Article 2

One university, high school/country delegation shall represent each OAS member state.

Article 3

Each university, high school/country delegation shall consist of ten delegates. Along with one member who will serve as the Public Relations Officer, one or more Faculty Advisors, as well as any officers elected the previous year may accompany the delegation.

Each university, high-school/country delegation shall consist of five (5) delegates and a maximum of five (5) alternates (no more than ten members per delegation). Along with one member who will serve as the Public Relations Officer, one or more Faculty Advisors, as well as any officers elected the previous years may accompany the delegation.

Article 4

Each university, high-school/country delegation shall have a Head Delegate, who shall be responsible for the general conduct of his/her delegation, so that his/her country may be represented at the Model in a coherent and consistent manner. The Head Delegate shall have the authority to assign duties to any member of the delegation. The Head Delegate will represent the delegation on the General Committee.

Article 5

Each university, high school/country delegation is also entitled to have a Public Information Officer, who shall have free access to all committee sessions, though he/she shall have neither the right to speak nor vote. His/her duties will be to contact the local media to disseminate the Model OAS General Assembly and the participation of his/her school in this event. The Public Information Officer will also be in charge of seeking funding form potential donors in order to finance the participation of his/her delegation.

Observers

Article 6

Universities and high-schools may be allowed to attend the Model as Observers, without vote, voice, or eligibility for election. These observers shall be bound by the Rules of Procedure for the Model.

Article 7

Each observer university or high school should, however, be prepared to represent any member state if it should become necessary. In such a case, it shall assume the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the corresponding country delegation.

Credentials

Article 8

The Head Delegate of each country shall report to the Registration Desk upon the designated arrival time in order to receive his/her delegation’s credentials and other registration material.

Precedence

Article 9

Lot shall establish the Order of Precedence of delegations for the Model session at the Inaugural Plenary Session of the Permanent Council.

These rules take precedence over the procedural portion of the Charter.

Article 10

The Order of Precedence shall be used for:

Article 11

A special Plenary Session shall be scheduled prior to the Closing Plenary Session for the express purpose of electing the President, Secretary General, and Assistant Secretary General for the subsequent session of the Model OAS General Assembly. These officers shall serve for the duration of the Model session for which they have been elected.

Article 12

The Head Delegates shall be Vice Presidents ex-officio of the Model and shall replace the President in the event of his/her absence or disability, in accordance with the order of precedence.

Powers of the President

Article 13

The President shall:

i.Convoke the Plenary Sessions;

 

1. Decide on the order of business thereof;

 

iii.Open and close the Plenary Session;

 

iv.Direct the discussions;

 

v.Recognize the speakers in the order in which they request the floor; Submit points under discussion to a vote and announce the results thereof;

 

vi.Decide on points of order;

 

vii.Ensure parliamentary order; and

 

viii.In general, comply with, and enforce, the provisions of these rules of procedure.

The Secretary General of the Model participates with voice but without vote in the deliberations of the Model OAS General Assembly.

Article 15

The Secretary General of the Model shall work in close cooperation with the Coordinator and the Model OAS General Secretariat Staff and President in order to ensure that proceedings run smoothly and efficiently. In addition, the Secretary General shall preside at the Closing Ceremony.

IV. Assistant Secretary General

Article 16

The Assistant Secretary General of the Model shall act as a liaison and report to the Secretary General in matters relating to the activities and services provided by the MOAS General Secretariat and to the President as necessary. In addition, the Assistant Secretary General shall work closely with the Chief Communications Officer in order to ensure the appropriate dissemination of pertinent documents, press releases and necessary information to the delegates and the Coordinator of the Model OAS General Assembly.

V. Committees

Article 17

The Model OAS General Assembly has the following standing committees:

i.General Committee (formed by Head Delegates, see Article 18);

ii.First Committee (Juridical and Political Matters);

iii.Second Committee A (Economic and Social Matters);

iv.Second Committee B (Education Scientific and Cultural Matters); and

v.Third Committee (Administrative and Budgetary Matters).

Article 18

Each university, high school /country delegation is entitled to have two delegates in each committee to work at the same level of responsibility on different agenda topics. Once a delegate has left his/her seat during debate, he/she may not return until the draft resolution has been voted upon.

In the Model OAS General Assembly for high schools, each high school/country delegation is entitled to have a delegate and an alternate in each committee. The delegate may allow the alternate to debate in his/her absence or when the alternate is particularly qualified to speak on the issue under consideration. Only one delegate from a country can debate a point at a time. If the delegate wishes to let an alternate speak, he/she must temporarily step down. However, the delegate and alternate may not switch places while a draft resolution is on the floor. Once a delegate has left his/her seat during debate, he/she may not return until the draft resolution has been voted upon.

Article 19

The General Committee shall be comprised of the Head Delegates. The President of the Model shall be the Chairperson of the General Committee, with voice but without vote. The Vice-Chairperson of the General Committee shall be determined by the Order of Precedence. The Vice-Chairperson shall replace the Chairperson according to Article 11.

Article 20

The General Committee shall see that the work of the Model and its committees proceeds correctly. It shall also decide upon matters, which may be referred to it by other committees. The Chair, Vice-Chair or any delegate may move to refer a proposal to the General Committee. The motion requires a 2/3 majority for approval.

Article 21

The First, Second A, Second B, and Third committees shall be composed of representatives of the member states participating in the Model. Each of the committees shall have a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Rapporteur, and a Vice Rapporteur.

Article 22

The Committee Chairperson shall have, as appropriate, the same power as those indicated for the President of the Model in Article 12.

Article 23

The Elected Vice Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in the Chair’s absence. The Vice Chairperson will not serve as a representative/country delegate, except in the event of a temporary absence of an elected Vice Chairperson; then the vacancy shall be assumed by the principal representative in accordance with the Order of Precedence as indicated in Article 8.

Article 24

The Rapporteur shall keep accurate records of all committee business.

Article 25

The committees shall consider the agenda topics approved during the inaugural plenary session of the preparatory committee (Permanent Council) of the General Assembly.

VI. Sessions and Meetings

Article 26

The Model OAS General Assembly and Preparatory Committee shall hold sessions open to properly accredited delegates, alternates, observers and staff.

Article 27

The Model OAS sessions will be divided into two separate parts each with appropriate agenda. The two separate parts will be the Preparatory Committee of the General Assembly, and the General Assembly.

Article 28

The Preparatory Committee of the Model OAS General Assembly acts as the Model OAS Permanent Council, simulating all the activities and sessions of the Permanent Council, and will hold the following sessions:

i. An Inaugural Plenary Session;

ii. A Plenary Session for the General Statements by the Head Delegates;

iii. Committee Sessions; and

iv. A Committee Session for the election of Committee Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons for the next session of the Model OAS General Assembly (except in General Committee).

Article 29

The Model OAS General Assembly will simulate the activities and sessions of the OAS General Assembly, and will hold the following sessions:

i. An Inaugural Plenary Session;

ii. A Plenary Session for Dialogue of Heads of Delegations;

iii. Committee session;

iv. A Plenary Session for the election of the President, Secretary General, and Assistant Secretary General for the next session of the Model OAS General Assembly;

v. A Closing Plenary Session; and

vi. A Closing Ceremony

VII. Agenda

Model OAS General Assembly Preparatory Committee Agenda

Article 30

The Agenda of the Inaugural Plenary Session of the Model OAS General Assembly Preparatory Committee shall include the following (in order):

i. Opening statements by the President of the Model OAS General Assembly;

ii. Establishment of the Order of Precedence of delegations by lot;

iii. Reaching agreement on the Plenary Session's Modus Operandi;

iv. Additions to, or deletions from, the Draft Agenda; and

v. Adoption of the agenda.

Article 31

Approval of motions to adopt the agenda or to change it in any way requires 2/3-majority vote of the member states.

Article 32

Once the agenda has been adopted at the Inaugural Plenary Session, no new agenda topics may be added.

Article 33

The Second Plenary Session of the Preparatory Committee shall be for the express purpose of hearing general statements by the Head Delegates of those delegations that have previously requested this privilege.

Article 34

The first committee session of the Preparatory Committees shall have as its order of business the following topics:

i. Opening statement by the Committee Chairpersons;

ii. Introduction of the Committee Officers and staff (Vice Chairperson, Rapporteur, Vice Rapporteur, Technical Secretary, and OAS Consultant(s);

iii. Brief comments by OAS Consultants on matters pertaining to the committee’s agenda topics and functioning;

iv. Discussion of possible changes in the order of topics and adoption of final order of agenda topics;

v. Agreement on the committee’s particular Modus Operandi.

Article 35

Prior to the first committee sessions there will be two committee sessions for the sole purpose of submission and redistribution of draft resolutions.

Article 36

The Chairperson of the Third Committee (Administrative and Budget matters) shall set a deadline for receiving from all other committees resolutions having budgetary implications. The resolutions are to be presented to the Rapporteur of the Third Committee following their adoption in the committees of origin.

Article 37

The agenda of the last session of each preparatory committee shall include:

i. Election of the Committee Vice-Chairperson for the next session of the Model General Assembly (except in the case of the General Committee);

ii. Election of a Committee Chairperson for the next session of the Model OAS General Assembly (except in the case of the General Committee);

iii. Selection of topic of discussion during dialogue of Heads of Delegations during General Assembly (General Committee only); and

iv. Closing remarks by the Vice-Chairpersons.

 

Model OAS General Assembly Agenda

Article 38

Article 39

The First Plenary Session shall be for the purpose of Dialogue between Heads of Delegations related to a topic selected during the closing session of the Preparatory Committee.

Article 40

The Second Plenary Session shall be for the purpose of the election of the President, Secretary General, and Assistant Secretary General of the next Model OAS General Assembly.

Article 41

There shall be a closing plenary session of the General Assembly for the express purpose of adopting or rejecting all resolutions approved by committees during the preparatory sessions of the General Assembly, declarations and courtesy resolutions may be introduced directly at this plenary session.

VIII. Debates and Procedure

Official Languages

Article 42

English shall be the official language of the High School Model OAS General Assembly.

English, Spanish, Portuguese and French shall be the official languages of the University Model OAS General Assembly. Efforts for simultaneous interpretation and translation services will be made by university students willing to work as interpreters and translators in the four OAS official languages.

Quorum

Article 43

Proposals (Draft Resolutions)

Article 44

In each committee no more than two (2) proposals per delegation shall be presented (excluding courtesy resolutions and declarations). Proposals shall be presented in writing to the Rapporteur of the Committee. In order for a proposal to be accepted for consideration, it must conform to the following specifications:

i. The proposal must deal specifically with a topic on the agenda of the committee in question;

ii. The proposal must conform to the stylistic standards of the Model OAS General Assembly (The coordinator office will provide the standard proposal format. Proposals that do not comply with the proposed format will be automatically rejected);

iii. The proposal must bear the signature of the Faculty Advisor of the delegation making the proposal, approving the proposal for form and substance; and

iv. The proposal must bear the signatures of five (5) delegates representing five (5) delegations, other than the proponent’s, indicating commitment to support the proposal as originally presented.

No delegation may present more than two proposals. This provision does not apply, however, to proposals, which may originate in the course of debate of a given topic or within working groups.

At the discretion of the officials reviewing draft resolutions, two or more resolutions may be considered similar in content and recommended, to be combined into a single draft resolution prepared by the delegations that had submitted the original draft resolution. The resulting draft resolution will be cosponsored by several delegations in this case the total number of co-sponsors and co-signatories must be greater than or equal to six.

Article 46

Amendments

Article 47

At any time during the consideration of the proposal a motion may be made to amend it by a delegate on the speakers’ list. A motion shall be considered to be an amendment to a proposal only when it constitutes an addition to, or deletion from the proposal, or changes part of the proposal. A motion that would totally change the original intent of the proposal or that is not directly related to it may not be approved for form and substance; such a decision is at the discretion of the presiding Chairperson.

Article 48

There are no friendly amendments in debate.

Withdrawal of Proposals and Amendments

Article 49

Its proponent or any of its co-sponsors may withdraw a motion, proposal, or amendment, before it has been put to a vote. Any delegation may reintroduce a motion, proposal, or amendment that has been withdrawn.

Reconsideration of Decisions

Article 50

For the reconsideration of decisions taken at the plenary sessions or by a committee, approval of the corresponding motion by a vote of 2/3 of the member states shall be required.

Points of Order

Article 51

Debate

Article 52

Debate on each proposal considered shall consist of the following procedures:

i. Presentation of Proposal to be considered;

ii. Questions;

iii. Speaker’s list;

iv. Presentation, debate and vote on draft amendments (if necessary);

v. Vote on proposal (as amended or originally presented); and

vi. Announcement of vote result, with adoption or rejection of proposal.

Presentation of Proposal

Article 53

A proposal is formally presented to the committee first through the reading of the proposal title, and operative clauses by the committee rapporteur, and then by the presentation speech of the proposal’s sponsor. The presentation speech should deal directly with the proposal being considered. The chair will automatically recognize the sponsor of the proposal to speak after the reading of the title and operative clauses.

Questions concerning Proposal

Article 54

Immediately following the speech by the sponsor, the chair will recognize delegates to ask questions concerning the proposal. All questions must pertain specifically to the proposal, and all questions must be in the form of a question. All questions and answers must be conducted through the presiding Chairperson, or they will be ruled out of order.

Speaker’s List

Article 55

Motion to extend speaker’s list

Article 56

Once the speaker’s list has been exhausted, the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, or any delegate may motion to extend the speaker’s list. This motion will be subject to vote by the committee. Delegates who spoke on prior speakers lists may be recognized to speak on subsequent speakers lists, however priority will be given to those delegations who were not recognized on prior speakers lists. Sponsors of proposals may also participate on any subsequent speaker’s lists.

Modus Operandi

Article 57

All aspects of debate will be conducted according to the adopted modus operandi of each committee.

Suspension of Debate

Article 58

The President, Chairperson, or any delegate may propose suspension of debate. This motion tables the proposal under consideration without a vote or conclusion of the speaker’s list. The proposal may be reconsidered under the procedures of Article 47. Only two (2) delegations may speak in favor of, and two (2) against, such a motion, which shall immediately be put to a simple majority vote.

Closing of Debate

Article 59

Suspension or Adjournment of the Session or Meeting

Article 60

During the discussion of any topic, the President, Chairperson, or any delegate may propose that the session or meeting be suspended or adjourned. A motion to suspend session recesses the current meeting for an amount of time specified by the proponent of the motion. A motion to adjourn ends the committee session until the next scheduled meeting. Such a motion shall be put to a simple majority vote immediately and without discussion.

Order of Procedural Motions

Article 61

Except as provided in Article 44, the following motions shall have precedence, in the order set forth below, over all other proposals or motions:

Highest Ranking:

Common Provisions to All Committee and Plenary Sessions

Article 62

The provision regarding debate and procedure contained in Chapter VIII shall govern the plenary sessions and the meetings of the committees.

IX. Voting

Right to Vote

Article 63

Majority Required

Article 64

In both the Plenary Session and in the Committee Meetings, decisions shall be taken by the vote of a majority of the member states, except in those cases in which the Rules of Procedure may provide otherwise.

Voting Procedure

Article 65

Votes shall be taken by a show of placards, but any delegation may move for a role-call vote, which shall be automatically granted, using the Order of Precedence of the delegations, established at the Inaugural Plenary Session. Votes shall be taken by secret ballot only in the cases and in the manner provided for us in the Rules and Procedure. No representative may interrupt the voting, except for a Point of Order relating to the manner in which the voting is conducted. The voting shall be considered terminated when the President or Chairperson has announced the results.

Article 66

Voting on Proposals

Article 67

After discussion is closed, the proposal being considered, along with any approved amendments, shall be put to a vote immediately. Proposals shall be voted upon in the order in which they are presented. A simple majority is required to approve proposals.

Voting on Amendments

Article 68

A draft amendment must be submitted in writing to the Rapporteur for discussion and shall be considered, through debate and vote, before a vote on the proposal that it is intended to modify. A simple majority is required to approve draft amendments.

Article 69

Article 70

When the adoption of one amendment necessarily implies the exclusion of another, the latter shall not be put to consideration or a vote. If one or more of the draft amendments is adopted, the complete proposal as amended shall be put to a vote.

Article 71

All delegations, regardless of their status as co-sponsors or co-signatories may vote in favor of draft amendments. The adoption of an amendment to a proposal releases cosignatories from their obligation to vote in favor of the proposal.

Voting by Parts

Article 72

Explanation of a Vote

Article 73

After the voting has ended, and except when it has been by secret ballot, any delegate may request the floor to give a brief explanation of vote. The President or Chairperson shall limit the time of the explanation.

X. Elections

Article 74

Elections shall be by secret ballot, except when officers of the Model OAS General Assembly or of its committees are elected by acclamation.

Article 75

In cases when only one person is to be elected, if no candidate obtains the vote of a majority of the member states on the first ballot, a second and, if necessary, a third ballot shall be taken. (The second ballot is limited to the two candidates receiving the largest number of votes on the first ballot.)

Article 76

Only registered participants (observers excluded) may be candidates at the Model OAS General Assembly for elective office (President, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Committee Chairperson and Vice Chairperson). A candidate must obtain the support of five delegations in addition to his/her own delegation for the nomination to be valid. A delegation may support only one candidate for each office; however, signing a nominating petition for a candidate does not bind a delegation to vote for the candidate in question.

Article 77

Only Head Delegates may sign nominating petitions for President, Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General, and they may not sign more than one for each office. For the Model OAS General Assembly for Universities, all other committee delegates may sign nominating petitions for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the committee to which they have been assigned. They may not sign more than one nominating petition for each position.

For the Model OAS General Assembly for High Schools, only delegates (not alternates) may sign nominating petitions for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the committee to which they have been assigned. They may not sign more than one nominating petition for each position.

Article 78

Nominated candidates shall be allowed to make a three (3) minute presentation of their views.

Article 79

Elected officers may not run for the same office at the following session of the Model OAS General Assembly.

Article 80

Candidates for all offices must formally undertake to be present at the following session of the Model OAS General Assembly.

XI. Documents of the Model OAS General Assembly

Article 81

Article 82

Each participating institution shall ensure prompt payment of the fee established by the OAS General Secretariat for admission to the MOAS session.

Article 83

Each participating institution shall appoint a member of its faculty to serve as advisor to the prospective student delegation, preferably an individual versed in inter-American affairs and the functioning of international organizations, particularly the OAS. The advisor shall be the focal point of contact for the institution, the student delegation, and the OAS General Secretariat.

Article 84

The Faculty Advisors shall accompany their respective student delegations to the Model OAS General Assembly sessions.

Article 85

Faculty Advisors shall select student delegations sufficiently in advance to permit proper preparation for the Model, choosing as participants individuals enrolled in subject areas with a relationship to inter-American affairs, for whom participation in the MOAS can prove useful for their academic development.

Article 86

Faculty Advisors should take an active role in all phases of preparation for the Model, scheduling and attending discussion sessions, assigning research topics to individual students, monitoring the progress of their efforts, and stimulating them to work as a team. The quality of the proposals presented by the delegations clearly reflects the quality of work of the Faculty Advisor. For future school participation the Faculty input will determine the continuity of participation of that school.

Article 87

Faculty Advisors should seek to ensure that student delegates receive academic credit for participation in sessions of the Model OAS General Assembly.

Article 88

Faculty Advisors should ensure that their student delegations attend all officially scheduled conferences, meetings, and ceremonies for the entire duration of the Model. Should conditions make it necessary to leave any event early, the Coordinator of the Model OAS General Assembly must be notified immediately.

Article 89

Once the Model session has begun, Faculty Advisors should assume the role of observers, confining advise to the delegations to off-floor meetings. Remarks regarding problems that may arise should be addressed, in private, to the MOAS Coordinator, the appropriate committee officer, or OAS staff consultant(s).

Article 90

Upon returning to their respective institutions, Faculty Advisors should meet with the student delegations to evaluate the meeting in terms of the participation. The Office of the Coordinator will welcome suggestions and observations.

Article 91

If students are graded on their performance at the Model Sessions, judgment should not be based on the number of proposals accepted or the number of times the delegate speaks in committee sessions, but on preparation.

Article 92

Faculty Advisors shall be responsible for maintaining a permanent OAS reference library composed of background materials provided by the OAS. These documents should be made available to students only on a loan basis, as the General Secretariat is not in a position to repeat the same mailing year after year.

Article 93

Faculty Advisors accompanying observer delegations shall serve as members of the Awards Committee.

Article 94

Faculty Advisors should make sure that student’ reservations for accommodations are made as far in advance as possible.

XIII. Responsibilities of the OAS General Secretariat and the Office of the Coordinator

Article 95

The OAS General Secretariat shall appoint a staff member to serve as Coordinator for the Model General Assembly. The Coordinator shall be in charge of the promotion, planning, coordination, and execution of each session of the Model and the subsequent follow-up thereon. Such other staff as may be named for this purpose shall assist.

Article 96

The Office of the Coordinator of the Model OAS General Assembly shall assign an OAS member state to each participating institution.

Article 97

The Office of the Coordinator of the Model OAS General Assembly shall assign to other participating institutions the function of providing General Secretariat staff support to the MOAS.

Article 98

The General Secretariat shall seek to provide the services of Consultants, Technical Secretaries, Rapporteur, Senior Assistant, and other support personnel during the Model sessions.

Article 99

The Office of the Coordinator may assign to an additional participating institution—preferably one with an active mass-media program—responsibility for the operations of the Communications Center, which shall keep all participants informed of the progress to the MOAS session. In addition, the Chief Communications Officer, who is subject to appointment by the Coordinator, will head the Communication Center.

Article 100

Prior to each session of the Model Assembly, the office of the Coordinator shall supply each participating school with the official documents and informative material relating to the meeting. Observers shall be provided with such documents and material in accordance with their status.

Article 101

The office of the Coordinator shall select from among the Faculty Advisors, in attendance at a given session, an individual to serve as Technical Secretary of each of the five working committees of the MOAS. The Technical Secretaries shall act as liaisons between the respective committees and the office of the Coordinator and assist in the resolution of such problems, as they may arise in the course of committee business.

Article 102

The Office of the Coordinator shall assign senior staff specialists to each committee to serve as consultants, who shall be available to assist MOAS participants and officers when so requested. The consultants shall be present at all sessions.

Article 103

The Office of the Coordinator shall ensure the services of consultants on style, whose duty shall be to edit resolutions approved by committees in order to enhance their quality of expression before they are printed in the Final Document.

Article 104

The OAS General Secretariat shall award certificates of participation to delegates and observers from universities and high schools participating in the Model OAS General Assembly.

Article 105

Following each MOAS session, the Office of the Coordinator shall undertake an evaluation of the performance of each student delegation and the cooperation lent by the corresponding participating institution, with a view to determine which institutions shall be invited to take part in the following session.

Article 106

All activities, announcements, or communiqués, which are not officially scheduled as part of the Model program, must be approved in advance by the Coordinator of the Model OAS General Assembly.

Article 107