Preparation for the 7th Sydney Model Global Parliament
Before the event:
MPs are organised into groups, and correspond with each other to formulate a motion for each group to present to the MGP according to the scenario/guidelines supplied before the event. Each group should choose a proposer and a seconder for their motion, plus extra supporters if possible, who should each prepare a short speech in support of the motion. In the past, we have limited the proposer to three minutes, and the seconder and other speakers to two minutes, to give everybody a chance to speak. On other group’s motions, the members may speak for or against as they see fit.
The motions must be submitted to the committee for review before the event, and should be circulated to all MPs for consideration beforehand. A training day for participants will be arranged a week before the event. The first draft of motions should be no more than 60 words and be formulated as follows:
PREAMBLE – is a clause that sets the context for the motion, beginning with a present participle – e.g.
Noting the democratic deficit in the present United Nations, and the need for a democratically elected chamber within it; Recalling the example of the evolution of the European Parliament;
ACTION STATEMENT—a sentence that starts with a verb – e.g.
Calls upon all concerned global citizens to encourage grandparents to ask for popcorn instead of pop-guns. Motions may be drafted as coming from the actual Model Global Parliament, or else from a genuine (hypothetical) Global Parliament of the future.
Motions may be refined or amalgamated by negotiation at the training session, and a shortlist will be drawn up by the Steering Committee for discussion at the MGP. Due to restrictions of time, only one motion can be accepted from each group of MPs, and only 12 in total for the day, four in each session.
Draft Resolutions
Each group at the Model Global Parliament will be invited to submit one draft resolution ahead of time.
MPs are organised into groups, and correspond with each other to formulate a motion for each group to present to the MGP according to the scenario/guidelines supplied before the event. Each group should choose a proposer and a seconder for their motion, plus extra supporters if possible, who should each prepare a short speech in support of the motion. In the past, we have limited the proposer to three minutes, and the seconder and other speakers to two minutes, to give everybody a chance to speak. On other group’s motions, the members may speak for or against as they see fit.
The motions must be submitted to the committee for review before the event, and should be circulated to all MPs for consideration beforehand. A training day for participants will be arranged a week before the event. The first draft of motions should be no more than 60 words and be formulated as follows:
PREAMBLE – is a clause that sets the context for the motion, beginning with a present participle – e.g.
Noting the democratic deficit in the present United Nations, and the need for a democratically elected chamber within it; Recalling the example of the evolution of the European Parliament;
ACTION STATEMENT—a sentence that starts with a verb – e.g.
Calls upon all concerned global citizens to encourage grandparents to ask for popcorn instead of pop-guns. Motions may be drafted as coming from the actual Model Global Parliament, or else from a genuine (hypothetical) Global Parliament of the future.
Motions may be refined or amalgamated by negotiation at the training session, and a shortlist will be drawn up by the Steering Committee for discussion at the MGP. Due to restrictions of time, only one motion can be accepted from each group of MPs, and only 12 in total for the day, four in each session.
Draft Resolutions
Each group at the Model Global Parliament will be invited to submit one draft resolution ahead of time.
Sample Questions
To get you thinking, here are some sample questions that we've prepared on each of the three topics: nuclear weapons, rights, and global governance. These points are only suggestions. Groups are encouraged to come up with their own topics for motions.
Peace and Security
It is now a hundred years since the start of World War I, billed as ‘The War To End War’. We need to rededicate ourselves to end all wars. How might we do it?
Human Rights
There is a growing academic interest in placing human security at the centre of debates about global security issues. What are the implications of this for a global parliament?
Protection of the Global Environment (the “Global Commons”)
Reform of Global Institutions
What changes need to be made to the UN to move towards a global parliament? To the Security Council? To the General Assembly?
Peace and Security
It is now a hundred years since the start of World War I, billed as ‘The War To End War’. We need to rededicate ourselves to end all wars. How might we do it?
- Elimination of nuclear weapons. Should all nations (including Australia) ratify the new Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons?
- International terrorism and the need for cyber security
- What actions should be taken if an international dispute appears likely to lead to a breach of the peace?
- The Global Peace Index has been created to measure peace in the world. How can this kind of instrument be used by the MGP to track situations in the world that are becoming more or less peaceful?
- What role should or could a global parliament play in maintaining a peace-keeping force, ready to be deployed to conflict prone situations around the world?
Human Rights
There is a growing academic interest in placing human security at the centre of debates about global security issues. What are the implications of this for a global parliament?
- Human trafficking, modern slavery, child labour
- Gender violence
- The treatment of refugees and displaced persons
- Discrimination against marginalised elements of society e.g. disabled, Aboriginal people, homeless
- Should the International Criminal Court have universal jurisdiction?
Protection of the Global Environment (the “Global Commons”)
- Climate change. Should all nations (including Australia) achieve their targets under the Paris Agreement in full?
- The global challenge of maintaining our biodiversity
- Sustainability and world governance
- Plastic pollution in ecosystems
Reform of Global Institutions
What changes need to be made to the UN to move towards a global parliament? To the Security Council? To the General Assembly?
- Should Australia support the Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (CUNPA)?
- Should we support the UN2020 campaign to implement UN reform and set up a Charter Review Conference to mark the 75th anniversary of the UN in 2020?
- Currently, if the UN decides to intervene on humanitarian grounds into a war zone it needs to source military personnel and material from member states, would the UN be better served by being able to maintain a standing army and under whose authority should that army reside? the UNSC, General Assembly or the UN's Military Staff Committee?
- The IMF - among other things - provides policy advice and financing to members in economic difficulties and provides advice to developing states for achieving macro-economic stability. The difficulty is developing states are burdened with increasing amounts of debt with little or no potential for self sufficiency. What changes could be made to this development model that would see developing states becoming self-sufficient?
- What about NATO? Could it play a role under or as part of a global parliament? Should Australia support the Campaign for a World Security Community?
Rules of Parliamentary Procedure
The procedures follow Westminster rules:
The motions for debate will be projected on a screen, and when a motion comes up for debate, it will be read out by the Recorder, who will record any amendments, and whether the motion is passed or rejected by the vote.
Proceedings are run by the Speaker, and all remarks are addresses to “Mister Speaker” or “Madam Speaker”, as the case may be. As each motion comes up for debate, the Speaker will call for it to be read out by the Recorder, and then call successively for a Proposer, a Seconder, and speeches in support or opposing the motion. MPs wishing to speak will raise their hands, and the Speaker will recognize the next speaker by their group name, e.g. “The Member for the European Union”. The MP will then come to speak at one of the microphones on the speaker’s bench. After MPs have had their say, the Speaker will call for a vote on the motion.
An MP may move for an amendment to the motion under discussion, in which case the Speaker will call for a seconder for the amendment. If there is no seconder, the amendment fails. Otherwise, debate on the amendment proceeds as for any other motion, and a vote on the amendment is finally held. Debate can then continue on the amended motion.
The motions for debate will be projected on a screen, and when a motion comes up for debate, it will be read out by the Recorder, who will record any amendments, and whether the motion is passed or rejected by the vote.
Proceedings are run by the Speaker, and all remarks are addresses to “Mister Speaker” or “Madam Speaker”, as the case may be. As each motion comes up for debate, the Speaker will call for it to be read out by the Recorder, and then call successively for a Proposer, a Seconder, and speeches in support or opposing the motion. MPs wishing to speak will raise their hands, and the Speaker will recognize the next speaker by their group name, e.g. “The Member for the European Union”. The MP will then come to speak at one of the microphones on the speaker’s bench. After MPs have had their say, the Speaker will call for a vote on the motion.
An MP may move for an amendment to the motion under discussion, in which case the Speaker will call for a seconder for the amendment. If there is no seconder, the amendment fails. Otherwise, debate on the amendment proceeds as for any other motion, and a vote on the amendment is finally held. Debate can then continue on the amended motion.
Training Session
A training session will be held before the MGP, at a time and place to be advised. It will cover the following topics:
On the day
We try to make an opportunity for every MP to speak, but limited time means that you all need to be sensitive to others needs. Proposers of a motion are limited to THREE minutes speaking time, and other speakers on a given motion are limited to TWO minutes. We ask that once an MP has spoken, he/she should defer as much as possible to any other MP wanting to speak. We all look forward to celebrating your participation in the MGP!
- How to draft a motion and to make the most of parliamentary rules of procedure to secure your point of view, including how to negotiate with others to build support for a participants motion
- Debating skills: knowing the ways in which fear and guilt are used to manipulate political outcomes
- Media liaison: how to get participants message across through multi-media networks
- Global citizen networks: an overview of movements towards a world parliament
On the day
We try to make an opportunity for every MP to speak, but limited time means that you all need to be sensitive to others needs. Proposers of a motion are limited to THREE minutes speaking time, and other speakers on a given motion are limited to TWO minutes. We ask that once an MP has spoken, he/she should defer as much as possible to any other MP wanting to speak. We all look forward to celebrating your participation in the MGP!
Warm up for the MGP
Suggestions on preparation
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Some useful linksIndependent Media Centre Australia article entry:
Bob Brown advocates a global parliament: “I have trust in the common sense of seven billion people on the planet.”
The Web we want campaign:
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Live News Feeds:
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Live Al Jazeera feed:
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Live N.P.R. news feed:
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Live Le Monde Diplomatique feed: (French)
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