Rules & Regulations

GENERAL
  • There will be individual participation.
  • The participants shall report at the venue hall by sharp 8: 30 a.m.
  • No formal dressing is required. However, it would be appreciated for wearing an attire similar to the politician of their constituency, carried in decent manner.
  • Participants may use bilingual language during their speech.
  • Constituencies would be allotted anonymously.
  • There is no limitation on the number of participations from one institute. (i.e. any number of students can participate from one institute).
  • Participants should seek confirmation of their registration prior one week of the event.
  • Participants creating any kind of indiscipline shall be disqualified on the discretion of the judges.
  • Participants thereby should adhere by the rules and regulations of the event.

MMMP’19 Rules of Procedure

The rules of MMMP’19 resemble as far as possible the rules and procedures of Lok Sabha.

Chapter I – Arrangement and Addressal of the Parliament

1. SEATING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY MEMBERS
The side majority will form the Government. Ruling party will sit on the right side of the chair. Opposition and other alliances are to sit on the left side of the chair.

2. LANGUAGE
Both Hindi and English are allowed in Parliament.

Chapter II- PROCEDURE
The procedure of the session of IDEAL Lok Sabha resembles as far as possible the procedure of the House (Lok Sabha). The following procedure shall take place during one day session of Mock Parliament.

  • National Anthem
  • Addressal Of the Speaker
  • Election Of the Prime Minister and Oath
  • Introduction Of the Agenda by Speaker
  • Statement Of The houses
  • Discussion Hour (formal debate)
  • Voting on the Bill presented
  • Declaration of bill as passed or rejected.
  • Statement of Speaker/ Judges/ Declaration and compilation Of Results
  • Valedictory
  • National Song
Note: An informal session or adjournment of maximum 15 minutes can be allotted to the house on the sole discretion of the chair. The chair person can discontinue any motion any time for the benefit of the debate. The chairperson has the authority to put into effect any order or procedure that the chairperson may feel is required for the proper functioning.

1. National Anthem
The proceedings of the house will be started with the reciting of The National Anthem.

2. Addressal Of the Speaker
After the National Anthem, the speaker will address the house.

3. Election of The Prime Minister
The Prime Minister will take up the mantle of the leader of the ruling party of the House. A newly elected member of the House is required to make an Oath or affirmation at the commencement of a sitting of the House. The prescribed form of Oath or affirmation is: "I........., having been elected (or nominated) a member of (Model Parliament) House of the People do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India and that I will faithfully discharge the duty upon which I am about to enter."

4. Introduction Of the Agenda by Deputy Speaker
After the Prime Minister is elected, the Agenda Of the Day is Introduced by the Deputy Speaker of the House.

5. Statements of the house
  • After establishing quorum, the Deputy speaker will ask for statements from the members. A total of 8 members (4 each from government and opposition) are given time on the floor to make statements.
  • The leader of the house is the default first speaker and the leader of opposition is the default last speaker. However they may pass on their chance to speak to whoever they wish to.
  • The other 6 speakers are chosen by the discretion of the chair when the MPs are asked for statements.
  • The maximum time allowed to make statements is two minutes.
  • Agendas for discussion hour (explained in the next section) are allowed to be sent once first two speakers have given their statements.

6. Discussion Hour (Formal Debate)
  • A discussion hour is the time allotted (maximum 40 minutes) for the discussion on a sub- agenda which the members feel should be discussed in front of the house. The total time of all the discussion shall be an hour.
  • Sub-Agendas for discussion hour are allowed to be sent once first two speakers have given their opening statements.
  • The process of putting up sub-agendas for a discussion is in writing and follows the given format: Name of the constituency Topic of the discussion Total Duration (not to exceed 40 minutes) Individual Speaker Time (not to exceed 90 seconds)
  • The speaker shall keep the agendas in chronological order and first put the agenda to vote which is received first by the board.
  • The chairperson may withdraw any agenda he/she feels has no relation to the agenda. However he/she has to notify the particular MP of the same on which the MP is allowed to send a chit explaining why the agenda should not be withdrawn.
  • On receiving the agenda, the speaker will ask for seconds and oppositions, if no seconds, the motion fails and in case of seconds but no oppositions the agenda clearly passes.
  • On receiving both seconds and oppositions the chairperson will put the agenda to vote and the result is decided by a simple majority of placard vote. An extension to a discussion hour may be obtained if the total time does not exceed 40 minutes or otherwise on the discretion of the chair.
  • NOTE: The unstarred questions which are meant to be answered in written form can be asked to each other by members of the parliament during discussion hour.

7. Voting on the Bill presented
Voting on the bill proposed will take place in house under the guidance of the Speaker/ Panel of the Judges.

8. Declaration of bill as passed or rejected

9. Statement of Speaker/ Judges/ Declaration and compilation Of Results.

10. Valedictory

11. National Song

Chapter IV- PRIVELEGES OF MEMBER MODEL PARLIAMENT
1. Privilege Motion
a. It is a motion raised by a Member of Parliament. He charges the Minister with committing a breach of the privilege of the House by withholding or distorting facts. b. The motion can be raised at any time in the parliament c. The Minister is given a chance to reply and the MP who has raised the motion is allowed to ask supplementary questions.

2. Anti-Deflection Law/ Anti-Deflection Motion
If a member of the parliament votes (or abstains) against the directives issued by his/her party, without the written permission of the said party, the member stands to be disqualified on grounds of defection if such a request is made to the speaker by the leader of the party in the house or in case of the leader standing on defection- any member of the house belonging to that party. In case of singleseat parties, the defection is to be decided at the discretion of the speaker.

3. Privileges to the MMPs
These privileges in the form of permission or points are allowed at all times when a speaker is not speaking or immediately after the speaker has finished speaking. Point of Information is not allowed at certain times as mentioned above in relevant sections Permission to rise a motion is only allowed at certain time periods as previously mentioned along with the motions
Permission To Raise A Motion: A MP at any time can raise his/her placard and seek permission from the chair to raise a motion.
Point Of Inquiry: Enquiry about parliamentary procedures and conduct to the chair.
Point Of Order: This can be used in case of a factual error.
Right to Reply: If a particular member present feels that a grave (or false) statement has made by others towards that member, he/she may privilege the right of reply with the permission of the chair.
Point Of Personal Privilege: This may be used in order to remove a personal discomfort.
Point Of Information: This may be used to put up questions on a members’ statement. (Shall be in writing until and unless allowed)

CHAPTER V – JUDGEMENT CRITERIA

Sr. No.

Parameter

Marks

1

Discipline and Decorum

10

2

Selection of subject for questions, supplementary and quality of answers thereto

10

3

Selection of subjects for Debates

10

4

Quality of speeches delivered, standard of Debates

10

5

General Assessment of the performance as a whole

10

Total

50

Note: All the chits will be marked and will have significant weightage while deciding the final awards. Party Policy & Role Rehearsal will be one of the marking criteria. (The ratio of weightage of chits as to speeches will depend upon the decision of the Speaker depending upon the Size of committee and other factors as per the case may be.)

CHAPTER VI - IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND
  • Indian/Western formal Attire to be strictly followed.
  • Indian Wear is encouraged.
  • Laptops, mobile phones, tablets etc. are allowed but parliamentarians are not allowed to assess internet.
  • No internet usage allowed inside the house.
  • The participants should show utmost respect to the Chair.
  • They should abide by the decisions of the Chair and should have faith in his impartiality and judgment. The participants are encouraged to tap desks in agreement.
  • One may not argue on points, which are nowhere related to the debate, this may fetch you negative marks.
  • One may not use any unparliamentarily word while the house is in session. One may have to apologize (in oral or written) for the same or can be suspended from the session as per the case may be depending upon the decision of the chair.