CCWA MUN

Flow of Debate

Setting the Agenda

After the initial roll call and a committee staff orientation speech, the first order of business for a committee is setting the agenda, which is the order in which the committee will consider the topics. If the Chair accepts the motion, it will be put to an immediate vote. If a proposed agenda passes, debate on the agenda is over, and consideration begins on the first topic. If the motion fails, debate on the agenda continues until another motion is made and passed.

General Debate on the Topic

Once a topic area has been opened, a speaker's list will be taken, and formal debate on the topic area will begin.

Policy Statements and Caucus

Normally, debate will begin with delegates making policy statements and suggesting broad solutions. After the main issues have been outlined and individual country positions established, someone will call for a caucus. The formal session will then recess and delegates will informally begin to discuss the issues and draft proposals. Normally, it takes the first session to get the issues on the table and delegates adjusted to the committee format.

Bringing Resolutions to the Floor

At some point in the debate, usually well into the second session, a group of delegates who have been working on a proposal (perhaps in working paper form) will find they have enough support to formally bring their resolution before the committee. All this really means is that the resolution is assigned a number designator (e.g. "A1" for the first resolution on Topic A), duplicated and distributed to the committee.

The Chair authorizes the copying and distribution of resolutions or working papers. Each required a minimum number of signatures to the resolution as evidence that a broad enough interest exists to justify bringing it before the committee. Delegates should remember that signing a resolution does not constitute endorsing it. By signing a resolution the delegate only indicates his or her belief that the resolution deserves debate before the full committee.

Moving Towards a Vote

Generally, it becomes apparent that debate on a topic has reaches some sort of conclusion, consensus, or final stage beyond which the arguments only repeat themselves. At this time the Chair may allow a motion that debate be closed on the topic area. Should the committee pass such a motion, debate on the topic area closes and all resolutions before the committee are brought to an immediate vote.

Such a step is not to be taken lightly, for it generally means that no further discussion o the topic is possible and that the committee moves on the next agenda item. Debate may also be 'tabled.' This means leaving the topic without voting on resolutions. The committee may then vote at some future point. Tabling is useful when the debate becomes deadlocked.

Plenary Approval is Necessary

In the United Nations, a resolution, which passes in a committee, is still not official until it passes in a plenary session. For this reason, some conferences run a full (plenary) session to vote upon the proposals passed in committees over the course of the conference. The Security Council and International Court of Justice along with other special groups may also meet at this time to conclude their business.

Flow of Debate with Rules of Procedure

This section repeats the previous one, except that the flow is described in terms of the rules of procedure and the actions the chair must perform to move debate along as described.

Committee Session

Agenda Discussion

1. Entertain a motion to open debate on the Agenda. Delegates may call for a caucus at any time hereafter for the purpose of discussing the agenda (Ask how long the caucus shall be for and recommend lengthening or shortening it if necessary.)

2. Entertain a motion to open a speakers' list on the topic of the agenda. Take down all countries wishing to speak by show of hands. If delegates wish to be added to the speaker?s list after the initial show of hands, they should submit their names in writing to the chair. If the delegates do not make a motion to set a time limit, the chair may wish to suggest one (for example, one or two minutes) to prevent overly long speeches. If a time limit is imposed, try not to cut off the delegate. Tap the gavel when 15 seconds are left. When time has expired, say, "Delegate, your time has expired, please conclude your remarks," then if necessary cut the delegate off with, "Thank you delegate, you time has expired." Since these are procedural speeches, no yielding or questioning may take place.

3. Adoption of Agenda. After a few speakers, a delegate may wish to propose an agenda. If the chair fees that sufficient discussion has taken place, an immediate vote (simple majority) will be taken. If passed, debate on the agenda is closed, the speaker?s list is discarded, and debate on the first topic will begin. If the proposed motion fails, debate continues with the original speaker's list until a new agenda is proposed and passed.

Debate on the First Topic

1. Create a speaker's list: As above, ask for a show of hands, with later additions being submitted in writing to the chair.

2. Call for the first speaker: After their speech, delegates may answer questions or yield remaining time to another delegate. Speakers continue until (a) a caucus is called (see drafting process, below), or (b) if a prewritten resolution exists, the resolution is moved to the floor.

3. The next step is the drafting process: Caucuses should be held for the purpose of discussing and drafting a resolution. Several cycles of caucuses and speeches may occur as the draft takes shape. The chair may wish to suggest a move into informal debate (a moderated caucus) to facilitate discussion of the draft.

4. Moving a resolution to the floor: The chair should accept when appropriate a resolution for the committee's consideration when she or he determines that sufficient drafting activity has taken place. (Note signature requirements for resolutions.) Caucuses occur for the purpose of drafting the resolution.

5. Amendments: during committee session, delegates may formulate amendments to the resolutions on the floor. Only operational clauses can be amended. Some rules make the distinction between friendly amendments (made by the sponsor and automatically added to the resolution) and unfriendly ones (which require a vote to incorporate the amendment in the resolution).

6. Closing debate and Moving towards a Vote: After sufficient debate on the resolution(s), a motion to close debate on the topic at hand and move to an immediate vote is in order. Closure of debate requires a 2/3 vote with two speakers against the motion. As soon as the motion passes, an immediate vote on the resolutions and amendments of the topic will take place. This is the time when motions to divide the resolution or amendments are in order. If the speaker's list expires (the last speaker on the list speaks), debate is automatically closed and the committee moves to a vote.

Voting

1. Amendments are to voted on first, doing one resolution at a time. Please note, only operative clauses can be amended from the original resolution.

2. Amendments that pass are incorporated into the final resolution.
A motion can be made to divide the resolution (that is, to vote on different parts of the resolution separately), In this case, take a first vote on whether the resolution will be divided at all (this is a procedural vote). Next, vote on each of the divided parts separately (This is a substantive vote). All the parts that pass form the final resolution.

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