Amendments To Be Voted On Individually

In Model UN, amendments to be voted on individually is a procedural device used during voting procedure on a draft resolution. When a draft has multiple pending amendments, a delegate may move that each amendment be considered and voted on separately, so the committee decides the fate of each change on its own merits rather than approving or rejecting them as a bundle.

The motion is typically raised after the committee has closed debate on the draft resolution and entered voting procedure, but before substantive voting on the resolution itself. Under most rules of procedure modeled on the UN General Assembly (notably Rule 90 of the GA Rules of Procedure, on "division of the proposal"), parts of a proposal — including amendments — can be voted on separately if any member so requests, unless another delegation objects and the committee decides otherwise.

Procedurally, the chair will usually:

• Take the motion when amendments are on the floor.
• If there is objection, hold a procedural vote (often simple majority) on whether to vote individually or en bloc.
• Order the amendments, conventionally voting on the one furthest in substance from the original text first, or in the order submitted.
• Announce the results before moving to vote on the resolution as a whole, as amended.

Delegates use this motion strategically. A bloc that supports some amendments but opposes others will push for individual votes; a sponsor who has negotiated a balanced package will often prefer an en bloc vote to protect compromises. The opposite motion is to vote on amendments as a whole or en bloc.

Friendly amendments — those accepted by all sponsors — are generally incorporated automatically and are not subject to this motion. Only unfriendly amendments, which require a substantive vote, are affected. The outcome shapes the final text that the committee then votes up or down.