The 11th Annual Amman Model United Nations

Conference
th
18 23rd of October 2012

Chairing Guide
The Amman Model United Nations team has created this chairing guide
to help chairs understand AMMUN rules of procedure and to outline our
expectations from chairs.
Please note that the content of this document is adapted from
The Hague International Model United Nations Procedure.

Written By: The AMMUN12 Team

Copyright 2012

Chairing Guide

Chairing Dos and Donts please keep these in mind while chairing at AMMUN

Dos

Do stay in the forum at all times and act

appropriately

Donts

Dont interrupt your co-chairs or correct

them

Do follow the rules of procedure

Do respect all co-chairs, delegates and
admin staff
Do pay close attention to debate and
only interfere when necessary

Dont disregard any notes from

delegates
Dont abuse your authority over
delegates
Dont overdo it with suspensions

Do lead the discussion and make sure

that it is both entertaining and
educational

Dont look bored and uninterested

Dont allow the forum to get out of hand

Do talk to you delegates outside of the

forum
Do repeat questions and amendments
when you feel delegates have not
understood them
Do make sure that all delegates get a
chance to speak
Do read expectations packages and
make sure you understand the topics at
hand

Dont discuss rules of procedure with

delegates, use the chair stands
corrected when necessary
Dont recite chairing stock phrases like
a robot
In lobbying and merging dont write the
resolutions for your delegates but help
them and answer all their questions

The Warning System and Suspension Protocol:

At AMMUN we follow a points system for maintaining order in the forum. When a delegate
misbehaves repeatedly and disrupts the forum, they receive a warning. When a delegate
receives three warnings, he is suspended from the forum. However, only suspend
delegates that continually disrupt and hinder the flow of debate. Suspensions generally last
between 5 and 15 minutes. In the case of a serious offense, chairs should contact the
Secretary General or Deputy Secretary General who will take appropriate action.

General Assembly A 3

Chairing Stock-phrases: the following shows the AMMUN rules of

procedure and the general course of debate. Chairs must be thoroughly
aware of these phrases
Beginning of debate:
Chair: May the house please come to order? We will now conduct roll call. (Call out every
countries name (delegate of country) in alphabetical order. If there is no answer, call the
country once more, then look at the seat and see if the delegate is there or not.)
IF 2/3 of the house is present:
Chair: quorum has been reached
IF 2/3 of the house is NOT present:
Chair: quorum has not been reach. We will wait a few minutes for more delegates to arrive.
Setting reading time:
Chair: the chair sets reading time of 2 minutes for this resolution
Calling on main submitter:
Chair: We will now commence debate regarding the topic of .. Will the main submitter
of this resolution please take the floor to read the operative clauses?
Delegate reads out the operative clauses
Chair: Thank you delegate. The chair now sets x minutes for debate (or you can specify if
you want open or closed debate) on this entire resolution. You now have the floor to make
your speeches.
Delegate makes the his speech
Chair: Thank you delegate, are you open to any points of information?
Delegate IS open to points of information:
Chair: the delegate is open to points of information, (due to time constraints the delegate
will only entertain 2 points of information), are there any such points in the house?
Delegates raise placards
Chair: Delegate of x, y, z in that order (IF no delegates raise their placards, either call on
random delegates or say seeing as there are none, would the delegate please yield the
floor back to the chair or to another delegate)
Delegate is NOT open to points of information:
Chair: Seeing as the delegate is not open to points of information, would you yield the floor
back to the chair (or to another delegate)
Delegate yields the floor

Chairing Guide

IF the floor is yielded to the CHAIR:
Chair: That is in order delegate, please take your seat. The floor is once again open. Are
there any speakers wishing to take the floor for or against this resolution? Delegate of x,
you have been recognized. Please take the floor.
IF the floor is yielded to ANOTHER DELEGATE (yielding to the second degree is out of
order)
Chair: That is in order delegate, please take your seat. Delegate of x, you now have the
floor to speak on this resolution as a whole.
Voting procedures:
When time allocated for debating a resolution elapses
Chair: Time allocated for debate on the resolution as a whole has elapsed. We will now be
moving directly into previous question. Note passing is suspended. Admin staff please take
your voting positions. All delegates voting for this resolution please raise your placards
high. All delegates voting against this resolution please raise your placards high. All
delegates abstaining please raise your placard high.
IF the resolution passes:
Chair: With x votes for, and y votes against, this resolution passes. Clapping is in order.
IF the resolution passes with clear/overwhelming (only a few votes against)/unanimous (NO
votes against) majority:
Chair: With a(n) clear/overwhelming/unanimous majority, this resolution passes. Clapping is
in order.
IF the resolution fails:
Chair: With x votes for, and y votes against, this resolution fails. Clapping is out of order.
IF the resolution fails with a very small margin and there are many abstentions:
Chair: With x votes for, and y votes against, and z abstentions, this resolution fails.. Do I
hear a motion to divide the house?
When there are amendments:
Delegate that submitted an amendment is called upon to take the floor.
Chair: The delegate has submitted an amendment to this resolution. The amendment reads
out . The chair sets debate time of 5 minutes for, and 5 minutes against this
amendment. Delegate you have the floor to make your speech.
Delegate makes speech
When time for the amendment elapses:
Chair: Time for this amendment has elapsed, we will now be moving into closed debate
with time against. Are there any speakers wishing to take the floor to speak AGAINST this
amendment. Delegate of x, you now have the floor, please approach the podium.
Delegate makes speech

General Assembly A 5

When time against the amendment elapses:
Chair: Time against this amendment has elapsed, we will now be moving into previous
question. Note passing will be suspended. Admin staff please take your voting positions.
There will be no abstentions. All delegate wishing to vote for this amendment please raise
your placard high. All delegates wishing to vote against this amendment please raise your
placards high.
IF the amendment passes
Chair: With x votes for and y votes against, this amendment passes, clapping is out of
order. Please make the appropriate changes to your resolution.
IF there is a clear/overwhelming (only a few votes against)/unanimous majority (no votes
against) :
Chair: With a clear/overwhelming/unanimous majority, this amendment passes, clapping is
out of order. Please make the appropriate changes to your resolution
IF the amendment fails:
With x votes for, and y votes against, this amendment fails. Clapping is out of order. NO
changes are made on the resolution.
Motions: only to be entertained during closed debate with time against the resolution
Previous question (procedure for adjourning debate, moving into caucus, tabling resolution,
moving into recess is similar):
Delegate: Motion to move into previous question
Chair: Do I hear any seconds?
Delegates second
Chair: any objections?
IF there are objections:
Chair: Seeing as there are objections, the motion will not be entertained
IF there are no objections:
Chair: Seeing as there are no objections, the motion will be entertained. We will now be
moving into previous question.
IF there are no objections but you dont want to entertain the motion:
Chair: This motion is overruled by the chair, and thus will not be entertained.
Dividing the house:
Delegate: Motion to divide the house
Chair: Do I hear any seconds?
Delegates second
Chair: Seeing as there are seconds, the motion to divide the house will be entertained. We
will now move into previous question where there will be no abstentions. Admin staff please
take your voting position.....

Chairing Guide

Points:
Delegate: Point of personal privilege
Chair: Is it due to audibility?
IF delegate answer YES:
Chair: Ok, (to delegate speaking) delegate please raise your voice/speak more slowly.
IF delegate answers NO:
Chair: delegate please send a note with your point to the chair.
Delegate: Point of inquiry
Chair: please rise and state your point
Delegate states point
Chair: ANSWER THE QUESTION!
Delegate: Point of parliamentary procedure
Chair: please rise and state your point
Delegate states point (usually a breach in AMMUN procedure)
Chair: Thank you delegate, the chair stands corrected (then you fix what you have done
wrong)
Delegate: Point of order
Chair: please rise and state your point
Delegate states point
Chair: Thank you delegate, your point will be taken into consideration by the house
(There may be some points and motions not mentioned above, so please refer to section
about points and motions)
Miscellaneous:
Delegates! side talk (or laughing) is out of order.
Delegates, the official language of AMMUN is English. Please refrain from using Arabic!
There will be no direct dialogue between delegates.
Will the delegate please repeat/rephrase his point?
Will the delegate please ask a point of information in the form of ONE question only?
Delegate please come to your closing remarks.
IF chair wants to yield to fellow chair:
Chair: I yield the floor to my fellow chair (insert name here)
IF a delegate asks for a right to reply:
Chair: Delegates, there is no right to reply in AMMUN