A motion is a delegate asking the house to do something procedural. The chair decides whether it is in order, whether it is taken, and how.
The rules for each motion are in Motions overview. This document is about the chair's part.
Hear the motion out before you rule on it. Chairs lose credibility by ruling on the first four words and then discovering the delegate was asking for something else.
Repeat the motion back to the house before you deal with it, the same way you repeat a point.
Some motions need a second. Some may be objected to.
If you are unsure how to read the room. One delegate shouting "objection" does not automatically kill a motion. Listen to every motion properly, and to every objection, before you rule on it.
This closes debate and moves to a vote on whatever is pending. During time in favour on an amendment it means move to time against.
It may be moved by the chair or by a delegate.
It cannot interrupt a speaker.
It needs a second.
Ask the house for objections. A single objection defeats it.
You may overrule it if time needs filling.
See Motion to move to the previous question.
If a delegate moves to go straight into voting. They will often say "motion to move directly into voting procedures". The correct wording is "motion to move to the previous question". Correct them, and then take the motion they meant.
You may move it yourself. If the last three speeches have repeated the first three, the debate is over whatever the clock says.
At the chair's discretion. It is not debatable. It needs a second if it comes from the floor. You may refuse it.
Refuse it when the debate is going nowhere. Extending time on this resolution takes time away from the next one. See Planning committee time.
Used after a vote. It removes abstentions, so delegates must vote for or against.
It is only valid when the number of abstentions is larger than the gap between the votes for and against. Check the numbers before you accept it. It needs a second, and any objection stops it.
It takes a long time. Avoid it where you can.
See Motion to divide the house.
If a delegate moves to divide on an amendment. There is no division of the house on an amendment. Rule it out of order and explain why.
Expect this when a resolution uses operative language the committee has no mandate for, such as demanding sanctions or deploying troops in a General Assembly.
It can usually be avoided by rewording during lobbying. See Running lobbying and Motion to refer to another forum.
Possible at any time before voting starts, if the main submitter and all co-submitters agree. Any member of the forum may ask for it to be reconsidered.
Discourage it. A withdrawn resolution takes the committee's preparation with it, and the house loses a debate it was ready to have.
If the main submitter asks to withdraw. An amendment has passed that they dislike. That is not a reason. Tell them the resolution belongs to every co-submitter, and that the route for disagreeing with a clause is a speech against it or a further amendment.
Ends or pauses the meeting.
In MEDIMUN, when the committee pauses, the committee state in MediBook becomes waiting. There are no exceptions. See The chair's committee state.
The motion to adopt without a vote, also called a friendly amendment, is not democratic and is out of order. There are no friendly amendments. Every amendment is put to a vote, even a one word change.
See Motions out of order.
If you are unsure whether a motion exists. If you have never heard of it, do not invent a ruling. Ask the delegate what they want to happen. Tell them the motion that achieves it if there is one. Rule it out of order if there is not.
In MEDIMUN, the chair decides whether to accept motions through MediBook, and whether to accept speech requests through MediBook. That choice is yours. Everything else about the floor is not. See Chair motions and speech requests.
If you do take motions on screen, say so at the start of the day, and be consistent. A house that is told to submit motions in MediBook and then sees a shouted motion accepted will shout.