Mastering Speaker Time Management in Shisman Committees: A How-To Guide (Full Transcript)

Speaker 1: Hi everyone and welcome to another installment in our Shisman how-to instructional video series. In this video we're going to be talking about speakers time and more specifically how to limit it or extend it. Now at the beginning of a Shisman committee, so at the beginning of the conference or at the beginning of debate on a new topic, the chair is going to open up a new speakers list. The chair is going to entertain a motion to do that. And whenever a new speakers list is open, the first person on that speakers list gets an unlimited amount of time to speak. And that delegate can of course choose to yield their time to questions to another delegate or back to the chair. And after that delegate has finished speaking, that delegate has the opportunity to make a motion and then the chair is going to take two motions from the floor or up to two motions from the floor if there are two. And at that point it's usually recommended that one of those motions be to limit the speakers time because otherwise all the other speakers on the speakers list are going to have unlimited time too, which is really going to drain the available time that the committee has for hearing the views of a lot of delegates. So whenever you then make a motion to limit speakers time, it's just like a normal motion, just say I move to limit speakers time to x, so whatever time you have in mind. Usually something from about seven to ten minutes is where ordinarily speakers time is going to fall within that range. All this motion does again is just limit the amount of time each delegate on the speakers list is allowed to speak when he or she has the floor. That includes yielding to questions, yielding time to another delegate and so on. This motion is debatable, just needs a simple majority to pass. And if there is opposition, it will be subject to a one pro one con debate. I hope that this explanation has been helpful. What you're going to see next is a demonstration from the Schisman officers showing how to limit speakers time in practice in a real committee. Also just do please note, you can limit speakers time, but you can also make a motion to extend speakers time. So keep that in mind as well. Again, hope this explanation has been helpful. Thank you for

Speaker 2: listening. We will now take up to two points of motions from the floor. Are there any points of

Speaker 3: motions on the floor at this time? Kenya. Congressman Kenya, I move to limit speakers

Speaker 2: time to five minutes. That motion is in order, delegate. Are there any seconds? Seeing seconds, is there any opposition? Seeing opposition, we will now have a one pro one con debate on whether or not to limit speakers time. Speaking pro, Kenya. Speaking con, Waldova. Speaking pro, Kenya, you are now recognized for 30 seconds. Thank you, Chair. Congressman

Speaker 3: Kenya, we have five speakers to get through, and I believe, Kenya believes that five minutes is the perfect amount of time to get through all the speakers necessary. Thank you. I yield the remainder of my time to the Chair. Thank you, delegate. Speaking con,

Speaker 4: Waldova, you are now recognized for 30 seconds. Andrew from Waldova. It is in Waldova's opinion that five minutes is not enough time for a country to both explain their position and answer questions on the subject. Thank you. We yield the remainder of our time to the Chair. All right. Thank you, delegate. That concludes our pro con debate.