Definition of Debate Language

Definitions

Speakers List (speeches during formal debate)

The speakers list is the list of countries on the board that wish to make a speech.  You can put your country’s name on the list two ways.  First, you can raise your placard when the president asks.  Second, after you give your speech, you can pass a note to the secretary asking them to put your country back on the list.  You can also take your country off the list by passing a note to the secretary.   During this time, speeches should be about the agenda topic being discussed.  If a resolution has been introduced, you should also mention something about the resolution in your speech.

Informal Debate

This is the time you can ask questions to other countries while sitting in your chair.   If a resolution has been introduced, this is the time to get more information about the resolution.  You can also give your opinion during this time or ask other countries about their opinion.   You can go into informal debate many times during the meeting.  This is when the debate on the resolution takes place.  There is always a time limit for informal debate.

Caucusing

This is the time you can get up and walk around the room to talk with other delegates or teachers.  You may speak in English or Japanese.  This is a good time to discuss the debate, the resolution, and strategy.   There is always a time limit for caucusing.

Resolutions

A resolution is a plan of action about the agenda topic that one or many countries have decided to introduce to the United Nations.  It is usually about one problem related to the agenda and offers solutions to this problem.  When a resolution is introduced, the debate is now about that resolution.  Informal debate and caucus time are good times to ask questions and get more information about the resolution.  During this time, you can ask the country that introduced the resolution to explain in more details, or you can ask another country their opinion on the resolution.

Amendments

An amendment is a change (addition, change, deletion) to a part of the resolution.  Different countries write the amendments and then introduce them to the meeting.  There are two kinds of amendments:

• friendly - the country who wrote the resolution agrees with the amendment.  A vote is not required on friendly amendments.

• unfriendly - the country who wrote the resolution disagrees with the amendment.  A vote is required on unfriendly amendments.

Closing the Debate 

After a resolution and amendments have been introduced and you have debated them completely, it is now time to vote on the amendments and resolutions.  Before you vote, you must close the speakers list, finish the speakers list,  and close debate.  Look at your flow chart to see when to do these things.  

Voting

Once the debate has been closed it is now time to vote.  First, you will vote on the amendments.  Second, you will vote on the resolution (with the new changes made by the amendments).  There are 4 ways to vote:  Yes, No, Abstention, Pass ( if you PASS, the President will ask you again for your vote later on).  Voting on resolutions and amendments is always done by a roll call vote.