A point of information is a question to the delegate who has the floor. It is the easiest way to take part in debate, and it is where most delegates speak for the first time.
You can only ask when two things are true. The delegate speaking has agreed to take points of information, and the chair has asked the house for points.
No point may interrupt a speaker. Points are taken at a pause. That means when the speaker yields to points of information, to another delegation, or to the chair.
Raise your placard when the chair asks for points. Wait to be recognised. Only then do you speak.
The chair states how many points will be taken before asking for them. The chair then decides who is recognised.
In MEDIMUN, the debate page in MediBook is your view of the floor. It shows the speeches, the points, the motions, the amendments and the voting. See Debate for delegates.
A point of information is a question. That is the rule that matters most.
You may put one short statement in front of the question to set it up. After the delegate answers, there is no dialogue. You do not reply, and you do not argue back from your seat.
A usable shape is "Is the honourable delegate aware that ... , and if so, how does the delegation intend to ...?"
Keep it to one question. Two questions in one point will lose the second half.
The chair should repeat every point back to the house before it is answered, because not everyone will have heard it. Speak up so the chair can repeat it accurately.
Reading time is set aside for this. The chair gives the house time to read a resolution, prepare points of information and write amendments before debate starts. Use it. See Reading time.
Good points come from a gap in the speech. Look for something the speaker asserted without support. Look for a cost nobody has accounted for. Look for a group the clause does not cover, or a contradiction with the delegation's own policy.
If your point turns into a speech. A point of information used to attack a resolution instead of asking a question is out of order. The chair will stop you. If you want to argue against a resolution, ask for the floor and give a speech.
If you are unsure of the wording. Getting the words wrong is a mistake, not an offence. Chairs are asked to work out what a delegate meant rather than overrule them for unfamiliar wording. Inventing a point that does not exist is a different thing and is not allowed.
If the house is voting. All points are out of order. The one exception is a point of order about the conduct of the vote itself. Wait until the vote is finished.
One follow up point of information may be allowed, at the chair's discretion, if it will make the debate better. The chair checks first that the delegate on the floor is willing to take it. This changed. The older MEDIMUN rule was that there were no follow ups at all.
Do not assume you will get one. Ask your best question first.
Several other points exist and they are not the same thing.
A point of information to the chair is a question to the chair about facts or the agenda. It does not interrupt a speaker. See Point of information to the chair.
A point of parliamentary inquiry is a question to the chair about the Rules of Procedure. See Point of parliamentary inquiry.
A point of order is used when the chair has made a procedural mistake. See Point of order.
A point of personal privilege is about your comfort or wellbeing. See Point of personal privilege.
The full list is in Points overview.
Every point you ask, you will one day be asked. Answer in the third person. Answer the question that was asked, not the one you wish had been asked. If you do not know a fact, say that the delegation will come back to it rather than inventing one.