KSUHSMUN

Glossary of Terms

Appendix D

Amendment: If you do not have the approval of all the sponsors, then any change to the resolution is an amendment and you must get the required number of sponsors and signatories before your director will authorize copies. It will then be made available for debate and must be voted on before the resolution itself is voted on. You may only amend operative clauses.

Caucus: A period during committee session when the rules of procedure are suspended so that delegates can meet with each other informally and talk about the present topic. If the caucus is moderated, this means that the rules are suspended, but the
presiding officer still controls the floor, and directs the caucus in a structured manner.

Chair: The chair has the difficult job of controlling debate by making sure parliamentary procedure is being correctly followed. The Chair may be the director of the committee, or another person on the KSUHSMUN staff.

Consensus: A resolution on which the committee agrees as a unified whole.

Decorum: In order to remind the delegates that they are diplomats and should act as such, chairs and directors often call out "decorum, delegates" when them is too much unnecessary noise in the room.

Director: The author of your background guide who is in charge of the committee and who decides procedural and substantive questions. Only the director may authorize the copying of resolutions.

Modify a Resolution: A change to a resolution supported by ALL the sponsors. No vote is required. You may only modify operative clauses.

Observer: An observer nation may not sponsor resolutions or vote on substantive matters. It may caucus, make speeches and vote on procedural matters.

Operative Clause: The "meat" of the resolution. The operative clause is labeled with a number and
begins with an active verb such as " Calls" or "Recommends"

Point of Personal Privilege: if you cannot hear a speech, then you may raise your placard and the chair will
recognize you for this reason. If you have other complaints like the room is too warm or cold, then you should send a note to the chair. Point of Personal Privilege should be used extremely rarely, if at all. Basically, it's almost
always RUDE

Point of Order: A point called by a delegate when shelhe believes there has been a procedural mistake. The appellant must immediately cite the rule in question; the chair will then decide if the rules have been violated. A delegate cannot rise to this point, while a speaker is speaking, unless an element of the speech itself is contrary to the rules. Otherwise, a point of order must wait until the floor is open

Position Paper: The basis for the director's award evaluations for the first session. See the background guide for an explanation of format and deadline.

Preambular Clause: The introductory section of a resolution which outlines previous history and may mention other resolutions. Usually begins with a passive verb such as "Noting, Recalling, Emphasizing", etc.

Precedence: The priority of importance of procedural motions. Two or more delegates may wish to make a motion at the same time, and some motions come before others. For example, if a delegate makes a motion for closure of debate (to stop speeches and move immediately into a vote), another delegate may make a competing motion. The motion that came first is NOT automatically voted on simply because the chair recognized that delegate first. The chair must decide the priority
of the motions and take a vote on the mildest motion first See Rule 19.

Procedural Matter: Any matter not directly pertaining to a written document such as setting a speaking time limit, moving for a 15-minute caucus, or closing debate, and is usually preceded by "the delegate from ... moves to . . ." Observers can debate and vote on procedural matters. All present must vote on procedural matters, and must vote yes or no-NO abstentions.

Rapporteur: Along with various general duties designated by the director, she/he keeps track of the speaker's list and helps with the circulation of documents.

Signatory: In order to get copies of a document made, a certain number of nations must sign the docurrient. It is not necessary that the nation support the document; it is sufficient that the delegation simply wishes to see the document circulated on the floor for debate purposes. The director will determine the number of sufficient signatories.