The Procedure of the Un Security Council

I: The Constitutional Framework; 1 Role of procedure; 2 The Charter; 3 Role and function of the Security Council; 4 Provisional Rules of Procedure; 5 Further documentation of procedures; II: Place and Format of Council Proceedings; 1 Formats of meetings; 2 Formal public (open) meetings; 3 Formal private (closed) meetings; 4 'Periodic meetings', summits, and high-level meetings; 5 Thematic debates; 6 'Orientation debates'; 7 Wrap-up meetings; 8 Meetings away from Headquarters; 9 Place of meeting at Headquarters; 10 Informal consultations of the whole; 11 'Arria-formula' meetings and 'Somavia-formula' meetings; 12 Informal interactive dialogues or discussions; 13 Other informal formats; 14 Interpretation and translation; III: The People; 1 The President; 2 Permanent members; 3 Non-permanent members; 4 Regional and other groups; 5 'Groups of friends'; 6 Political coordinators and experts; 7 Credentials; 8 Representation of China and of the Russian Federation; 9 Permanent Missions and representation; 10 Secretary-General and the Secretariat; 11 Individual actions can make a difference; IV: The Council Convenes; 1 Convening a meeting; 2 Rejection of items; 3 Agenda and Summary statement of matters of which the Council is seized; 4 No requirement of a quorum; 5 Notice of meetings; 6 Timing of meetings; V: Conduct of Meetings and Participation; 1 States invited to participate in Council proceedings; 2 Individuals invited to participate in Council proceedings; 3 Participation of Palestinian officials; 4 Order of speakers; 5 'Right of reply' or 'further statements'; 6 Motions, proposals, and suggestions; 7 'Blue' draft resolutions and order of submission; 8 Non-member submission and co-sponsorship of resolutions; 9 Amendments; 10 Points of order; 11 'Precedence motions'; 12 Rulings by the President; 13 'Stopping the clock'; VI: Voting; 1 Substantive decisions and the veto; 2 Insufficient affirmative votes; 3 Procedural matters and the 'double veto'; 4 Voting on the

Loraine Sievers served the United Nations for over thirty years, concluding her career as Chief of the Security Council Secretariat Branch. Amongst her primary responsibilities was providing guidance to Council members, particularly each month's rotating Presidency, concerning the Council's procedures and practices. Loraine also participated as the Secretariat expert in the Security Council Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions from 2006-11. Previously, she served as Secretary to the Afghanistan and Sierra Leone Sanctions Committees, Programme Officer in the Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme, political analyst in the Regional Affairs Division, and speechwriter. Loraine contributed to the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council and several of the UN 'Blue Books' on conflict situations addressed by the Organization. ; Sam Daws has served in a variety of UN related roles over the last 25 years, and currently directs a project on UN governance an