Formal+Debate+-+Speeches,+Points+of+Information,+and+Amendments


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The following is adapted from the AST TAIMUN Training Handbook and //Uniting the Nations Through Model United Nations// by D. Williams and I. Stein ** //Speeches and Debating Techniques, Tactics and Tips // It is worth noting that not all approved resolutions will necessarily be debated. There will probably be several draft resolutions on the same issue and the Student Officers will prioritize them usually according to the number of supporters or the quality of the content. You should not be discouraged if the draft you have been working on is not debated. Your main objective should be to participate fully in the discussion on the issues before the Councilor Committee. If the draft resolution you have been working on is not discussed, there will certainly be another one on the same issue. The preparation you have done is still valid and you have the right to speak.
 * FORMAL DEBATE **

Once the approved resolution is put before the Council or Committee it must be regarded as the property of the forum concerned. It is not the property of the original submitters. It is still merely a discussion document and, during debate, it may be amended according to the will of the majority of delegates. Although a resolution may pass with a simple majority, the goal should be to achieve consensus so that the version finally adopted represents the opinion or will of the vast majority of delegates in each particular forum.

To be successful in formal debate you will need to use a different strategy and different tactics from the negotiating techniques you used in the lobby. The techniques you used there in exchanging ideas and in forming interest groups will have to be adapted to the more formal setting. For example, during lobbying, clauses or phrases are added to or removed from draft resolutions in an informal way simply by persuasion and argument on a one-to-one basis; in formal debate, however, draft resolutions have to be amended in a formal way to achieve consensus and this requires a knowledge of parliamentary procedure.
 * //Techniques and Tactics //**

You should have practiced debating many times before coming to an MUN conference (see Chapter 7: Practicing Debate). You should know the rules so well that you are aware of exactly how and when to obtain the floor, how and when to introduce proposed amendments, how and when to ask questions (points of information), how, when, and to whom, to yield the floor and how to rise to procedural points. If you know the rules of procedure and thoroughly understand the issues, you will be able to concentrate on developing a speaking strategy. You must be so familiar with the background to the issue that you understand the intention of the resolution and can use the key terminology correctly.

In general terms, speaking in formal debate falls into two main areas: either you have the floor to speak on the main motion or on a proposed amendment, or you are rising to a point of information and asking a question of the speaker who has the floor. You should be able to ask questions through rising to points of information in such a way as to raise substantive points and not merely to seek information as such.

Obtaining the floor in a situation where there is limited time and competition for the right to speak is not easy and it is important that you follow the course of the debate very closely so that you are ready to raise your placard in order to be recognized by the Chair the moment the floor is open.

When you have the floor, your job is to persuade the assembly to accept or reject a resolution or parts of' a resolution. The basis for this is factual knowledge of the issue and the use of logical argument coupled with oratorical skill. It is this combination of knowledge and the ability to communicate, which will make you stand out in a genuine and worthy manner.

Having obtained the floor, you should make the best use of the time available. You should understand that the audience includes other interest groups as well as neutral, or even disinterested, parties. Persuading such groups so that they will ultimately vote the way you want them to requires powers of rhetoric and oratory, as well as skillful use of the rules of procedure.

 Formal debate requires a formal presentation. Much of what was said about Opening Speeches applies equally to speeches made in the course of debate.
 * //Speech-making //**

Above all, you should be aware that all speeches are directed through the presiding Student Officer and that you should refer to yourself and other delegates in the third person. You need to know the appropriate introductory and concluding phrases. You must be polite and courteous at all times and avoid colloquialisms and slang.

In preparing your speech, you need to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses not only of your own but also of your opponents' case. You should list these and prepare arguments and counter-arguments, so that you will be in a position to defend your point of view against possible attack.


 * MAKING A SPEECH IN FORMAL DEBATE **

Decide on your stance and your oratorical and rhetorical technique. Have your speech prepared and ready.
 * Before you approach the podium **

Address the Chair first. Refer to yourself and other delegates in the third person, e.g. //"Mr. Chairman, fellow delegates, the delegation// of //Argentina supports this// //resolution because...". // Be courteous. Structure your argument. Deliver your speech in a clear, loud voice. Come to a clear conclusion, e.g. //"Therefore, the delegation of Argentina urges the committee to vote in favor// //of this resolution and I //am //now open to points of information. "//
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">At the Podium **

Your argument must be structured. As with the Opening Speech, you need to remember that a speech is heard only once. You need to leave a strong impression, since other speeches may follow yours, which may perhaps obscure or weaken the effect of your arguments.

You need to give some thought to your oratorical, rhetorical and polemical technique. Apart from enlivening your speech by building in repetitions, catch phrases, statistics, quotations, anecdotes and examples, you should also decide on what stance you are taking (firm, dogmatic, ironic, conciliatory etc.) and the image you want to project (idealistic, revolutionary, moderate etc.) and select the appropriate levels of language.

When delivering your speech, you should speak in a clear, loud voice, especially when no microphones are available. There is nothing more frustrating to an audience than not being able to hear a speech and the speaker does not want to be constantly interrupted by points of personal privilege.

Every speech should have a clear beginning, for example: "Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking in support of this resolution because...".

There must be a clear development of argument and an obvious end, for example: "Therefore, I urge the committee to vote in favor of this resolution and I am now open to points of information. "

The audience will remember the important points in a short well-structured speech much more easily than if they have to sift them out of a long, confused, rambling one. You should select the most important points and arrange them in an ascending order of importance in order to achieve a climax with the final point. The points should be numbered as this is not only helpful to you in delivering the speech but also to the audience in remembering it.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Although a point of information must be phrased in the form of a question, it provides an opportunity for making a substantive point. For example: "Is the delegate aware that, in 1996, the International Court of Justice ruled that Member States have an obligation to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control?"
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Points //****<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">of //Information// **

A point of information may be supportive of the speaker, or may question the validity of the speaker's points. Nevertheless, a speaker who has the floor should never be afraid to yield to points of information. If you have the floor, it is you, and not the questioner, who is in control. You may answer the question in any way you wish and you may simply respond by reiterating what you have already said in your speech. For example, you may like to respond in the following way: "Mr. President, I thank the honored delegate for his question but would like to refer him to the point made earlier in my speech, when I pointed out that..."

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The purpose of making amendments is to improve the resolution in such a way that you will feel able to vote in favor of the resolution once it has been so amended. Amendments, therefore, should always be constructive in intent, which is not to say that they will be non­controversial. This is why amendments are debated separately from the main motion, which is the draft resolution.
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Amendments //**

If you have not been successful in the lobbying and merging process, in getting all your proposals included in the draft resolution under discussion, you should try to obtain the floor in the formal debate time in order to move an amendment.

Amendments should only be made to one clause at a time and should only seek to make a single change. If you try to change too many things in one amendment, it is possible that other delegates might be in favor of some parts and against others. The usual ways to change a clause are 'to strike", "to insert" or "to strike and insert" a word or phrase.

Take, for example, the resolution proposed in the Disarmament Commission referred to in Chapter 1 of the DVD which can be found in full in Chapter 10. Then look at the Sample Amendment Sheet in the box below.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">AMENDMENT SHEET <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> COMMISSION: //Disarmament// QUESTION OF: Measures to encourage “rogue’ states to sign the NPT AMENDMENT SUBMITTED BY: Angola PROPOSED AMENDMEN: (State clearly the line(s) and the clause(s) to be amended and the nature of the amendment. )

//<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">To strike in Operative Clause 9 the words: “fund-raising committee monitored” and insert the words: “fund” so that the clause would read: “strongly encourages the establishment of a fund by the World Bank etc..” //<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">

You can see that the delegation of Angola thinks that the establishment of a fund is a good idea but that a fund-raising committee ls unnecessary. Most conferences require that delegates who wish to propose an amendment send a written copy to the Chair beforehand. Remember that you must have the floor before you can propose any amendment.

When proposing an amendment, it is important that you justify in your speech before you actually move the amendment why you are proposing to amend the resolution. This is a good idea from a tactical point of view since, even if the Chair subsequently rules the proposed amendment "out of order" or only sets a very limited debate time, you will at least have stated your opinion.

Do not simply take the floor and say: "I wish to propose the following amendment." The other delegates will be more inclined to listen to and vote for a proposal which has been adequately presented.

At the end of your speech justifying why you wish to propose an amendment, you should say something like: "Therefore, the delegation of Angola moves the following amendment: To strike the words: "in the foreseeable future" and insert: "by the year 2010".

Although it is something of a formality, the Chair should ask the house if there is support for the amendment by asking if there is a "second for the amendment", so you should have primed one of you fellow delegates to shout out: "Second!" To "second" an amendment or a proposal means that you are giving it your support.

The Chair then sets a debate time for discussion of the amendment and the submitter of the amendment retains the floor to speak in favor of the amendment. You should not worry if you have presented all your arguments in your speech leading up to moving the amendment. Repeat your main points. Reiteration of the arguments is helpful to the audience and they are more likely to be persuaded to vote in favor.