Chapter 8. Procedural Motions in Order of Priority

Rule 44. Precedence of Procedural Motions

Procedural Motions shall be considered in the following order:

1. 1. Motion to Adjourn the Meeting;

2. 2. Motion to Suspend the Meeting (to get acquainted with the documents, to take a rest, etc. A Delegate shall explain the purpose of the Motion and propose a time limit):

3. 3. Motion to appeal to the ruling of the Chairperson;

4. 4. Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus;

5. 5. Motion for a Moderated Caucus;

6. 6. Motion to temporarily deprive a Delegate of the Right to Speak (the Motion can be raised by the Chairperson and needs 2/3 affirmative votes of the Delegates present to pass. A Delegate can be deprived of the right to speak for a period of time that shall be no longer than up to the end of the meeting);

7. 7. Motion to return to Debate (on the matter, discussion on which has been suspended);

8. 8. Motion for closure of Debate (to terminate all discussion on a particular matter and immediately vote on the matter in question);

9. 9. Motion to Reconsider a Question (to re-vote on a matter);

10. 10. Motion to extend/limit the Speaker's time or the number of speeches;

11. 11. Motion for a Roll Call Vote.

The Representatives have a right to raise Procedural Motions, except for Motion to Adjourn the Meeting. Only the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson can raise this Motion.

Rule 45. Consideration of Procedural Motion

The Council shall consider each Motion in the following order:

1. 1. A Motion can be raised by any Delegate at any time when the floor is open, but not during speeches and voting;

2. 2. A Motion requires the support of at least one more Representative;

3. 3. Consideration of all Motions, but for the one to Adjourn the Meeting, shall not require speeches “in favor” and “against” the Motion;

4. 4. After discussing the Motion it is put to vote;

5. 5. In case no objections to a Motion are raised, such decision shall be considered adopted.

Chapter 9. Voting

Rule 46. Types of Voting

1. 1. The decisions of the Council on procedural matters can be adopted:

   1. a. by consensus (in case no objections are raised);

   2. b. by a simple majority of the Delegates present;

   3. c. by a qualified majority of 2/3 of the Delegates present.

2. 2. The decisions of the Council on substantial matters can be adopted:

   1. a. by consensus (in case no objections are raised);

   2. b. by a simple majority of the Delegates present;

   3. c. by a qualified majority of 2/3 of the Delegates present.

Rule 47. Voting

1. 1. In case of exhaustion of the List of Speakers or when a Motion for Closure of Debate passes, Resolutions, and Unfriendly Amendments to Amendments on the floor shall automatically be put to vote.

2. 2. The Delegates shall vote by raising their placards, unless otherwise decided by the Council.

1. 3. For matters of great importance a Delegate may request a Roll Call vote.

0. a. the Request may be put to vote;

0. b. a Roll Call vote takes place according to the English alphabetical order of the names of the Member States present in the Council. The Chairperson shall subsequently call the name of each State. The Delegate shall reply “Yes”, “No” or “Abstain”.

1. c. in Roll Call vote, a State may pass once, but then must vote in the affirmative or negative.

2. d. upon completion of voting a Delegate may request the right to explain his or her vote on the matter. The Chairperson may rule this request out of order, the decision not being subject to appeal. The speaking time shall not exceed one minute.

3. e. there shall be no Roll Call vote on procedural matters.

1. 4. Delegates cannot abstain when voting on procedural matters. Delegates having stated “present and voting” cannot abstain when voting on any matters.

2. 5. During voting procedure Delegates shall strictly refrain from communicating with each other. The voting procedure must not be interrupted except to raise a Point in the connection with the actual process of voting.

Rule 48. Required Majority

1. 1. Motions 3, 6, 7 and 9 (Rule 44) require a qualified majority of 2/3 of the Delegates present to pass.

2. 2. Motions 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 11 (Rule 44) require a simple majority of the Delegates present in order to pass.

3. 3. Working papers, Amendments, Amendments to Amendments and Resolution require simple majority of the Delegates present in order to pass.