Delegates Manual

Hello delegates! This manual is supposed to be a useful tool for you to understand the rules of procedure and the demands prior and during the conference. We expect to see well prepared delegates with good knowledge of the process of the conference, ready to participate actively in the debates and with full capacity of the topics at hand. What do you have to do prior to the conference? This year we want you to be once again well prepared and ready for everything. Therefore, we URGE you to work comprehensively and have all the required work done by October. Dont be intimidated by that, you dont have to finish everything off in one session! Since the conference is in October you have the whole summer to prepare everything in detail covering every possible aspect of your topic. We are here to give guidance to you and help you prepare everything required. So delegates fasten your seatbelts!

First things first: Background papers What is a background paper? The background paper indicates the amount of research you have put in your topic. The quality of your research however will show during debate. You now may be asking yourselves Why do it? A background paper guides you when writing policy statements or resolutions and helps you understand the topic to its full extent as well as your countrys policy on this particular topic. These are the questions you need to cover in your background paper: 1. What is my topic? 2. Which country do I represent? 3. What has my country got to do with the topic? 4. What is my countrys policy on the topic? 5. Which is the full extent of the topic? 6. Recent events? 7. Will my advisor be satisfied with this? All these questions, including 7, are of extreme importance for your preparation for the conference. And remember: copy-pasting from the internet is allowed (for the background papers only!). However, it will be good for you! Policy statement: Your fast contact with the podium What is a policy statement? It is a short speech, which can either be on one of the issues or on all of them. It should not exceed one minute. In a policy statement you have to express your countrys point of view on the issues of the committee. In other words, it is just a shorter version of your background paper. It is not obligatory to have something typed. Some delegates come up with a policy statement on the spot but you have to be extremely aware of your policy! This is where the value of good preparation shows.

Resolution: The great unknown At home you are going to write your own resolutions. For the newcomers in MUN this is definitely going to be a tough work. We encourage you to invest some time in writing this

document. We would hereby like to give some pieces of advice gained from our long experience in MUN. Step 1: Read the study guide your chair has prepared. Youll find useful information, basic facts and statistics concerning the issue and some possible solutions. Step 2: Make your own research on the topic (always link the information to your country). Step 3: Open a word page. Step 4: Begin with: FORUM: (your committee) QUESTION OF: (the topic) SUBMITTED BY: (your country) Step 5: Write the preambulatory clauses. In these clauses you briefly state the situation (historic background, past UN resolutions and decisions, current events), starting with words such as: Alarmed by, Keeping in mind, Recognizing, Recalling, Noting with, Reaffirming etc. These clauses do not take any action, they are not debatable! Step 6: Proceed with your suggested solutions, operative clauses. Here you make recommendations (no GA resolution is binding on anyone) and propose specific measures to be taken. Remember that the introductory words should suppose that action is taken. Examples: Proposes, Asks for, Urges, Encourages, Recommends, Suggests etc. Keep in mind: it always has to be according to your countrys interest. Step 7: Save the document! Step 8: Print it or send it to your advisor via email. Step 9: Bring it along to the conference.

Lobbying: Let the show begin When youve come to the conference and you are seated in your committee and you do not know whats coming next, we are here for you! You come into the room, you find the seat with your countrys name, you take out your placard and wait. Before the chairs begin with the roll call, you may make yourself comfortable or start an informal lobbying. When the chairs say your countrys name, be ready and respond on the spot by raising your placard (and saying Present!). Then the chairs present themselves and split the house or time to prepare the topics. Lobbying is an informal procedure that means you are free to move in the room to engage in discussions and form alliances. You will have a fight to get your clauses included in the resolution and even a bigger fight to become the main-submitter. After you have written your draft resolution, you bring it to the expert chair on the topic who will have to correct any policy mistakes. Afterwards you have to take it to the computer lab in a digital form, print it and get a D-number by the computer staff. Bring it back to your chair. Take it to the approval panel where grammar and spelling is checked. Then you have to go back to the computer lab, do any corrections, go to the approval panel with the corrected resolution, get an A-number and hand it to your chairs. Done.

Debating: the challenge

Debate Mode Open debate is DSAMUNs only debate mode when debating resolutions. At this years conference closed debate is only allowed and required during the discussion on amendments.

Points General: Points during debate may NOT interrupt a speaker except for a Point of Personal Privilege, which refers to audibility. All other points will be dealt with only when there is a debating pause, i.e. when the speaker having the floor yields to points of information, to another delegation, or to the Chair. Delegates may not just immediately state their Point, they must wait until the chair recognizes a Point. Example: Point of Information to the Chair. There has been a point of information in the house, could the delegate please rise and state his/her point. Is the chair not aware

1.

Point of Personal Privilege

Refers to the comfort and well-being of the delegate May only interrupt a speaker if it refers to audibility May not refer to the content of a speech Is not debatable Does not require a second

Example: Could the windows be opened, please? It is very hot in here.

2.

Point of Order

Refers to procedural matters only, i.e. if the chair makes an error in the order of debate or in the setting/observing of debate time May NOT interrupt a speaker Is not debatable Can only refer to something that just happened, direct referral, otherwise out of order

Example: Is it in order for the delegate to yield the floor to another delegation since the floor was previously yielded to him by Poland?

3.

Point of Information to the Speaker A question directed to the delegate having the floor, and who has indicated that he/she is willing to yield to points of information Speaker asking the Point of Information may only speak if recognised by Chair Always remain standing when the speaker is replying to your Point of Information. Must be formulated in the form of a question, i.e. Is the speaker aware that A short introductory statement may precede the question. Only ONE question by the same questioner. There will be no dialogue between speaker and questioner on the floor. There are NO follow-ups!

Example: Could the honourable delegate, as she is the main submitter of this resolution, please explain to the house what she intends with clause 3?

4.

Point of Parliamentary Enquiry

Point of information to the chair concerning Rules of Procedures May NOT interrupt a speaker

Example: Could the Chair please explain to the house what is meant by closed debate?

5.

Point of Information to the Chair A question to the chair May NOT interrupt a speaker Question referring to anything that does not fall under the category of Point of Parliamentary Enquiry, Point of Order or Point of Personal Privilege.

Example: At what time do we adjourn for lunch?

ALSO: Question asking for a statement by the Chair or clarification on a issue

Example: Could the Chair please explain to the house, whether the Darfur Liberation Army has signed the Darfur Peace Agreement?

Motions A motion is a proposal to the house concerning procedural matters. The most usual and important ones are: -

Motion to extend debate time Motion to move to the previous question Motion to table a resolution Motion to reconsider a resolution

Amendments 1. An amendment is only in order if it is submitted to the Chair on the official Amendment Sheet before the delegate takes the floor, and must be easily legible. 2. Amendments can only be introduced by a speaker who has the floor, while in previous DSAMUN conferences the chairs were responsible for moving the amendments. The delegate that has the floor should ask: My delegation would like to move an amendment, if that is in order and wait for the Chairs answer. It is at the chairs discretion to entertain it or not. (Short speeches before the speaker moves the amendment are perfectly in order.) 3. Delegate moves the amendment, but the Chair reads it out slowly and clearly for all delegates to note down. 4. Closed debate will be the norm for amendments. 5. Only one amendment (max: one entire clause) per amendment sheet will be in order, exception if this would have effect on the sense of other clauses. 6. On an amendment, delegations can vote for, against or abstain.

Amendments on the Second Degree 1. Can only be entertained during the time against the Amendment of the First Degree (although it should be submitted early enough), and debate on this amendment does not count as time against the Amendment of the First Degree. 2. Same procedure as for normal amendments. 3. Debate on the Amendment of the First Degree will always be continued, whether the Amendment of the Second Degree passes or fails. 4. An Amendment to the Third and further Degree is out of order.

Voting Only member states of the UN may vote. Non Member Delegations (NGOs, unrecognised states) are not allowed to vote on amendments or resolutions (substantial matters). Nevertheless, NMDs can vote on procedural matters (such as motions).

Delegations voting on a resolution or an amendment (substantial matters) may vote in favour, against or abstain. Delegations and NMDs voting on procedural matters (motions), such as a motion to adjourn the debate, may only vote in favour or against (NO abstentions).

 During voting procedures, all points are out of order, except for points of order connected with the actual conduct of voting; there needs to be silence, and Chair to instruct Administrative Staff clearly to take voting positions and to close the doors.

There are NO informal votes at DSAMUN; all votes are real and count!

After voting for an amendment or a resolution, the submitter has the right to retain the floor (motion to reply).

Clapping is only allowed when a resolution passes.

Our closing remarks We expect to see well prepared delegates with excellent knowledge of their topic. We want you to invest time in research and writing, we want you to be ready for debate so that you make our lives easier. From our point of view we declare that we are going to be fair with you, we are going to help you and assist you by any means. So thats it from us. We are looking forward to meeting all of you in Athens. Best regards, The Secretariat