Motions, Points

and Yields

A Little Bit of Review

Let’s review: The Dais
● Chair

● Director

● Rapporteur

● Staff

● Helper
Let’s review: The Dais
● Chair – Oversees all aspects of the conference

● Director – Guides delegates through the Resolutions/Amendments process

● Rapporteur – Calls roll, keeps time, tallies votes

● Staff – Keeps notes, works the computer

● Helper – Passes notes for delegates

Let’s Review: Flow of Debate
Points
There are 4 types of points to know for the conference:
Point of Order - these are used to correct a procedural error.
E.g. The chair forgot Roll Call.
Point of Inquiry - Used to ask the Dais a question regarding Parliamentary Procedure.
Point of Personal Privilege - Used with to express a personal concern.
E.g. The room is too warm, your placard broke, or you cannot hear the speaker.
Point of Information - Used to ask a delegate a question so they may clarify a speech.
Not always permitted and used only during the speakers list
How to Make a Point
When the floor is open, raise your placard.

2. Chair says: “Delegation from (country name).”

3. You say:“Honorable Chair, (country name)has a point of....(Personal privilege, order,

inquiry, information)”

4. Chair: “To what point do you arise?”

5. You: (ask your question)

Points do not need seconds or votes and can be made anytime a delegation isn’t speaking
Points
There are 4 types of points to know for the conference
Motions
When a country makes a motion, the Chair will ask: “Motion to […] is on the floor. Is there a
second?”
One country must second (express support for the motion) by raising their placard
If there is a second, then everyone must vote on the motion
● Vote in favor
● Vote against
● Abstain (when you do not want to vote for either side)
To vote, raise your placard in the air
There must be a simple majority (50%) vote for the motion to pass
How to Make a Motion
1. Only when the chair asks for points or motions, raise your placard

2. Chair says:“Delegation from (country name).”

3. You say:“Honorable Chair, (country name) moves to suspend debate for the purpose of a Moderated
Caucus with a total time X minutes and a speaking time of X seconds.”

4. Chair: “Motion to suspend debate for the purpose of a moderated caucus is on the floor. Is there a second?”

5. Another country seconds the motion by raising their placard.

6. Vote on the motion.

Motions need a second and then a majority to pass

Motioning to Open debate or Speakers’ List
● ROLL CALL
● SPEAKER’S LIST
○ AKA “Formal Debate” and is the default type of debate. This is when delegates give their
OPENING SPEECH, which are opening remarks about their country’s position on the topic.
● SPEAKING TIME is typically 1 min 30 seconds:
○ A country may only be on the Speakers’ List once initially, BUT delegates may add their country
to the end of the list again after they give their opening speech. (Send a note)
How to Add Yourself to the Speaker’s list
The Country that motions to open the Speaker’s List goes first; after that, goes in order.
● “Honorable Chair, (country name) moves to open the Speakers’ List with a speaking
time of 90 seconds.”

How do add yourself to the Speaker’s List?

● Raising your placard at the beginning of debate
● BE QUICK! (we’ll practice this)
● Passing a note to the Staff member stating your request.
Motions for a Moderated Caucus
● Review: What is Moderated Caucus?
● When making a motion to move to an unmoderated caucus, you must
differentiate between SPEAKING TIME vs TOTAL TIME
○ (Country) motions to move into a Moderated Caucus with a total time of 10 minutes & a
speaking time of 45 seconds .”
● Raise your placard and wait to be called on by the Chair
● Share your countries position and move the debate along!
● Motions can fail!
Motions for a Unmoderated Caucus
● Review: What is Unmoderated Caucus?
○ This is a good time to do what????
● Total Time ONLY
○ (Country) motions to move into an Unmoderated Caucus with a total time of ___
minutes.”
● Also possible to extend Unmod Caucus Time during debate through a
Motion.
○ Only 1 extension during the conference is allowed
Motions
There are five types of
motions you guys need to
know:
Yields
Yields:
If you finish speaking in formal debate or a moderated caucus before the time is up, you can yield
your remaining time to someone else. There are three options:
1. Yield time to the Chair (ends your time)
2. Yield to another delegate (this allows another delegate with similar viewsto speak) – that
delegate can refuse if they have nothing to say by yielding that time back to the Chair
3. Yield to Points of Information (other delegates can ask you questions about what
you’ve just said)
MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER TO YIELD YOUR TIME!
Voting Procedure
Led by Rapporteur

- Can vote FOR, AGAINST, or ABSTAIN

- A 50% vote is needed for a Resolution to pass!
- They may phrase this as “Vote on Amendments 1, Resolution 1, Amendments
- 2, Resolution 2”
- It’s OK if both, one, or neither of the Resolutions pass.