Division of the House

In Model UN and many real parliamentary bodies, a Division of the House is a motion to take a recorded vote, where each delegation's position (Yes, No, Abstain, or Pass) is called individually and read into the record. It is typically raised immediately after a substantive vote — most often on a draft resolution or amendment — when a delegate believes the outcome is close, contested, or politically significant enough to warrant transparency.

The mechanic exists because casual votes by placard or acclamation can obscure who supported what. A roll-call vote forces every delegation to publicly commit, which has diplomatic consequences: bloc cohesion is tested, abstentions become visible, and the historical record reflects exact alignments. In most MUN rulebooks (including those modeled on the UN General Assembly's Rules of Procedure), any single delegate may request a roll call, though some conferences require a second or a majority vote to grant the motion.

Procedurally, the chair calls states in alphabetical order, sometimes starting from a randomly drawn letter — a practice borrowed from the UNGA, where the Secretary-General draws lots at the start of each session to determine the first country called. Delegates may vote Yes, No, Abstain, or Pass (deferring their vote until a second round, after which they must commit). On substantive matters, voting "with rights" allows a delegate to briefly explain their vote afterward.

Division of the House is distinct from simply reconsidering a vote or from a roll-call vote requested ex ante; it specifically refers to redoing a vote that has just been taken by less formal means. Chairs generally cannot deny the motion if the rules guarantee it, but they can refuse repeated or dilatory requests. Strategically, delegates use it to expose fence-sitters, pressure allies, or generate a paper trail for caucus negotiations in later sessions.