Order of Precedence of Rules: Security Council

Rule

Second

Debatable

Vote
Required

Interrupt
Speaker

Description

Quorum

-

-

-

-

All 15 member countries must be present

Voting

-

-

-

-

9 votes required for majority. A no vote by any of the 5 permanent members on a substantive issue vetoes the resolution

Presidential Statement

-

-

-

-

Expresses council's thoughts without passing a formal resolution.

Adoption by Consensus

-

-

-

-

Unanimous adoption

Point of Order

No

No

None

Yes

Used to point out a misuse of the rules

Point of Information

No

No

None

No

Ask any rules or non-rules related question of the chair, or gain a clarification

Point of Inquiry

No

No

None

No

Ask a question of a speaker at the end of their speech, prior to their yielding the floor

Suspension of the Meeting

No

No

Majority

No

Recess the meeting for a specific period of time - often for caucus

Adjournment of the Meeting

No

No

Majority

No

End the meeting

Closure of Debate

No

Yes

Majority

No

Ends debate on any issue open to debate and brings it to an immediate vote

Consultative Session

No

Yes

Majority

No

Informal debate. Must include time limit.

Set the Working Agenda

No

Yes

Majority

No

First order of business at the beginning of each day.

Add an item to the Working Agenda

No

Yes

Majority

No

Add a new topic to the bottom of the Working Agenda

Change the order of Consideration of Agenda

No

Yes

Majority

No

Bring an item already in the agenda to the floor for substantive debate

Set the Speaker's Time

No

Yes

Majority

No

Set or change the speakers' time limit

Division of the Question

No

Yes

Majority

No

Divide a resolution or amendment into 2 or more clauses, each to be voted on separately after closure of debate

Consideration of Amendments

No

No

None 

No

Bring an amendment to the floor for decision

Consideration of Resolutions

No

No

Majority

No

Consider a resolution that has the requisite number of signatures

Party to the Dispute

-

-

-

-

Requests participation by nonmember of the Security Council