| United Nations | A/CONF.166/2 |
World Summit for Social Development
Distr. GENERAL
1 February 1995
ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH
Copenhagen, Denmark 6-12 March 1995
Item 3 of the provisional agenda*
ADOPTION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Provisional rules of procedure
Note by the Secretariat
The provisional rules of procedure for the World Summit for Social
Development, as approved by the Preparatory Committee for the Summit at its
second session and by the General Assembly in its decision 49/446 of
23 December 1994, are submitted to the Summit for adoption.
------------------------
* A/CONF.166/1.
Annex
PROVISIONAL RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE WORLD SUMMIT
FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
CONTENTS
Page
I. Representation and credentials .................................. 3
II. Officers ........................................................ 4
III. General Committee ............................................... 5
IV. Secretariat of the Summit ....................................... 6
V. Opening of the Summit ........................................... 6
VI. Conduct of business ............................................. 7
VII. Decision-making ................................................. 10
VIII. Subsidiary bodies ............................................... 14
IX. Languages and records ........................................... 15
X. Public and private meetings ..................................... 16
XI. Other participants and observers ................................ 16
XII. Amendment and suspension of the rules of procedure .............. 18
I. REPRESENTATION AND CREDENTIALS
Composition of delegations
Rule 1
The delegation of each State participating in the Summit and of the
European Community shall consist of a head of delegation and such other
representatives, alternate representatives and advisers as may be required.
Rule 2
Alternates and advisers
The head of delegation may designate an alternate representative or an
adviser to act as a representative.
Submission of credentials
Rule 3
The credentials of representatives and the names of alternate
representatives and advisers shall be submitted to the secretariat of the
Summit, if possible not less than one week before the opening of the Summit.
The credentials shall be issued either by the Head of the State or Government
or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs or, in the case of the European
Community, by the President of the European Commission.
Credentials Committee
Rule 4
A Credentials Committee of nine members shall be appointed at the
beginning of the Summit. Its composition shall be based on that of the
Credentials Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations at its
forty-ninth session. It shall examine the credentials of representatives and
report to the Summit without delay.
Provisional participation
Rule 5
Pending a decision of the Summit upon their credentials, representatives
shall be entitled to participate provisionally in the Summit.
II. OFFICERS
Elections
Rule 6
The Summit shall elect from among the representatives of participating
States the following officers: a President, 27 Vice-Presidents and an
ex officio Vice-President from the host country, a Rapporteur-General, and a
Chairman of the Main Committee established in accordance with rule 46. These
officials shall be elected on the basis of ensuring the representative
character of the General Committee composed in accordance with rule 11. The
Summit may also elect such other officers as it deems necessary for the
performance of its functions.
General powers of the President
Rule 7
1. In addition to exercising the powers conferred upon him/her elsewhere by
these rules, the President shall preside at the plenary meetings of the
Summit, declare the opening and closing of each meeting, direct the
discussions, ensure observance of these rules, accord the right to speak, put
questions to the vote and announce decisions. The President shall rule on
points of order and, subject to these rules, shall have complete control of
the proceedings and over the maintenance of order thereat. The President may
propose to the Summit the closure of the list of speakers, a limitation on the
time to be allowed to speakers and on the number of times the representative
of each participant in the Summit may speak on a question, the adjournment or
the closure of the debate and the suspension or the adjournment of a meeting.
2. The President, in the exercise of his/her functions, remains under the
authority of the Summit.
Acting President
Rule 8
1. If the President is absent from a meeting or any part thereof, he/she
shall designate on of the Vice-Presidents to take his/her place.
2. A Vice-President acting as President shall have the same powers and
duties as the President.
Replacement of the President
Rule 9
If the President is unable to perform his/her functions, a new President
shall be elected.
Voting rights of the President
Rule 10
The President, or a Vice-President acting as President, shall not vote,
but shall appoint another member of his/her delegation to vote in his/her
place.
III. GENERAL COMMITTEE
Composition
Rule 11
The President, the Vice-Presidents, the Rapporteur-General and the
Chairman of the Main Committee shall constitute the General Committee. The
President, or in his/her absence, one of the Vice-Presidents designated by
him/her, shall serve as Chairman of the General Committee. The Chairman of
the Credentials Committee may participate, without the right to vote, in the
General Committee.
Substitute members
Rule 12
If the President or a Vice-President is to be absent during a meeting of
the General Committee, he/she may designate a member of his/her delegation to
sit and vote in the Committee. In case of absence, the Chairman of the Main
Committee shall designate a Vice-Chairman of that Committee as his/her
substitute. When serving on the General Committee, a Vice-Chairman of the
Main Committee shall not have the right to vote if he/she is of the same
delegation as another member of the General Committee.
Functions
Rule 13
The General Committee shall assist the President in the general conduct
of the business of the Summit and, subject to the decisions of the Summit,
shall ensure the coordination of its work.
IV. SECRETARIAT OF THE SUMMIT
Duties of the Secretary-General
Rule 14
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, or a member of the
secretariat designated by him, shall act in that capacity in all meetings of
the Summit and its subsidiary bodies.
Duties of the secretariat
Rule 15
The secretariat of the Summit shall, in accordance with these rules:
(a) Interpret speeches made at meetings;
(b) Receive, translate, reproduce and circulate the documents of the
Summit;
(c) Make and arrange for the keeping of sound recordings of meetings;
(d) Publish and circulate the report and official records of the Summit;
(e) Arrange for the custody of the documents and records of the Summit
in the archives of the United Nations;
(f) Generally perform all other work that the Summit may require in
connection with its proceedings.
Statements by the secretariat
Rule 16
The Secretary-General of the United Nations or any member of the
secretariat designated for that purpose may, at any time, make either oral or
written statements concerning any question under consideration.
V. OPENING OF THE SUMMIT
Temporary President
Rule 17
At the opening of the first meeting of the Summit, the Secretary-General
of the United Nations or, in his absence, his representative, shall preside
until the Summit has elected its President.
Decisions concerning organization
Rule 18
The Summit shall at its first meeting:
(a) Adopt its rules of procedure;
(b) Elect its officers and constitute its subsidiary bodies;
(c) Adopt its agenda, the draft of which shall, until such adoption, be
the provisional agenda of the Summit;
(d) Decide on the organization of its work.
VI. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Quorum
Rule 19
The President may declare a meeting open and permit the debate to proceed
when representatives of at least one third of the States participating in the
Summit are present. The presence of representatives of a majority of such
States so participating shall be required for any decision to be taken.
Speeches
Rule 20
1. No one may address the Summit without having previously obtained the
permission of the President. Subject to rules 21 and 22 and 24 to 28, the
President shall call upon speakers in the order in which they signify their
desire to speak.
2. Debate shall be confined to the question before the Summit and the
President may call a speaker to order if his/her remarks are not relevant to
the subject under discussion.
3. The Summit may limit the time allowed to speakers and the number of times
each participant may speak on any question. Permission to speak on a motion
to set such limits shall be accorded to only two representatives in favour of
and two opposing such limits, after which the motion shall be immediately put
to the vote. In any event, with the consent of the Summit, the President
shall limit each intervention on procedural matters to five minutes. When the
debate is limited and a speaker exceeds the allotted time, the President shall
call him/her to order without delay.
Points of order
Rule 21
During the discussion of any matter, a representative may at any time
raise a point of order, which shall be immediately decided by the President in
accordance with these rules. A representative may appeal against the ruling
of the President. The appeal shall be immediately put to the vote, and the
President's ruling shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the
representatives present and voting. A representative may not, in raising a
point of order, speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.
Precedence
Rule 22
The Chairman or Rapporteur of the Main Committee or a representative
designated by any other subsidiary body may be accorded precedence for the
purpose of explaining the conclusions arrived at by the body.
Closing of the list of speakers
Rule 23
During the course of a debate, the President may announce the list of
speakers and, with the consent of the Summit, declare the list closed.
Right of reply
Rule 24
1. Notwithstanding rule 23, the President shall accord the right of reply to
a representative of any State participating in the Summit or of the European
Community who requests it. Any other representative may be granted the
opportunity to make a reply.
2. The statements made under this rule shall normally be made at the end of
the last meeting of the day, or at the conclusion of the consideration of the
relevant item if that is sooner.
3. The representatives of a State or of the European Community may make no
more than two statements under this rule at a given meeting on any item. The
first shall be limited to five minutes and the second to three minutes;
representatives shall in any event attempt to be as brief as possible.
Adjournment of debate
Rule 25
A representative of any State participating in the Summit may at any time
move the adjournment of the debate on the question under discussion.
Permission to speak on the motion shall be accorded to only two
representatives in favour and two opposing the adjournment, after which the
motion shall, subject to rule 28, be immediately put to the vote.
Closure of debate
Rule 26
A representative of any State participating in the Summit may at any time
move the closure of the debate on the question under discussion, whether or
not any other representative has signified his/her wish to speak. Permission
to speak on the motion shall be accorded to only two representatives opposing
the closure, after which the motion shall, subject to rule 28, be immediately
put to the vote.
Suspension or adjournment of the meeting
Rule 27
Subject to rule 38, a representative of any State participating in the
Summit may at any time move the suspension or the adjournment of the meeting.
No discussion on such motions shall be permitted and they shall, subject to
rule 28, be immediately put to the vote.
Order of motions
Rule 28
The motions indicated below shall have precedence in the following order
over all proposals or other motions before the meeting:
(a) To suspend the meeting;
(b) To adjourn the meeting;
(c) To adjourn the debate on the question under discussion;
(d) To close the debate on the question under discussion.
Submissions of proposals and substantive amendments
Rule 29
Proposals and substantive amendments shall normally be submitted in
writing to the secretariat of the Summit, which shall circulate copies to all
delegations. Unless the Summit decides otherwise, substantive proposals shall
be discussed or put to a decision no earlier than 24 hours after copies have
been circulated in all languages of the Summit to all delegations. The
President may, however, permit the discussion and consideration of amendments,
even though these amendments have not been circulated or have only been
circulated the same day.
Withdrawal of proposals and motions
Rule 30
A proposal or a motion may be withdrawn by its sponsor at any time before
a decision on it has been taken, provided that it has not been amended. A
proposal or a motion thus withdrawn may be reintroduced by any representative.
Decisions on competence
Rule 31
Subject to rule 28, any motion calling for a decision on the competence
of the Summit to adopt a proposal submitted to it shall be put to the vote
before a vote is taken on the proposal in question.
Reconsideration of proposals
Rule 32
When a proposal has been adopted or rejected, it may not be reconsidered
unless the Summit, by a two-thirds majority of the representatives present and
voting, so decides. Permission to speak on a motion to reconsider shall be
accorded to only two speakers opposing reconsideration, after which the motion
shall be immediately put to the vote.
VII. DECISION-MAKING
General agreement
Rule 33
The Summit shall make its best endeavours to ensure that the work of the
Summit is accomplished by general agreement.
Voting rights
Rule 34
Each State participating in the Summit shall have one vote.
Majority required
Rule 35
1. Subject to rule 33, decisions of the Summit on all matters of substance
shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the representatives present and
voting.
2. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, decisions of the Summit on
all matters of procedure shall be taken by a majority of the representatives
present and voting.
3. If the question arises whether a matter is one of procedure or of
substance, the President of the Summit shall rule on the question. An appeal
against this ruling shall be put to the vote immediately, and the President's
ruling shall stand unless overruled by a majority of the representatives
present and voting.
4. If a vote is equally divided, the proposal or motion shall be regarded as
rejected.
Meaning of the phrase "representatives present and voting"
Rule 36
For the purpose of these rules, the phrase "representatives present and
voting" means representatives casting an affirmative or negative vote.
Representatives who abstain from voting shall be regarded as not voting.
Method of voting
Rule 37
1. Except as provided in rule 44, the Summit shall normally vote by show of
hands, except that a representative may request a roll-call, which shall then
be taken in the English alphabetical order of the names of the States
participating in the Summit, beginning with the delegation whose name is drawn
by lot by the President. The name of each State shall be called in all roll-
calls and its representative shall reply "yes", "no" or "abstention".
2. When the Summit votes by mechanical means, a non-recorded vote shall
replace a vote by show of hands and a recorded vote shall replace a roll-call.
A representative may request a recorded vote, which shall, unless a
representative requests otherwise, be taken without calling out the names of
the States participating in the Summit.
3. The vote of each State participating in a roll-call or a recorded vote
shall be inserted in any record of or report on the Summit.
Conduct during voting
Rule 38
After the President has announced the commencement of voting, no
representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order in
connection with the process of voting.
Explanation of vote
Rule 39
Representatives may make brief statements, consisting solely of
explanations of vote, before the voting has commenced or after the voting has
been completed. The President may limit the time to be allowed for such
explanations. The representative of a State sponsoring a proposal or motion
shall not speak in explanation of vote thereon, except if it has been amended.
Division of proposals
Rule 40
A representative may move that parts of a proposal be voted on
separately. If a representative objects, the motion for division shall be
voted upon. Permission to speak on the motion shall be accorded to only two
representatives in favour of and two opposing the division. If the motion is
carried, those parts of the proposal that are subsequently approved shall be
put to the Summit for decision as a whole. If all operative parts of the
proposal have been rejected, the proposal shall be considered to have been
rejected as a whole.
Amendments
Rule 41
A proposal is considered an amendment to another proposal if it merely
adds to, deletes from or revises part of that proposal. Unless specified
otherwise, the word "proposal" in these rules shall be considered as including
amendments.
Order of voting on amendments
Rule 42
When an amendment is moved to a proposal, the amendment shall be voted on
first. When two or more amendments are moved to a proposal, the Summit shall
vote first on the amendment furthest removed in substance from the original
proposal and then on the amendment next furthest removed therefrom and so on
until all the amendments have been put to the vote. Where, however, the
adoption of one amendment necessarily implies the rejection of another
amendment, the latter shall not be put to the vote. If one or more amendments
are adopted, the amended proposal shall then be voted upon.
Order of voting on proposals
Rule 43
1. If two or more proposals, other than amendments, relate to the same
question, they shall, unless the Summit decides otherwise, be voted on in the
order in which they were submitted. The Summit may, after each vote on a
proposal, decide whether to vote on the next proposal.
2. Revised proposals shall be voted on in the order in which the original
proposals were submitted, unless the revision substantially departs from the
original proposal. In that case, the original proposal shall be considered as
withdrawn and the revised proposal shall be treated as a new proposal.
3. A motion requiring that no decision be taken on a proposal shall be put
to the vote before a decision is taken on the proposal in question.
Elections
Rule 44
All elections shall be held by secret ballot, unless, in the absence of
any objection, the Summit decides to proceed without taking a ballot when
there is an agreed candidate or slate.
Rule 45
1. When one or more elective places are to be filled at one time under the
same conditions, those candidates, in a number not exceeding the number of
such places, obtaining in the first ballot a majority of the votes cast and
the largest number of votes, shall be elected.
2. If the number of candidates obtaining such a majority is less than the
number of places to be filled, additional ballots shall be held to fill the
remaining places, the voting being restricted to the candidates obtaining the
largest number of votes in the previous ballot, in a number not exceeding
twice the number of places remaining to be filled.
VIII. SUBSIDIARY BODIES
Main Committee
Rule 46
The Summit may establish a Main Committee as required.
Representation on the Main Committee
Rule 47
Each State participating in the Summit and the European Community may be
represented by one representative on the Main Committee. Each State may
assign to the Committee such alternate representatives and advisers as may be
required.
Other subsidiary bodies
Rule 48
The Summit and the Main Committee may establish such working groups as
they deem necessary for the performance of their functions.
Officers
Rule 49
Except as provided in rule 6 or otherwise decided, each subsidiary body
shall elect its own officers.
Procedures of subsidiary bodies
Rule 50
Unless otherwise decided by the Summit, these rules apply, mutatis
mutandis, to the subsidiary bodies, except that:
(a) A majority of the representatives on the Credentials Committee shall
constitute a quorum;
(b) The Chairman of the Main Committee or a working group may declare a
meeting open and permit the debate to proceed when representatives of at least
one quarter of the States participating in the Summit are present;
(c) The Chairmen of the General Committee, Credentials Committee and
working groups may exercise the right to vote in those bodies;
(d) Decisions of committees and working groups shall be taken by a
majority of the representatives present and voting, except that the
reconsideration of a proposal shall require the majority established by
rule 32.
IX. LANGUAGES AND RECORDS
Languages of the Summit
Rule 51
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish shall be the
languages of the Summit.
Interpretation
Rule 52
1. Speeches made in a language of the Summit shall be interpreted into the
other such languages.
2. A representative may speak in a language other than a language of the
Summit if he/she provides for interpretation into one such language.
Languages of official documents
Rule 53
Official documents of the Summit shall be made available in the languages
of the Summit.
Sound recordings of meetings
Rule 54
Sound recordings of meetings of the Summit and of the Main Committee
shall be made and kept in accordance with the practice of the United Nations.
Unless otherwise decided, no such recordings shall be made of the meetings of
any working group.
X. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MEETINGS
General principles
Rule 55
1. The plenary meetings of the Summit and the meetings of the Main Committee
shall be held in public unless the body concerned decides otherwise. All
decisions taken by the plenary of the Summit at a private meeting shall be
announced at an early public meeting of the plenary.
2. As a general rule, meetings of other bodies of the Summit shall be held
in private.
Communiqu‚s on private meetings
Rule 56
At the close of a private meeting, the body concerned may issue a
communiqu‚ through the secretariat of the Summit.
XI. OTHER PARTICIPANTS AND OBSERVERS
Representatives of organizations that have received
a standing invitation from the General Assembly to
participate in the capacity of observers in the
sessions and work of all international conferences
convened under its auspices
Rule 57
Representatives designated by organizations that have received a standing
invitation from the General Assembly to participate in the sessions and work
of all international conferences convened under its auspices have the right to
participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of
the Summit, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any working group.
Rule 58
Associate members of regional commissions
Representatives designated by associate members of regional commissions
may participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations
of the Summit, the main committee and, as appropriate, any other committee or
working group.
Representatives of the specialized agencies 1/
Rule 59
Representatives designated by the specialized agencies may participate,
without the right to vote, in the deliberations of the Summit, the Main
Committee and, as appropriate, any working group on questions within the scope
of their activities.
Representatives of other intergovernmental organizations
and other entities
Rule 60
Save where otherwise specifically provided with respect to the European
Community in these rules of procedure, representatives designated by other
intergovernmental organizations and other entities invited to the Summit may
participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of
the Summit, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any working group on
questions within the scope of their activities.
Representatives of interested United Nations organs
Rule 61
Representatives designated by interested organs of the United Nations may
participate as observers, without the right to vote, in the deliberations of
the Summit, the Main Committee and, as appropriate, any working group on
questions within the scope of their activities.
Representatives of non-governmental organizations
Rule 62
1. Non-governmental organizations accredited to participate in the
Summit may designate representatives to sit as observers at public meetings of
the Summit and the main committee.
2. Upon the invitation of the presiding officer of the body concerned
and subject to the approval of that body, such observers may make oral
statements on questions in which they have special competence. If the number
of requests to speak is too large, the non-governmental organizations shall be
requested to form themselves into constituencies, such constituencies to speak
through spokespersons.
Written statements
Rule 63
Written statements submitted by the designated representatives referred
to in rules 57 to 62 shall be distributed by the secretariat to all
delegations in the quantities and in the language in which the statements are
made available to it at the site of the Summit, provided that a statement
submitted on behalf of a non-governmental organization is related to the work
of the Summit and is on a subject in which the organization has a special
competence. Written statements shall not be issued at United Nations expense
and shall not be issued as official documents.
XII. AMENDMENT AND SUSPENSION OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE
Method of amendment
Rule 64
These rules of procedure may be amended by a decision of the Summit taken
by a two-thirds majority of the representatives present and voting, after the
General Committee has reported on the proposed amendment.
Method of suspension
Rule 65
Any of these rules may be suspended by the Summit provided that 24 hours'
notice of the proposal for the suspension has been given, which may be waived
if no representative objects. Any such suspension shall be limited to a
specific and stated purpose and to a period required to achieve that purpose.
Notes
1/ For the purposes of these rules, the term "specialized agencies"
includes the International Atomic Energy Agency and the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade.
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