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Resolution Guide!
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Introduction:
Resolutions are actions of the United Nations submitted in draft form under the sponsorship of one or more delegations in a committee.
Essentially, resolutions may just address an opinion to a given situation or may recommend action to be taken by an UN Agency or UN
Organ. Only in the Security Council are resolutions binding members to a certain extent. In other UN Agencies and Organs resolutions
are merely recommendations.
Draft resolutions are resolutions as they are drafted and passed in Committee Sessions that are taking place during the VIMUN
Conference. As soon as a draft resolution is successfully passed in a committee it will move on to the General Assembly where
successful passing will turn this Draft Resolution into a Resolution.
It is important to acknowledge that in drafting a resolution wording will influence its acceptance among fellow delegates. The draft
resolution should be clear and concise. Consequently, the better the substance of a draft resolution is researched the higher the
success of passing it within the committee session. Depending on the Committee, its topic discussed and the goal of the delegates
drafting and sponsoring a resolution the content will be more specific or more general.
Resolutions within the UN follow certain rules and are written in a certain format. Each resolution has three parts:
1. The Heading
2. The Preamble
3. The Operative Clauses
It is one long sentence with commas and semicolons throughout the resolution and with one 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 will end with a
semicolon except the final clause, which ends with a period.
Sponsors: Sponsors of a resolution are those countries that have been the principle authors of the document and agree with its content
Signatories: Signatories are countries that may or may not agree with the content of the resolution, but would like to have the resolution
discussed on the floor.
Draft Resolution
Heading:
Committee: the committee or organ in which the resolution is introduced
Sponsors: List of countries sponsoring the resolution
Signatories: List of countries signing the resolution
Preamble:
The preamble of a resolution is the introductory part explaining the problem as it needs to be solved. Essentially, the preamble contains
everything but proposing action to be taken to solve the problem. The preamble begins with the name of the simulated committee.
Perambulatory phrases are underlined and perambulatory clauses are separated by commas.
Issues that might be included in the preamble are:
References to the UN Charter
Citations of past UN Resolutions or treaties relevant to the topic
Historical background information explaining the need for further action
Recognition of the efforts made by regional organization to tackle the problem and dealing with the issue at hand
General statements on the topic, its significance and its effects satisfying the need for the resolution to be passed
perambulatory Phrases:
Keep in mind that the selection of the perambulatory phrases will be a first step to determine whether the resolution will be more
general or more specific, more radical or softer in its approach.
Some of the perambulatory phrases are:
Acknowledging… Approving… Believing…
Affirming… Aware of… Cognizant…
Alarmed… Bearing in mind… Concerned…
Anxious… Being convinced… Confident…
Conscious… …aware… …with concern…
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Considering… …believing… …with deep concern…
Contemplating… …bearing in mind… …with grave concern…
Convinced… Grieved… …with regret…
Declaring… Guided by… …with satisfaction…
Deeply disturbed… Having… Observing…
Desiring… …adopted… Reaffirming…
Determined… …approved… Realizing…
Emphasizing… …considered… Recalling…
Encouraged… …examined further… Recognizing…
Endorsing… …received… Referring…
Expressing… …reviewed… Regretting…
…appreciation… Keeping in mind… Reiterating…
…deep appreciation… Mindful… Seeking…
Expecting… Noting… Stressing…
Fulfilling… …further Welcoming…
Fully… …with approval…
Operative Clauses:
Operative clauses are describing the actions that need to be taken in order to solve the problem, to tackle the issue. It is the way for the
supporter to express their country’s main policy goals on the issue. 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 in the Security Council are non-binding. Therefore, it is
important to choose the operative phrases and the wording of the operative clauses accordingly.
Operative Phrases are, like the perambulatory phrases, underlined.
Some operative phrases are:
Accepts… Encourages… …with appreciation…
Adopts… Endorses… …with approval…
Affirms… Expressing… …with interest…
Appeals… …its appreciation… …with satisfaction…
Appreciates… …its conviction… Reaffirms…
Approves… …its regret… …its belief…
Authorizes… …its sympathy… Recognizes…
Calls upon… …its thanks… Recommends…
Commends… …the belief… Regrets…
Concurs… …the hope… Reiterates…
Condemns… Further… Renews its appeal…
Confirms… …concurs… Repeats…
Congratulates… …invites… Suggests…
Considers… …proclaims… Strongly…
Decides… …reminds… Supports…
…accordingly… …recommends… Takes not of…
Declares… …requests… Transmits…
Deplores.. …resolves… Urges…
Designates… Instructs… Welcomes…
Directs… Invites…
Emphasizes… Notes…
Amendments:
After draft resolutions have been submitted to the committee for discussion changes known as amendments might be made and
suggested by fellow delegates. Although the guidelines for these amendments might be less strict the style, wording and intent of the
amendment should complement the draft resolution. Essentially, amendments represent new viewpoints or suggestions on the topic
under discussion.
There are several types of amendments as outline in the Rules of Procedure as well:
Editorial amendments: do not alter the meaning intent, effect, or overall substance of a resolution and are solely introduced for
purpose of clarification.
Friendly amendments: do not fundamentally change the intent of the resolution. Unfriendly
amendments: are not supported by the sponsors of the resolution.
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