A Brief Guide to Writing a Resolution

Resolutions

Delegates should arrive at the simulation with statements on their country's position on the committee topics instead of resolutions, remembering that any pre-written resolutions are subject to changes and modifications in order to gain support for passage from other country's delegations on the committee.

It is often more productive if delegates develop their resolution in the committee caucusing by meeting with delegates that would most likely sponsor and support the intended resolution, thereby developing a resolution statement that will garner support and be likely to pass in committee.  Of course, this task involves compromise, cooperation, and the ability to listen to and understand other countries' positions and reach an amenable agreement.

Please being pencil (pens) and paper in order to develop and modify your resolutions.

Remember!  All proposed resolutions must be submitted to your committee chair before presentation to the committee.  Committee Chairs will provide copies.
 
 Writing a Resolution

Since most of the business of Model United Nations is conducted through resolutions, the ability to write a resolution is essential for active participation in the simulation.  Resolutions along with amendments are also the basis for debate and negotiation in committee.

A resolution is prepared by an individual nation or by a group of nations and can be either general statements on the topic under discussion or directives for action.  They can condemn actions of states, call for collective actions, or, as in the case of the Security Council, require economic or military sanctions.

Each resolution is a single sentence, with the different sections separated by semi-colons and commas.  The subject of the sentence is the organ making the statement such as the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, or the Security Council.

The remainder of the resolution is divided into two parts: preambulatory and operative clauses.  The preambulatory clauses are justifications for actions.  They usually begin with a participle and denote Charter authorization for actions, past resolutions precedent, and statements about particular purposes for the action.

Operative clauses are the policy portion of the resolution.  Each of these starts with the verb, and taken as a whole, deals with one idea arranged in logical progression.  Each clause should not be a collection of unrelated statements on a broad topic, but should deal with only one aspect of the problem. 

 

Preambulatory phrases:

Affirming

Deeply regretting

Having adopted

Reaffirming

Alarmed by

Desiring

Having considered

Recalling

Approving

Emphasizing

Having  considered further

Recognizing

Aware of

Expecting

Having devoted attention

Referring

Believing

Expressing its appreciation

Having examined

Seeking

Bearing in mind

Expressing its satisfaction

Having studied

Taking into account

Confident

Fulfilling

Having heard

Taking into consideration

Convinced

Fully aware

Having received

Taking note

Declaring

Fully alarmed

Keeping in mind

Viewing with appreciation

Deeply concerned

Fully believing

Noting with regret

Welcoming

Deeply conscious

Further deploring

Noting with satisfaction

 Realizing

Deeply convinced

Further recalling

 Noting further

 Observing

Deeply Disturbed

Guided by

 Noting with deep concern

 Noting with approval

 

Operative phrases:

Accepts

Declares accordingly

Further reminds

Regrets

Affirms

Deplores

Further recommends

Requests

Approved

Draws the attention

Further resolves

Solemnly affirms

Authorizes

Designates

Further requests

Strongly condemns

Calls

Emphasizes

Have resolved

Supports

Calls upon

Endorses

Notes

Trusts

Condemns

Expresses its appreciation

Proclaims

Takes note of

Congratulates

Expresses its hope

Reaffirms

Transmits

Confirms

Further invites

Recommends

Urges

Considers

Further proclaims

Reminds

SAMPLE RESOLUTION

Topic: Status of Comic Strips in Sunday Newspapers

Deploring the precipitous drop in the quality of national comic strips in the past five years, a trend which threatens to ruin the Sunday mornings of millions of citizens all over the world,

Taking into account the retirement of Bill Waterson, which has accelerated this trend toward bad humor,

Realizing that Calvin and Hobbes was all that held the Sunday Comics against the forces of barbarism,

1.     Appeals to the newspaper editors around the world to take action to improve the sliding quality of comic strips in their publications;

2.     Congratulates the author and creator of Calvin and Hobbes for his decade-long contribution to world humor;

3.     Expresses its sincere hope that Mr. Waterson will return from retirement, and that all up-and-coming artists will learn from his work;

4.     Urges the United Nations, in cooperation with the Secretary-General and all member governments, institute an international annual Calvin and Hobbes appreciation day, to be observed on a day which will best please all concerned;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to use his good offices to facilitate the implementation of this resolution as quickly as possible, and to submit the General Assembly each year a report on the progress made toward this goal.

 

This is taken and slightly modified from http://www.unausa.org/

Robert A. Crawford.
Copyright © 1998
All rights reserved.
Revised: