Chapter I - Representation

Rule 1:
A country delegation consists of exactly one Head Delegate and one Committee Delegate in each of the six committees.

 

Rule 2:
If for any reason a country is not able to appoint a Delegate for a given committee, the Head Delegate can be appointed to act in place of the Committee Delegate. In this case, the Committee’s chairpersons are asked not to let voting on substantive issues take place without prior consent of the Head Delegate.

 

Chapter II - Languages

Rule 3:
English shall be the working language.

 

Chapter III - Agenda

Rule 4:
A list of the items proposed for the agenda of the meeting shall be communicated to all participants. It shall be open to any delegate to suggest items for inclusion in the proposed agenda up to two weeks before the meeting. Suggestions shall be mailed directly to the chairpersons, together with the accompanying documentation to be issued in connection with that item.

 

Rule 5:
The first item of business at each meeting shall be the consideration and approval of the agenda. Representatives may suggest amendments to the proposed agenda.

 

Rule 6:
The Committee may amend the agenda or give priority to certain items at any time in the course of the meeting.

 

Chapter IV - Conduct of business

Rule 7:
The Chairpersons shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting, shall direct the discussion, accord the right to speak, submit questions for decision, announce decisions, rule on points of order and, subject to these rules, have complete control of the proceedings. The Chairpersons may also call a speaker to order if the remarks of the speaker are not relevant.

 

Rule 8:
During the discussion of any matter, a representative may raise a point of order. In this case the Chairperson shall immediately state the ruling. If the ruling is challenged, the Chairperson shall immediately submit it for decision and it shall stand unless overruled.

 

Rule 9:
During the discussion of any matter, a representative may move the adjournment of the debate. Any such motion shall have priority. In addition to the proponent of the motion, one representative may be allowed to speak in favor of, and two representatives against, the motion, after which the motion shall be submitted for decision immediately.

 

Rule 10:
A representative may at any time move the closure of the debate. In addition to the proponent of the motion, not more than one representative may be granted permission to speak in favor of the motion and not more than two representatives may be granted permission to speak against the motion, after which the motion shall be submitted for decision immediately.

 

Rule 11:
During the course of the debate, the Chairperson may announce the list of speakers and, with the consent of the meeting, declare the list closed. The Chairperson may, however, accord the right of reply to any representative if a speech delivered after the list has been declared closed makes this desirable.

 

Rule 12:
The Chairperson, with the consent of the meeting, may limit the time allowed to each speaker.

 

Rule 13:
Representatives shall endeavor, to the extent that a situation permits, to keep their oral statements brief. Representatives wishing to develop their position on a particular matter in fuller detail may circulate a written statement for distribution to all delegates, the summary of which, at the representative's request, may be reflected in the records of the Committee.

 

Rule 14:
In order to expedite the conduct of business, the Chairpersons may invite representatives that wish to express their support for a given proposal to show their hands, in order to be duly recorded in the records of the Committee as supporting statements; thus, only representatives with dissenting views or wishing to make explicit points or proposals would actually be invited to make a statement. This procedure shall only be applied in order to avoid undue repetition of points already made, and will not preclude any representative who so wishes from taking the floor.

 

Rule 15:
If two or more proposals are moved relating to the same question, the meeting shall first decide on the most far-reaching proposal and then on the next most far-reaching proposal and so on.

 

Rule 16:
When an amendment is moved to a proposal, the amendment shall be submitted for decision first and, if it is adopted, the amended proposal shall then be submitted for decision.

 

Rule 17:
When two or more amendments are moved to a proposal, the meeting shall decide first on the amendment farthest removed in substance from the original proposal, then, if necessary, on the amendment next farthest removed, and so on until all the amendments have been submitted for decision.

 

Rule 18:
Parts of a proposal may be decided on separately if a representative requests that the proposal be divided.

 

Chapter V - Decision-Making

Rule 19:
Where a decision can be arrived at by consensus, the matter at issue shall be included in the Final Declaration.

 

Chapter VI - Records

Rule 20:
Records of the discussions of the Committee shall be in the form of minutes. These minutes shall be made available to all countries’ Head Delegates.