Resolutions are the Vehicle for Translating Country Positions into Effective Action
Actions of the United Nations are expressed in resolutions submitted in draft form under the sponsorship of one or more delegations. Resolutions may simply register an opinion, or may recommend action to be taken by a U.N. organ or related agency. Only the Security Council may take “decisions” which bind Member States to a certain course of action.
Although it is helpful to come to a Model U.N. conference with a draft resolution prepared, the organizers sometimes forbid it as most draft resolutions are sponsored by several nations rather than a single delegation. Therefore, it is essential that delegates check with the organizers of the event.
When drafting and sponsoring a draft resolution, delegates should keep in mind the wording will influence its appeal (or lack thereof). The draft resolution should be clear, concise and specific. The substance should be well researched, and reflect the character and interests of the sponsoring nations.
United Nations resolutions follow a common format. Each resolution has three parts: the heading, the preamble and the operative clauses. It is one long sentence with commas and semicolons throughout the resolution and with a period at the very end. The first word in each clause should be underlined, and each clause in the preamble should end with a comma. All operative clauses end with a semicolon except the final clause, which ends with a period.
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Sponsors and Signatories Sponsors of a resolution are those countries that have been the principal authors of the document and agree with its substance. Signatories are countries that may or may not agree with the substance of the resolution, but would like to see it debated on the floor. |
I. The Draft Resolution
HEADING
Committee: i.e. the committee or organ in which the resolution is introduced
Topic: the topic of the resolution
Sponsored by: list of sponsoring countries
PREAMBLE
The purpose of the preamble is to show that there is a problem that needs to be solved. The preamble of a resolution does everything but propose action or make any substantive statement in the topic at hand. The preamble begins with the name of one of the three major organs. The preambulatory clauses can include:
References to the U.N. Charter;
Citations of past U.N. resolutions or treaties that been ratified under the topic of discussion;
Statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant U.N. body or agency;
Recognition of the work or efforts of regional organizations in dealing with the issue; and
General statements on the topic, its significance, and its effects.
Preambulatory Phrases:
| Acknowledging … Affirming … Alarmed … Anxious … Approving … Aware … Bearing in mind … Being convinced … Believing … Cognizant … Concerned … Confident … Conscious … Considering … Contemplating … Convinced … Declaring … |
Deeply disturbed… Desiring … Determined … Emphasizing … Encouraged … Endorsing … Expressing … …appreciation… …deep appreciation… Expecting … Fulfilling … Fully … …aware … …believing… …bearing in mind… Grieved… |
Guided by… Having… …adopted… …approved… …considered… …examined further… …received… …reviewed… Keeping in mind… Mindful… Noting… …further… …with approval… …with concern… |
…with deep concern… …with grave concern… …with regret… …with satisfaction… Observing… Reaffirming… Realizing… Recalling… Recognizing… Referring… Regretting… Reiterating… Seeking… Stressing… Welcoming… |
Operative Clauses:
Operative clauses are set out to achieve the country’s main policy goals on the topic. Each operative clause begins with a number, ends with a semicolon and the final clause ends with a period. Operative clauses should be organized in a logical progression, and each clause should contain a single idea or policy proposal. Keep in mind that all resolutions except the Security Council are non-binding.
| Accepts… Adopts… Affirms… Appeals… Appreciates… Approves… Authorizes… Calls upon… Commends… Concurs… Condemns… Confirms… Congratulates… Considers… Decides… …accordingly… Declares… Deplores… Designates… Directs… Emphasizes… |
Encourages… Endorses… Expressing… …its appreciation… …its conviction… …its regret… …its sympathy… …its thanks… …the belief… …the hope… Further… …concurs… …invites …proclaims… …reminds… …recommends… …requests… …resolves… Instructs… Invites… |
Notes… …with appreciation …with approval… …with interest… …with satisfaction… Reaffirms… …its belief… Recognizes… Recommends… Regrets… Reiterates… Renews its appeal Repeats… Suggests… Strongly… Supports… Takes note of… Transmits… Urges… Welcomes… |
II. Sample Resolution
| Committee: GA Third Committee Subject: Strengthening U.N. Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance Sponsors: United States, Austria, Italy Signatories: Greece, Japan, Canada, Mali, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Belgium, United Kingdom, India and GabonThe General Assembly Remindingall 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 & UNDERLINE THE FIRST WORD OR PHRASEReaffirmingresolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages governments to work with established U.N. bodies aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance,Noting with satisfaction the past efforts of various relevant U.N. bodies and Non-Governmental Organizations,
USE SEMICOLONS TO SEPARATE OPERATIVE CLAUSES & UNDERLINE THE FIRST WORD OR PHRASE
END RESOLUTION WITH A PERIOD |
Amendments. During the course of negotiation and cooperation, draft resolutions will alter through changes known as amendments. The guidelines for these amendments are less strict since many arise during the course of the activity itself: however, the style, wording and intent of the amendment should complement the original draft resolution. Amendments follow the pattern already stated in the document and simply present new viewpoints or suggestions for action on the same topic. Most conferences have two forms of amendments:
Sample Resolution
*Please note: the sample resolution presented below is shown for formatting purposes only. It is intentionally simplistic, and is not meant to represent the content of an actual draft resolution.
COMMITTEE: Plenary
TOPIC: Use of force in international relations
SIGNATORIES:[all of the countries that would like to see this resolution debated before the committee]
RECOGNIZING that the use of force in international relations cannot be condoned,
[commas after each preambulatory phrase]
AFFIRMING the principals of the UN Charter in regards to the non-usage of force in international relations,
SEEKING solutions to international problems without the use of force,
DEEPLY CONCERNED that some nations still consider the use of force acceptable,
1. REQUESTS all nations to refrain from the use of force in international relations;
[semi-colons after each operative phrase]
2. SUPPORTS the use of the various United Nations bodies for the settlement of international disputes;
3. CONGRATULATES all nations which choose to resolve their disputes in a peaceful fashion.
| Friendly amendment. A friendly amendment is a change to the resolution that all of the sponsors feel is appropriate. | |
| Unfriendly amendment. An unfriendly amendment is an amendment that the sponsors of the resolution do not support. |
Sample of an amendment
Committee: GA Third Committee
Subject: Strengthening U.N. Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance
Sponsors: France, Romania, and Poland
Signatories: Togo, Australia, Fiji, Brazil, St. Lucia, Viet Nam, New Zealand, Pakistan, Kuwait and Argentina
Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post conflict assistance though reconstruction and development;
Bringing a resolution to the floor for debate
Every conference has a different process for allowing draft resolutions to come to the floor for debate. Many conference require that a certain number of delegations sign the document, and then someone from the staff reads over the resolution to ensure that it is in proper format and relevant. After someone from the staff has read the document, it is then introduced by the sponsoring delegations. In some cases a delegate must make a motion to introduce the draft resolution, while in other cases the sponsors are immediately called upon to read the document. Again, this differs from conference to conference and it is essential to find out the resolution process for the specific conference that the delegate plans on attending.