Rule 25. Working Papers

1. A Working Paper is a document that reflects the position on the issue under discussion of a group of countries (thereinafter referred to as “authors”).

2. The document can be submitted to the Chairperson provided that it is signed by at least 14 Delegates.

3. The maximum number of authors is not limited. A Delegation may not at the same time be an author of more than one Working Paper.

4. An Observer may not be an author of a Working Paper.

Rule 26. Submitting Working Papers

1. Upon finishing the General Debate the Chairperson announces the deadline for submitting Working Papers.

2. The document shall be approved if it is registered by the Chairperson and if it passes the Expert’s examination. The Expert shall verify the documents’ conformity with the general Working Paper execution provisions and their compliance with the international law and previous UN decisions.

3. After a Working Paper has been registered by the Chairperson and assigned a number, a Formal Debate on the Working Paper can be held.

4. Working Papers shall have precedence in order of their submission, unless otherwise decided by the Board. More than one Working Paper may be on the floor at any time.

Rule 27. Debate on Working Papers

Discussion of a Working Paper includes:

1. introduction of the Working Paper by one of the authors;

2. debate on the Working Paper (two Representatives’ speeches “in favour” and two speeches “against” the Working Paper);

3. the same procedure shall be used for Debates on all Working Papers that have been submitted and approved.

Rule 28. Voting on Draft Decision

1. Adoption of the Working Paper requires a majority of the Delegates present and voting.

2. Upon finishing the Debates on all the documents, the Working Papers shall be put to vote in the order they have been discussed by the Board.

3. From the moment of adoption by a majority of Delegates present and voting, the Working Paper is referred to as Draft Decision and the rest of the Working Papers are not voted upon.

Rule 29. Amendments

1. An Amendment is a Motion that adds to, deletes from or modifies any part of a Draft Decision.

2. Amendments shall be submitted separately to each clause.

3. An Amendment shall be submitted in the following form:

1. it is sent via email, printed or written in a legible handwriting on a separate sheet of paper,

2. the type of an Amendment (addition, deletion or revision) and the point to which it is made are clearly stated;

3. there is reference to the author of an Amendment or to the Delegate that will introduce it (if there are two or more authors);

4. an Amendment has passed the Expert’s examination.

Rule 30. Consideration of Amendments in Order of Priority

1. The Amendments to the operative clauses shall be considered by the Board first. Upon finishing with these Amendments, the Board can consider the Amendments to the Preamble, unless otherwise decided by the Board.

2. If two or more Amendments to a Draft Decision are proposed, Amendments to the first operative clause shall be voted upon first and so on to the last clause of the Draft Decision. Amendments proposing to add a new point shall be voted upon last, but still prior to Amendments to the Preamble.

3. If two or more amendments to a clause are proposed, the Board shall first vote on the amendment furthest removed in substance from the original proposal and then on the amendment next furthest removed until all amendments have been put to the vote.

4. The Expert shall observe that an Amendment is in conformity with the meaning and purposes of the Draft Decision.

5. Grammatical, spelling and formatting errors in the Draft Decision shall be corrected by the Secretariat without a vote.