MODEL UNITED

NATIONS 2018
DRAFTING OF CLAUSES, RESERVATIONS AND
CAUCUSING

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Prepared by: Joshua M Singh and Ruqayyah Scott
 ELEMENTS OF A RESOLUTION

There are three main parts to a draft resolution: the heading, the preamble and the
operative section.
The heading shows the committee and topic along with the resolution number. It
also lists the draft resolution's sponsors and signatories. Each draft resolution is one
long sentence with sections separated by commas and semicolons. The subject of
the sentence is the body making the statement.
The preamble and operative sections then describe the current situation and
actions that the committee will take.
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 ELEMENTS OF A RESOLUTION

• Headings
• Preamble
• Operative Clauses

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 PREAMBLE/ PERAMBULATORY CLAUSES
• The preamble of a draft resolution states the reasons for which the committee is
addressing the topic and highlights past international action on the issue. Each clause
begins with a present participle (called a perambulatory phrase) and ends with a comma.
• Perambulatory clauses can include:
1. References to the UN Charter;
2. Citations of past UN resolutions or treaties on the topic under discussion;
3. Mentions of statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN body or agency;
4. Recognition of the efforts of regional or nongovernmental organizations in dealing with
the issue; and
5. General statements on the topic, its significance and its impact.
•
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PREAMBLE/ PERAMBULATORY CLAUSES
• Information based clauses states:
1. the issues that the GA wishes to resolve
2. International issues
3. Previous international actions
4. Actions of Individual Nations / Actions of member and non-member states / NGOs
5. Articles of International Law, UN Charter, Treaties or Conventions
6. Statements by other UN bodies or officials, for example – the Secretary General

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 PREAMBLE/ PERAMBULATORY CLAUSES

Affirming Convinced
Alarmed by Declaring
Approving Deeply concerned
Bearing in mind Deeply conscious
Believing Deeply convinced
Confident Deeply Disturbed
Contemplating Deeply Regretting
Desiring
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Emphasizing 6
PREAMBLE/ PERAMBULATORY CLAUSES
Expecting Expressing it’s appreciation
Emphasizing Fulfilling
Expecting Fully aware
Expressing it’s appreciation Further deploring
Fulfilling Further recalling
Fully aware Guided by
Emphasizing Having adopted
Expecting Having considered
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PREAMBLE/ PERAMBULATORY CLAUSES
Having examined Recalling
Having received Recognizing
Keeping in mind Referring
Noting with deep concern Seeking
Nothing with satisfaction Taking into consideration
Noting further Taking note
Observing Viewing with appreciation
Reaffirming Welcoming
Realizing
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Acknowledging 8
PREAMBLE/ PERAMBULATORY CLAUSES

• Examples of a Preamble/ Perambulatory Clause:

1.Acknowledging that Kes sings the word hello, hello, hello,
hello, hello repeatedly in his Soca song.
2.Alarmed that crime is on the rise in Trinidad and Tobago.

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 OPERATIVE CLAUSES
• These are the most important clauses that you should pay attention to.
• These are the action clauses.
• They reference and posit specific courses of action or responsibility of member states and/or UN bodies towards any
given situation / circumstance / issue.
• Operative clauses offer solutions to issues addressed earlier in a resolution through the perambulatory section. These
clauses are action oriented and should include both an underlined verb at the beginning of your sentence followed by
the proposed solution. Each clause should follow the following principals:
1. Clause should be numbered;
2. Each clause should support one another and continue to build your solution;
3. Add details to your clauses in order to have a complete solution;
4. Operative clauses are punctuated by a semicolon, with the exception of your last operative clause which should end with
a period.

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OPERATIVE CLAUSES

• Examples of words and phrases seen in operative clauses:

Accepts Confirms
Affirms Congratulates
Approves Considers
Authorizes Declares accordingly
Calls Deplores
Calls upon Designates
Condemns Draws the attention
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Emphasize
 OPERATIVE CLAUSES
Encourages
Endorses Encourages
Expresses its appreciation Endorses
Expresses its hope Expresses its appreciation
Further invites Expresses its hope
Deplores Further invites
Designates Further proclaims
Draws the attention Further reminds
Emphasizes
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 OPERATIVE CLAUSES
Further recommends Regrets
Further requests Reminds
Further resolves Requests
Has resolved Solemnly affirms
Notes Strongly condemns
Proclaims Supports
Reaffirms Takes note of
Recommends
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Transmits 13

Trusts
OPERATIVE CLAUSES

• Examples:
1. Emphasizing that “you can’t mess with if you wanted to, these expensive, these red bottoms these is
bloody shoes” .
2. Strongly urges that ” some would should take me back to Havana oh na na”.

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 SAMPLE RESOLUTION
•
Resolution GA/3/1.1
• General Assembly Third Committee
•
Sponsors: United States, Austria and Italy
Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Japan, Canada, Mali, the Netherlands and Gabon
Topic: "Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies"

The General Assembly,

Reminding all nations of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
which recognizes the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all global citizens, [use commas to
separate preambulatory clauses]

Reaffirming its Resolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages Governments to work with UN bodies
aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance,

Noting with satisfaction the past efforts of various relevant UN bodies and nongovernmental organizations,
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•
SAMPLE RESOLUTION
Stressing the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is in need of reform,
particularly in the humanitarian realm,
• Encourages all relevant agencies of the United Nations to collaborate more closely with countries at the
grassroots level to enhance the carrying out of relief efforts; [use semicolons to separate operative clauses]
• Urges member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs to streamline
efforts of humanitarian aid;
• Requests that all nations develop rapid deployment forces to better enhance the coordination of relief efforts of
humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies;
• Calls for the development of a United Nations Trust Fund that encourages voluntary donations from the private
transnational sector to aid in funding the implementation of rapid deployment forces;
• Stresses the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social
situations and events of all countries;
• Calls upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidated appeals for humanitarian assistance; and
• Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post-conflict assistance through reconstruction
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and development. [end resolutions with a period]
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 EDITING THE RESOLUTION

• There are three options available to delegates if there is disagreement as it relates to the clause:
1. Amend the existing clause
2. Add a new clause
3. Remove the existing clause

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EDITING THE RESOLUTION
• Why edit the resolution?
1. The clause may do too much
2. The clause may do too little
3. The clause does nothing
4. The clause is repetitive – in form or in substance
5. Another subject area must be dealt with / something important was not
addressed
6. You can do better than what is already there
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 EDITING THE RESOLUTION
• This is done pursuant to the President’s direction
• Any amendment / addition / removal of a clause requires two
sponsors. SPONSORS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THEIR
SPONSORSHIP BEFORE THE CLAUSE IS SUBMITTED TO THE HEAD
TABLE.
• You have blocs, use them.
• KEEP A COPY OF THE CLAUSE FOR YOUR OWN USE

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 THINGS WE DO NOT AMEND!

• Grammatical Errors UNLESS IT CHANGES THE MEANING OF THE CLAUSE

• Spelling Errors UNLESS IT is a completely different word that CHANGES THE MEANING OF THE CLAUSE
• Typos UNLESS IT CHANGES THE MEANING OF THE CLAUSE
• The order of clauses
• Preambulatory Clauses

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SPONSORS AND SIGNATORIES
• Sponsors of a draft resolution are the principal authors of the document
and agree with its substance. Although it is possible to have only one
sponsor, this rarely occurs at the UN, since countries must work together to
create widely agreeable language in order for the draft resolution to pass.
Sponsors control a draft resolution and only the sponsors can approve
immediate changes.

• Signatories are countries that may or may not agree with the substance of
the draft resolution but still wish to see it debated so that they can propose
amendments.
A certain percentage of the committee must be either sponsors or
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signatories to a draft resolution in order for it to be accepted.

 THE SPONSOR’S SPEECH

• What is the theme / subject matter of the clause?

• What is the problem that it addresses? Why should it be addressed? How
serious is the problem and/or how effective is the clause in addressing it?
• Why does your country support the clause?
• Why does your bloc support the clause / why should your bloc support the
clause?
• Why should other countries support the clause?
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THE SPONSOR’S SPEECH – WHAT NOT TO DO

• “We the delegation of Greece supports the clause because we

believe that it is good and effective.”
• “We the delegation of the United States of America support the
clause submitted by Russia as also sponsored by China…”
• “We the delegation of France yield our time to the chair”

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SPONSOR’S SPEECH – WHAT TO DO
(LGBT – UK)
• Theme / Problem – People who identify as LGBT
• Country & Region – 1,026,000 people in 2016 in the UK identified as
LGBT
• World – at least 10% of the entire population in each country identify as
LGBT
• At risk – Of being discriminated against
• Why?
• Conclude – Why are we here – addresses the problem

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 DRAFTING CLAUSES

• What is the problem?

• What is the theme or nature of the response for the clause?
• What practical mechanisms can I use?
• How will it work?
• How do I be diplomatic about it?
• How effective is the clause?

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DRAFTING CLAUSES- LBGT

• Strongly urges member states to implement laws in their

respective countries to protect people who are and identify as
LGBT.
• Lets talk about this for a bit.

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DRAFTING – PERFECTING THE CHAPEAU
• French Origin “hat” – A term used in legal drafting
• It involves an introductory phrase to lead onto the substantive
provisions
• The pros of utilising the chapeau are that it:
1. provides clarity; and
2. is easier to read.
• The con of utilising the chapeau is that it can either go really good
or really badly.
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DRAFTING – PERFECTING THE CHAPEAU
• Acknowledges that Voice has been blessed with the opportunity to fly from country to country, to drink
champagne when he is thirsty and to see the things he has never seen.

• Acknowledges that Taylor Swift

1. Knew he was a killer first time that she saw him.

2. Wondered how many girls he loved and left haunted.
3. She knows she going to be with him so she takes her time and is
Ready for it.

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 BREAK
OFFER A FIVE MINUTES BREAK

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RESERVATIONS

• That the member of state of France will not ratify a global policy to
allow citizens to “wine and fling it up”.
• With reference to Clause 3, before any collaboration between
Machel Montano and Super Blue , the specific consent of Machel
Montano shall be required.

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