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WFR 1d - Debate and voting procedures

Current version as passed with WFR 14 on 13 May 2022

Section A - Purpose

This resolution codifies the existing rules of procedure in regards of debates and voting. It also defines different types of resolutions, the World Forum can pass through their organs.

Section B - Resolution types

  1. An ordinary resolution (resolution) is a written legal norm passed by the Assembly with a simple majority. Its implementation through the members’ national legislation is voluntary.
  2. A binding resolution is a resolution, that is declared binding by the Assembly. It requires a two-thirds majority in the Assembly to pass. Its implementation through the members’ national legislation is mandatory. If a binding resolution does not receive a two-thirds, yet at least a simple majority, the implementation through the members’ national legislation is voluntary.
  3. A standard resolution is a resolution, which makes use of the standard measures the World Forum can take as laid out in Section F. Its implementation through national legislation is only mandatory for those members, who have approved the resolution draft.
  4. A resolution on procedural rules or the organizational structure of the World Forum or on the foundation of a World Forum sub-organization is binding. If a resolution in the sense of subsection 1 contains regulations on the subjects mentioned in sentence 1, then only those parts are binding.
  5. Finally effective verdicts of the International Court are binding without requiring an approval vote in the Assembly.

Section C - Debate procedures

  1. Any member or Committee may propose a debate on any political topic or a resolution draft. Any observer may propose a debate on any political topic. The International Court may suggest actions against members or observers to the Assembly.
  2. The Speaker of the Assembly invites all members and observers to each session of the Assembly. They set the session’s agenda, and open, interrupt, resume and close the debates. They may warn members or observers, who misbehave in the Assembly and retain the right to strip a member or observer from their speaking rights or impose other sanctions, if the warnings do not lead to a change of behavior of said member or observer. Sanctionable misbehavior especially includes unparliamentary language, insulting or threatening an official, deliberately destroying property of an official or the World Forum and harming the body or health of an official. If there is no other way to reestablish the order in the Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly may restore order by using the World Forum’s police.
  3. Debates are mainly prioritized in the following manner:
    1. suggestions from the International Court
    2. resolution drafts proposed by a Committee or a group of members
    3. resolution drafts proposed by a single member
    4. applications on the accession or promotion of states
    5. debates on a political topic proposed by a Committee
    6. debates on a political topic proposed by a member
    7. debates on a political topic proposed by an observer
    Secondly older debate proposals are put on the agenda sooner than newer debate proposals.
  4. The provisions of subsection 2 also apply figuratively to the Committees and International Court and their heads. Further details are regulated by their rules of procedure.

Section D - Voting procedures

  1. A vote is required to approve a resolution draft.
  2. If a vote on a resolution draft is an agenda item, the Speaker of the Assembly must establish a quorum at the opening or reopening of a session. The quorum is met, if at least half of the members of the Assembly are present in the assembly hall. If the vote on the resolution draft requires a two-thirds majority, at least two-thirds of the members of the Assembly must be present in the assembly hall. If a member doubts the quorum is still met, before a vote shall commence, the Speaker of the Assembly must reestablish a quorum.
  3. The voting process on a resolution draft commences after a debate and a member or the Speaker of the Assembly motioning to vote. After the motion is seconded by other members and there has not been an objection to the motion, the Speaker of the Assembly may open the vote. An objection can be made once without any explanation. Any additional objection following that must be explained. The Speaker of the Assembly decides whether an explained objection is valid.
  4. Voting is conducted either electronically or by raising hands. Each member has one vote and each vote has equal weight. Each member can either approve the resolution draft (Aye), reject the resolution draft (Nay) or abstain from the vote.
  5. The duration of the voting period depends on the type of resolution draft presented to the Assembly. For resolutions in the sense of Section B, Subsections 1 and 4 it is three days, for binding and standard resolutions it is five days.
  6. At the end of the voting period, the Speaker of the Assembly closes the vote. They tally the votes and announce the result to the Assembly.
  7. Voting procedures in the Committees and at the International Court are regulated by their rules of procedure.

Section E - Stylistic guidelines for resolutions

  1. Every resolution in the sense of Section B, Subsections 1, 2 or 4 consists of the logo of the World Forum, the resolution’s title and the resolution’s content divided into chapters, sections and subsections. Chapters and subsections are numbered with standard numerals, sections with the letters of the standard alphabet. The resolution draft presented to the Assembly must be in Austral. Section A shall always lay out the purpose of the resolution. Section B shall, if necessary, define legal terms used throughout the entirety of the resolution’s text. Binding resolutions shall declare their nature in the first or last section of the resolution draft.
  2. Every standard resolution consists of the logo of the World Forum, the resolution’s title, the measure from Section F the member wishes to take and against whom the measure shall become effective and a comprehensive explanatory statement on the reasons and proportionality of the to-be-taken measure. The resolution draft can also regulate, in which way the measure shall be carried out. The resolution draft presented to the Assembly must be in Austral.
  3. Resolutions are principally numbered according to the order they were approved of.

Section F - Standard measures

  1. The Assembly has the right to make use of the standard measures listed in subsection 2 through approving a standard resolution. Principally the measures must be taken one after the other from the least severe to the most detrimental one. In emergency situations, less severe measures, namely the measures listed in Subsection 2, Letters a-f, can be skipped. The Assembly shall always respect the principle of proportionality as defined in Subsection 4 when a standard measure is taken.
  2. Standard measures are:
    1. a complaint by the Assembly
    2. a formal complaint letter by the Speaker of the Assembly
    3. installment of human rights or electoral observers, depending on applicability
    4. a fine
    5. light diplomatic sanctions
    6. light economic sanctions
    7. a condemnation
    8. the calling of the International Court
    9. the suspension of the member or observer
    10. severe economic sanctions
    11. severe diplomatic sanctions
    12. an international blockade
    13. a peacekeeping mission
    14. the expulsion of the member or observer
  3. The Assembly can take standard measures against any nation, organization or individual, even if they are not entities in the sense of World Forum Resolution 1b, Section B, Subsection 1, Letter a.
  4. A measure is proportionate, if it is suitable, necessary and appropriate. A measure is suitable, if it can reach the set goal or at least helps in reaching said goal. A measure is necessary, if it is the one suitable measure impairing the affected party and the general public the least. A measure is appropriate, if the aimed for advantage for the general public is not objectively disproportionate in comparison to the disadvantage occurring to the affected party.
  5. In accordance with World Forum Resolution 1b, Section B, Subsection 1, Letter a, the affected party or a member has the right to call the International Court and take legal action against those measures. This does not stop the enforcement of the standard measures.