INTRODUCTION TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR DEBATE

Basic Rules to Follow:

The Chair = the leader of the group. The Chair is in charge and decides who speaks.

You always address the Chair when you speak, not individuals. That is why we do not use “I” “ME” or
“YOU.” Instead, say “this Delegate” or “the Delegate of ____”.

The Chair will begin by giving you some time to read over the resolution. Your job is to read it and see if
you agree or disagree with it.

If you disagree, find a specific operative clause and note why you don’t like that operative clause.

How to Begin the Debate:

After your reading time has finished, the Chair will call up the Main Submitter of the resolution. The
Main Submitter will read the operative clauses out loud and then will give a short speech trying to
convince the house (everyone) why they should vote FOR their resolution. Basically, the main submitter
is giving a campaign speech asking everyone to vote for his/her idea.

After the speech, the Chair asks the main submitter if they are willing to take questions from the
audience. These are called POIs. POI = Points of Information.

Any time the Chair asks if you want to take any POIs, your response should always be “ANY AND ALL
PERTAINING TO THIS SPEECH.” this means, “yes, I’m willing to answer any and all questions about my
speech.”

If all questions have been asked, but you still have a question, you may raise your placard and say
“Motion to Extend POI”  this means, “Chair, I would like to ask an additional question.”

After all questions have been asked and answered, the Chair will ask the speaker how they would like to
yield (what they want to do with their remaining time), at which point the speaker must say “BACK TO
THE CHAIR.”

HOW TO GIVE A SPEECH IF YOU’RE NOT THE MAIN SUBMITTER:

Whether you agree or disagree with the resolution, everyone must speak at the front. When you come
to the front, you will say 

“THIS DELEGATE BELIEVES THIS RESOLUTION IS GOOD / BAD or PASS/FAIL”

If it is “GOOD” then it means you support it and want it to pass. Usually we say it is good because it is
“THOROUGH” OR “FAIR” OR “COMPREHENSIVE”.

“THIS DELEGATE BELIEVES THIS RESOLUTION IS GOOD AND SHOULD PASS.”

If you think it is “BAD” then it means you don’t like it and you don’t want it passed. Therefore, you must
convince others that it is “BAD” also.

“THIS DELEGATE BELIEVES THIS RESOLUTION IS BAD AND SHOULD NOT PASS.”

You must give a reason for it, so point to a specific operative clause or clauses and give the reason why
you don’t like them. Usually it is because they are “UNREALISTIC” “UNFAIR” “OR NOT SPECIFIC
ENOUGH.”

Again, after giving a short speech, you must yield your time back to the Chair.

MEANWHILE DURING THE DEBATE:

If at any point, you look at someone else’s resolution and you decide that you feel 90% satisfied with it,
but there are a few things you’d like to change to make it perfect and to get your vote, you can submit
AMENDMENTS. There are three kinds:

1) Strike: Delete something (like an operative clause)

2) Modify: Change something (maybe change the language in an operative clause)

3) Add: Add something (add a new operative clause or add language to an existing operative
clause)

To do this, you just raise your placard and someone will give you a piece of paper. On the paper, write
your delegate name, and what you want to change “Strike” “Modify” or “Add” and then indicate what
Operative Clause you want the change made to. Once you’re finished, raise your placard at which point
someone will pick it up. The Chair will receive it and note it. When you get the piece of paper back
stating that your amendment is “READY”, when the floor opens up again for speakers (when Chair says
“The floor is now once again open, are there any delegates wishing to speak on this resolution as a
whole?”) That’s when you’ll raise your placard and say “THIS DELEGATE HAS SUBMITTED AN
AMENDMENT.”

For online conferences: send a private message to an LDP Admin or the Chair. Once the Chair sends
you back a message saying “READY,” you may raise your emoticon hand when the floor is open again
(when no speaker is up at the floor), and then declare “This delegate has submitted an amendment”
only when the Chair recognizes (calls) on you.

EX: Delegate of Students:

Amendment to Modify Operative 1, subclause a…

Change “some students” to “all students”

When you go to the front, you will ask the house to vote on your amendment, meaning that you are
asking them to make this change to the resolution in order to make it better.
All amendments require a debate and a vote.

If no one wants to debate the amendment, delegates can shout “MOTION TO MOVE TO PREVIOUS
QUESTION.” At which point, the Chair will move on to voting on the amendment. If the amendment
passes, then the change is made. If it doesn’t pass, nothing in the resolution changes.

VOTING

When all debating has been exhausted, someone can shout “MOTION TO MOVE TO VOTING
PROCEDURE” at which point we will all vote on the resolution. The goal is for it to pass! =)