WRITING RESOLUTIONS

Resolution Format Guide

BODY
The resolution is written in the format of a long sentence. There are format rules for resolutions,
just as there are grammatical rules for sentences.

1. The resolution begins with The General Assembly for all General Assembly
committees and with The Economic and Social Council for all ECOSOC resolutions.
The Specialized Agencies use their own names as the introductory line. The rest of the
resolution consists of clauses with the worlds of each clause underlined.

2. The next section, consisting of Perambulatory Clauses, describes the problem being
addressed, recalls past actions taken, explains the purpose of the resolution and offers
support for the operative clauses that follow. Each clause in the preamble begins with
an underlined worked and ends with a comma.

3. Operative Clauses are numbered and state the action to be taken by the body. These
clauses all begin with present tense, action verbs, which are generally stronger words
than those used in the Preamble. Each operative clause is followed by a semi-colon
except the last, which ends with a period.
CONTEXT
A well-written resolution demonstrates:
1. Familiarity with the problem. Relevant background information and previous United
Nations actions are included.

2. Recognition of the issues. Arguments on the topic are specified early.

3. Conciseness. Every clause and phrase should have a purpose.

4. Good form. An otherwise sound resolution will suffer from clumsy grammar and
sloppy form.

Delegates are encouraged to write resolutions. With the acknowledgement of your entrance, you will be sent a list
of topics around which to write resolutions. However, good resolutions on other topics will not be rejected
out of hand. Any resolution you write must be in accordance with your country's stated policy. A resolution is a
text setting out problems and suggested solutions in a formalized way. These resolutions form the
primary documents at the conference and are the main focus for MUN negotiations. Delegates spend
their time in the appropriate committees debating, and amending resolutions that have been brought, and also
spend time in the informal negotiating periods, lobbying and gathering support for them. Resolutions must be
submitted by one country and co-submitted by at least two others, before they can be debated.

FORMAT
The format of a resolution is strict, and certain rules must be followed. A resolution is divided into perambulatory
clauses and operative clauses. The preamble contains the background to the problem and should be kept fairly
short (1-3 clauses is sufficient), as the background will be covered in the debate itself. The preamble has little effect
on the purpose of the resolution. The arguments for the action you are proposing, and the reasoning behind the
calls for action should be in the operative clauses. To gauge the real meaning of a resolution, look at the
operative clauses first, and consider how they might be adapted to meet your country's needs.
However, note that resolutions for committees must not be entirely related to one country. A region or bloc of
countries is acceptable, if it is relevant to global politics.

A resolution is all one sentence. At the end of each perambulatory clause there is a comma; at the end of each
operative clauses there is a semicolon. Operative clauses should be numbered. Clauses may be divided into sub-
clauses labeled (I), (ii), etc.

AMENDMENTS
We strongly recommend that delegates submit amendments to a resolution, rather than simply vote
against it, as it leads to a more interesting debate. Any country may submit an amendment at any time, and
all amendments the chair has received by the end of time for the motion will be debated at the beginning of time
against. Each amendment has two minutes for and two minutes against (this time is reasonably flexible, depending
upon the length of and interest in the amendment). This time is separate from the actual motion time.

Amendments must be submitted to the Chair and written on your headed notepaper. Write down exactly what you
wish and pass the note to the Chair, who will read it aloud, and open debate on it.

A separate sheet must be used for each amendment, or for an amendment to an amendment (which is also
allowed, though amendments to amendments to amendments are not!).

Amendments must state clearly:

a) The line or lines in which the amendment is to be made (if it is not a whole clause);

b) The clauses which are affected by the amendment;

c) The kind of amendment. You may strike, add or insert words, phrases, or whole clauses.

It is not customary to amend perambulatory clauses, as they are simply an introduction, unless it is a friendly
amendment (one which the submitter accepts).