Resolution Paper (unmoderated debate)
Learning to write a resolution is very important because the ultimate goal of the committee
sessions is for delegates to come up with written solutions to the problems they are trying to
solve. The primary authors of the resolution will also be recognized as the leaders
(sponsors) of the alliance.
Who writes a resolution?: Any delegate in the committee can write a resolution, but the
ones that represent their alliance and present it in front of all delegates are called “sponsors”
(there must be 3 sponsors in each alliance).
What is a resolution paper?: A resolution paper is a document that contains all the issues
that the committee wants to solve and the proposed solutions to that issue.
When and where are resolutions written?: Resolutions are usually written during
unmoderated debate, where delegates are free to roam around the committee to collaborate
on ideas with each other in order to solve the issue.
Why?: The ultimate purpose of a committee session is to pass a resolution paper. All the
speeches, debate, negotiation, and teamwork is supposed to lead up to a resolution which
contains all the proposed solutions to the issue. The resolution(s) that the majority of the
committee agrees upon will be passed during the voting bloc.
How to Write a Resolution Paper
1. Heading
The heading contains four pieces of information: the committee name, the sponsors, the
signatories, and the topic.
- The sponsors are the leaders of the resolution.
- The signatories are other delegates in the alliance that are NOT sponsors.
2. Pre-ambulatory clauses
The pre-ambulatory clauses states all the issues that the committee wants to solve on this
conference. It may state reasons why the committee is working on this issue and highlight
previous international actions on the issue. Pre-ambulatory clauses can include:
■ Past UN resolutions, treaties, or conventions related to the topic
■ Past regional, non-governmental, or national efforts in resolving this topic
■ References to the UN Charter or other international frameworks and laws
■ Statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN body or agency
■ General background info formation or facts about the topic, its significance, and
its impact.
1. First, take a statement that you want to write about (perhaps an issue you want to
solve or a specific fact from one of the five bullet points above).
2. You then take that statement, combine it with an underlined pre-ambulatory phrase,
and end it with a comma.
Here are some example pre-ambulatory phrases from UNA-USA’s website that you can
choose from:
You MUST use 3 pre-ambulatory clauses (like the ones underlined in the example)
3. Operative clauses
Operative clauses state the solutions that the countries of the same alliance write in their
resolution paper to solve the issues. The operative clauses should address the issues
specifically mentioned in the pre-ambulatory clauses above it.
1. First, take a solution that you want to include.
2. You then take that solution, combine it with an underlined operative phrase, and end
it with a semicolon (the last operative clause ends with a period).
● Operative clauses are also numbered. This differentiates them from pre-ambulatory
clauses, helps show logical progression in the resolution, and makes the operative
clauses easy to refer to in speeches and comments.
Here are some example operative phrases from UNA-USA’s website that you can choose
from:
Strategy Tip: Usually more details in an operative clause will make it stronger or at least
make the idea more clear to other delegates. A simple way to strengthen each operative
clause is to answer the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of each resolution.
These details can actually be broken down into sub-operative clauses underneath the main
operative clause.
A FINAL RESOLUTION PAPER MUST LOOK LIKE THIS: