Following procedure is essential to this simulation; it assures that all delegates have the opportunity to speak and be heard (including yourself). By keeping with correct parliamentary procedure, committees will remain focused on their agenda, less time will be wasted, and you will accomplish more in your meetings. Take the time to review the guidelines in the DIMUN handbook and this sample transcript.
Delegates may want to keep their handbook nearby and refer to the ParPro cheat-sheet during the simulation.

Parliamentary Procedure (ParPro)
Sample Transcript

Chair: We will now call to order the Humanitarian and Financial Committee.  We will start with an Agenda’s speakers list.  This will determine which topic we discuss.  Raise your placards now if you would like to be added on the Agenda’s speakers list.

(Call out names: USA UK France Colombia Haiti)

Chair: We will now close the list.

Chair: USA, you have 2 minutes.

USA:  Even though every topic on the HF list is important, I would like to move to Infectious diseases because this is something that affects every country here.  Millions of people on every continent are dying of diseases like AIDS, especially in the developing nations of Africa.  The USA is committed to helping the rest of the world research and hopefully eradicate these diseases in our lifetime.  This is the most pressing issue before us today.  Therefore, I move that we open the topic of Infectious diseases.

Explanation:  In order to talk about a specific topic and resolutions within that topic we have to take a vote to move to the topic.  Motions are the means to take action within parliamentary procedure.  Motion is the noun; the USA has made a motion.  Move is the verb—the USA has moved to go to the topic of Infectious diseases. 

• Every time there is a motion on the floor, the chair will call for seconds,
• then we will very likely have a pro/con speakers list to let the whole room decide whether or not they really want to take the action proposed in the motion. 
• Then we will vote.

Chair: There has been a motion to move to the topic of Infectious diseases.  Are there any seconds?  (pause)  Any objections? (pause)  Seeing objections, we will now move to a pro/con speakers list whether to move to the topic of infectious diseases.  I will take one pro and one con speaker.  Speaking Pro: UK Speaking con: Haiti.  UK you have 30 seconds.

UK:  I agree with the US; this is an important issue that effects every one of us.  It has been a problem for centuries and now we finally have the resources to begin to prevent the deadliest diseases, but it will take a unified effort of the United Nations.  That is why we are here and why we should talk about this issue first.  I’ve looked in the resolution book and there are some fantastic resolution I would like to talk about under this topic.  I hope every one here will vote to move to the topic of infectious diseases.

Chair: UK, how do you yield your time? 

UK: to the chair

Chair: thank you

Explanation:  If you do not use all of your time to speak, you have three options. 

• First, you can give your time to the chair-yield to the chair,
• second- you can give your time to another delegate-yield to USA or
• third-you can allow countries to ask you questions, yield to questions.  This allows two countries, chosen by the chair, to ask you one question about what you said. 
• If you make a motion, your time expires regardless of how much remains-there is no need to yield your time if you make a motion.  Be sure to make your motion when you are finished talking because you do not get to say anything else once you make a motion.

Chair:  Haiti, you have 30 seconds speaking con on moving to the topic of Infectious diseases.

Haiti: Infectious disease is an important topic, but I think we should go to Development of third world nations first.  As most of you know, my country has just gone through a revolution.  Our president has stepped down and we are looking to reestablish our country.  There are other like Haiti who have the same problems.  It is in the Third World nations that the infectious diseases are most deadly.  Let’s make a plan for getting the lesser developed nations on their feet before we go to infectious diseases. Thank you-I yield my time to the chair.

Chair:  Thank you Haiti.  We will now take a vote on whether to move to the topic of infectious diseases.  Let me remind you this is a procedural vote so there are no abstentions.  Sergeants at arms please bar the doors.  All those in favor of moving to the topic of infectious diseases, please raise your placard.  (Pause and count)  All those opposed to moving to the topic of infectious diseases.  (pause and count)  That motion passes.  We will now move to the topic of infectious diseases.  Raise your placards now if you would like to be added to the topic speakers list.  Zambia USA UK South Africa China

Explanation:  Most of the work in committee meetings is done from the topic speakers list.  This is the list you need to be on if you want to propose a resolution, amend a resolution, talk about resolutions and move to vote on resolutions. 

• If you do not get on the speaker’s list the first time, just send a note to the chair through a page and the secretary will add your name. 
• You may also want to get countries on the list to yield their time to you, but remember you cannot make a motion on yielded time.  If you want to make a motion you need to be on the speakers list.

Chair: Zambia, you have 2 minutes.

Zambia:  As most of you know, the continent of Africa is currently ravaged by infectious diseases, especially sub-Saharan Africa which is where my country is located.  Everyday I see first hand the damages diseases cause, and many of these are preventable with the right resources.  Zambia and my neighbors are poor nations; the means to stop some of these diseases, like malaria, are readily available if there is the money available.  I am asking all of you to help my continent.  In Resolution HF 101 I have written a plan that begins the process of prevention.  In clause 1, I want to start an organization to distribute money to lesser developed nations.  If we work together, we can eradicate at least this preventable disease.  I move to consider resolution HF 101.

Chair:  there has been a motion to place resolution HF 101 on the floor for debate.  Are there any seconds?  (pause)  Any objections? (pause)  The objections are so noted.  USA, you have 2 minutes.

USA:  Thank you.  The USA is committed to eradicating infectious diseases.  In fact, every year, we send medicine to third world nations, like Zambia in an effort to ease the suffering of those nations.  We do it on our own as well as supporting the Humanitarian efforts already in place within the United Nations.  While we think an organization as called for in clause 1 is certainly one course of action, we do not feel that is the best avenue for infectious disease relief.  Humanitarian efforts are just that, voluntary.  We would like to see these efforts remain voluntary.  Therefore I would like to make an amendment to HF Resolution 101 to strike clauses 1 and 2 which mention the United Nations Malaria Eradication Board.

Chair:  There has been a motion to amend Resolution 101 by omitting clauses 1 & 2.  Are there any seconds?  (pause)  Any objections?  (Pause)  Seeing objections, we will take a pro/con speakers list on whether to amend resolution 101.  Speaking pro: Canada  Speaking con : Zambia  Canada, You have 30 seconds.

Canada:   We agree with the USA, this is the sort of action that should not be forced on the members of the United Nations.  I disagree with the creation of the Board.  I also disagree with the vague nature of funding the board.  Whom will fund it?  How much?  This resolution leaves much to the imagination, something I think we should not do.  Let’s strike the vague clauses.

Chair:  Canada, how do you yield your time?

Canada: to the chair

Chair: thank you.  Zambia, you have 30 seconds.

Zambia:  Clauses 1 & 2 are the resolution.  If you strike those two clauses, there is no action.  Without action, my country and others will continue to suffer from a disease that is easily prevented and cured with medicine, cheap medicine in the grand scheme of things.  Pennies on the dollar can save the lives of hundreds of thousands of my countrymen and others.  I urge all of you to vote for this.  I yield my time to South Africa.

South Africa:  We agree with Zambia, this amendment is nothing more than some wealthy nations trying to avoid their humanitarian obligations to the rest of the world.  These industrialized nations fail to see the impact of our lives on theirs.  Curing easily preventable diseases helps all of us.

Chair:  (Interrupting) Please conclude.

South Africa: please vote against this amendment.

Chair: we will now move to an immediate vote on whether to amend Resolution 101 by striking clauses 1 & 2.  Sergeants at arms please bar the doors.  All those in favor of the amending resolution 101 raise your placards now (only US and Canada).  All opposed?  (every one else).  That motion clearly fails.  We will now return to the speaker’s list.  UK, you have 2 minutes.

END.