DEBATING PROCEDURE AT THE MODEL UNITED NATIONS

What follows is a guide to debating procedure at the Model United Nations. For further information,
please refer to Rules of Procedure in Formal Debate.

Resolutions for Debate

If a resolution is to be debated it must enjoy the support of a number of delegations. This support is
gained during lobbying, and if the resolution is then considered to be technically accurate and likely to
produce lively debate it will then be selected for full debate by the chairing team.

Structure of a Debate
Normally ten minutes are allowed for a resolution (time for), followed by ten minutes against (time
against). Amendments are allowed to resolutions, but only in time against. If an amendment is submitted
and chosen for debate there will be five minutes allowed for speeches for the amendment and five
minutes for speeches against, followed by a vote on the amendment.

At the Start of a Debate

The chair of the debate will invite the delegate who has submitted the resolution to speak in favour of
their motion. Once he/she has finished they may yield the floor to another delegation. This delegate is
then able to speak in favour of the resolution. He/she is then able to yield to a third delegate, but on the
completion of this third speech the delegate speaking must yield the floor to the chair. This means that
the chair is now able to select a delegate who wants to speak in favour of the motion (show you want to
speak by raising your placard).

During Debate
If you want to speak raise your placard at the completion of the previous speech. If you are selected go to
the lectern to make your speech. At the end of your speech it is normal to yield the floor to the chair.

Points of Information
At the end of a speech a speaker may say that they are open to points of information. This means that
delegates, if chosen by the chair, may put questions to the speaker (one question per delegate). Delegates
must stand to make their points of information and it is normal to refer to other speakers as “the delegate”
or “the delegate for. . . (country name)”

At the end of a Debate

Once time for and time against has elapsed the chair will move to voting procedure. You are allowed
vote for or against or abstain; voting is by raising placards.