It can also be
applied to establish a brief preamble in a session of questions (Heads of
Government do not need to ask for a brief preamble). It can be established at all
times in the forum, as long as the debate is open.
c) Point of Information, which may be applied to clarify doubts about these Rules,
logistics, the order of the List of Speakers, the results of the last voting, the duration
of the session and the time remaining in it. It can be established only when the floor
is open.
43. Any Head of Government or representation may establish a right of reply
whenever the participant feels offended by an action or argument of any other
participant. The right of reply may only be requested to the International Staff
through a diplomatic note.
i. In the message sent via diplomatic note to the International Staff, the participant
must briefly explain the reason of the right of reply request.
ii. If the International Staff approves the right of reply, it will call for the
participant that made the offense and the one offended. The one that made the
offense must publicly apologize for such offense.
iii. If the offender decides not to apologize, it will receive an automatic admonition.
44. Whenever a Head of Government or representation maintains direct contact with
any other Head of Government or representation, violates these Rules or in any
situation that the International Staff considers as an obstacle to the debate, he/she
 will receive a warning / calls of attention. Warnings are not accumulative for the
next working sessions.
45. Whenever a Head of Government or representation has already received a warning /
call of attention and is about to receive the second in the same session, he/she will
receive also an admonition. The International Staff will give an automatic
admonition to a Head of Government or representation that poses a serious
misconduct and disrespect to these Rules and the NAC (including International
Staff, Heads of Government, representations, ushers or any person in the
committee). Also, the International Staff will give an automatic admonition to any
Head of State or representation that arrives late to sessions of the NAC.
46. Whenever a Head of Government or representation receives two admonitions in
the same session, he/she will be asked to leave the forum for that working session
and works will not continue until that specific Head of Government or
representation leaves the committee. Whenever a Head of Government or
representation receives three admonitions in the same session, he/she will have to
leave the Model.

V. AGENDA

47. The agenda shall be a list of issues that are to be discussed during the North
Atlantic Council meeting.
48. The first item of business of a meeting shall be the adoption of a working agenda.
49. The final point of an agenda is adopting the Final Communiqué.

VI. LIST OF SPEAKERS

50. After the Agenda has been established, a list of speakers will be automatically
opened with the time of 1:30 minutes, where Heads of Government and
representations will have to raise their placard to be added to it. Then, they will be
chosen randomly by the DSG. A Head of Government or Representation cannot be
repeated in the List of Speakers.
 51. Whenever a Head of Government or representation is giving its speech in the List of
Speakers and has only 10 seconds left, he/she will be warned of it by a non-verbal
sound. If they exceed the established time for the speech, the International Staff will
interrupt the speech and will ask them to take their seat.
52. After establishing their speech, Heads of Government and representations have four
options to yield remaining time of their speech (if there’s any):
a) To the International Staff.
b) To questions. The questions must be regarding the last speech.
c) To comments. The comments must be regarding the last speech.
d) To a specific Head of Government or representation. This speech must be regarding
the last speech and as it is understood that yielding time to a specific Head of
Government or representation is a previous agreement between the yielder and the
one that receives the time; if the specific Head of Government or representation
does not accept the time, the yielder will receive an admonition.
53. When a Head of Government or representation has finished its speech, has sat down
and the floor has been opened, another Head of Government or representation may
propose a session of questions to the Head of Government or representation that
gave the last speech, which must decide whether to accept or not the questions, so
the motion can be voted.
54. Any representation making a question may establish a brief preamble through a
point of personal privilege. In case the Head of Government or representation wants
to make a question about the answer just given, it may establish a follow-up
question, unless the answer was a monosyllabic. Heads of Government do not need
to establish a point of personal privilege to establish a brief preamble nor a follow-
up.
55. Follow-up questions do not accept preamble. There can only be a follow-up for
each question.

VII. CAUCUS
 56. They can only be established through a motion, which has to be seconded and
voted.
57. For the moderated caucus the minimum duration is 10 minutes and the maximum
is 20 minutes.
58. For the simple caucus the minimum duration is 15 minutes and the maximum is 30
minutes.
59. At the end of a caucus, any Head of Government or representation may propose an
extension of that caucus, which will have to be at least one second shorter than the
one that has just ended. It has to be seconded and voted. Any Head of Government
or representation may propose an automatic extension of the last simple caucus.

VIII. VOTING

60. Every Head of Government and representation will have a vote (except in the Final
Voting). The sense of the votes could be in favor, against or abstention (except
when the International Staff establishes something different) and will be carried out
with the rising of placards. The votes must not be interrupted, except for points of
order and/or personal privilege, which shall refer to the way the voting is being
carried out. Every participant in the forum most vote. In case a participant does not
vote, voting will have to be repeated.
61. In order to vote the final communiqué, the debate in the NAC must be closed
through a motion. The closure of the debate means that motions or points cannot
longer be established. For the Final Voting, the International Staff may request the
observers, faculties and general public out. Voting will be conducted by English
alphabetical order and with the following procedure:
a) The first round of the Final Voting will be directed by the DSG, which will call the
name of all the Heads of Government, which must stand up and give its vote (in
favor, against or abstention), using a right of explanation if they want to, which will
be given at the end of the voting of the first round. The results of the first round of
voting will be announced by the SG.
 b) The second round of the Final Voting will be directed also by the DSG, which will
request for the explanation of the vote in the last round for the ones that asked for it
(Heads of Government will only have 30 seconds to explain); also, the DSG will
call the name of all the Heads of Government that abstained, which must stand up
and give its vote (in favor or against). The results of the second round of voting will
be announced by the SG.
c) The third and final round of the Final Voting will be directed by the SG, which will
call the name of all the Heads of Government, which must stand up and give its vote
(in favor or against). The results of the final round of voting will be announced by
the SG.
62. For the final communiqué to be adopted and approved, there must be a consensus
of all the Alliance. If the final communiqué is rejected by any member of the
Alliance, the International Staff opens the debate of the agenda, where Heads of
Government will decide whether to open the other topic in the agenda or to continue
debating the current topic.

IX. DOCUMENTS

63. The Position Paper of each Head of Government and representation must be
delivered to the International Staff during the first working session of the NAC.
Otherwise, he / she will receive an automatic admonition, unless they let the
International Staff know the reasons of the lateness of the delivering of the position
paper and they deliver it in the second session.
64. A Joint Statement is a document where Heads of Government and representations
write concrete proposals towards the topics discussed. This document has no
specific shape nor characteristics. For a document to be recognized as a Joint
Statement, an academic background and work, as well as four fifths of signatures of
the Heads of Government and representations of the NAC, must be included in it.
65. It has to be delivered to the International Staff for examination. The SG is the only
member of the International Staff that recognizes the document as a Joint Statement.
66. There can only be one draft of the Joint Statement in the NAC.
 67. Once the Joint Statement has been approved by the International Staff, it will be
presented by Heads of Government or representations to the forum through a
motion.
68. An unlimited session of questions or an unlimited moderated caucus may be
established at this time to discuss the Joint Statement that had been read at that
time.
69. A Final Communiqué is a document where Heads of Government and
representations have concrete proposals towards the topics discussed, along with
perambulatory phrases and operative clauses. For a document to be recognized as a
draft of the Final Communiqué, an academic background and work, as well as four
fifths of signatures of the Heads of Government and representations of the NAC,
must be included in it.
70. It has to be delivered to the International Staff for examination. The SG is the only
member of the International Staff that recognizes the document as the draft of the
Final Communiqué.
71. There can only be one draft of the Final Communiqué.
72. Once the Final Communiqué has been approved by the International Staff, it will
be presented by Heads of Government or representations to the forum through a
motion.
73. An unlimited session of questions or an unlimited moderated caucus may be
established at this time to discuss the draft of the Final Communiqué.
74. Once the SG recognizes the draft of the Final Communiqué, the NAC will follow
provisions of articles 61 and 62 of these Rules.

X. PARTICULARITIES.
75. The use of electronic devices is permitted only when the International Staff
authorizes its use. The use of electronic devices must be requested to the
International Staff through a diplomatic note.
76. It is strictly forbidden to have food and/or chewing gum in the forum. As for drinks,
only water is allowed.
77. In all concerns not expressly provided in the Rules, the International Staff has
the right to decide on any matter regarding the NAC, the Heads of
Government, the representations and on any subject of the debate.