MOTIONS

“Motion to move directly into voting procedures"

• Calls for the closure of debate and a vote to be taken on the motion
(resolution/amendment) pending
• May NOT interrupt a speaker
• Requires a "second" by the house, and is stopped by an "objection" of one
delegation
• May be overruled by Chair if time needs to be filled

"Motion to table a resolution"

• Calls for the temporary disposal of a resolution pending

• Needs a simple majority
• Chair will discourage tabling
• To take matters back from the table a 2/3 majority is needed and resolutions will
be debated at the end of business (if there is time)

"Motion to reconsider a resolution"

• Calls for a re-debate and a re-vote of a resolution that has already been discussed
(adopted or rejected)
• Done at the end of all other business
• Needs 2/3 majority

"Motion to refer a resolution to another forum, e.g. Security Council"

• A MUST if resolution includes operative phrases, such as: "Condemns,

Demands, Imposes, Decides, Authorizes, Deploys etc."
• A MUST if resolution takes actions, such as imposing sanctions or embargoes,
sends peace-keeping troops (military force), Amendments to the Charter
• Chair will discourage referring resolution to Security Council and encourage re-
wording or amendment (for example, "Demands..." to "Strongly urges...")
• Is debated and needs a simple majority

"Motion to go into time for / against"

• Requires a "second" by the house, and is stopped by an "objection" of one

delegation
• Can be ruled out of order by the chair

"Motion to extend debate time"

• Needs a "second"
• Can be ruled out of order by the chair
Yielding the floor to other delegations:

• The floor may be yielded by one delegation to another only ONCE

consecutively
AMENDMENTS

• Amendments can only be submitted by a speaker who has the floor

• An amendment is only in oder if it is submitted to the Chair on the official
Amendment Sheet before the delegate takes the floor, and must be easily legible
• In a closed debate amendments should be submitted only in time against
• Amendments will only be entertained if the speaker having the floor moves the
amendment. Short speeches before the speaker moves the amendments are
perfectly in order
• Delegate moves the amendment, but the Chair reads it out slowly and clearly for
all delegates to note down
• An amendment will usually be debated, and must always be put to a vote. If the
Chair feels that an amendment is an obvious mistake of a word, the Chair may
propose to vote on the amendment directly without debate. This will be done, by
asking if there are any objections. Amendments cannot be adopted without a
vote. (There are NO "friendly amendments" at IISMUN.)
• Only ONE amendment (maximum: one entire clause) per amendment sheet will
be in order
• If an amendment fails, the speaker who proposed the amendment retains the
floor
• On an amendment, delegations can only vote for or against, no abstentions
allowed

Amendment to the Amendment

• Same procedure as for normal amendment ( set debate time, close debate,
official amendment sheet only, must be legible, only speaker on the floor moves,
Chair reads out)
• If an amendment to the amendment that affects the original amendment in its
entirety passes, then the original amendment also passes
• If an amendment to the amendment that only refers to one element in the
original amendment passes, then the debate on the original amendment resumes.
• An amendment to the amendment to the amendment is out of order.

VOTING

Delegates voting on a resolution may vote for, against or abstain. Delegates voting on
amendments may only vote for or against. Delegates voting on procedural motions,
such as motion to table the resolution, may only vote for or against

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 the
administrative Staff (floor secretaries) will close the doors and take voting position.
A resolution will pass if the number for exceeds the number against regardless of the
number of abstentions. A resolution or an amendment with a tied vote fails. Close votes
will usually be followed by a recount or a roll-call vote (also known as "dividing the
house")

Debate time and Debate mode

• The Chair will propose the limitation of debate time before it starts
• Security Council, Special Conference and ECOSOC will normally adopt the
open debate mode(where there is no distinction between for time and against
time; for speeches, against speeches and amendments can all be made during the
debate time). The GA committees will normally adopt the closed debate mode
(where there are set times for time for and time against the resolution;
amendments can be made only in against time)
• The forum can switch from one debate mode into another at the discretion of the
Chair
• Delegates can motion to extend debate time, but the extension of debate time is
ultimately at the Chair's discretion.

Note-passing

• Communication among delegates in the house can be done only through written
notes
• All messages (except those from the Chair) will be screened by the
Administrative Staff(floor secretaries); personal messages are not allowed
• The Chair can suspend note-passing if it disturbs the debate
• Note-passing is not allowed during voting procedure

Funding

• Funding may be discussed in IISMUN resolution, but clauses or statements

referring to funding must be broad (no specific numbers), and delegates should
assume that the proposal will be funded.

Miscellaneous

• Cell phones must be switched off at all times

• Smoking and drinking are prohibited at IISMUN
• Singing, informal jokes, clowning, etc. are out of order
• Delegates must be dressed in formal attire at all times
• Delegates must be punctual for all meeting and sessions.