Resolution Making

PREPARING A RESOLUTION

The first step in writing the resolution is selecting a topic or issue.  The second step is both learning about the issue and researching your country’s position on it. It is often helpful to consult the United Nations website and other sources to identify the actions and decisions that have already been taken on the issue. While you certainly do not want to replicate an existing resolution, this is a helpful step in learning what has occurred.  The third step is identifying a position that you would like the United Nations to adopt on your topic.  Calling for UN research or funding, requesting specific UN actions, and asking the UN to express opinions are just several of the options at your disposal.  The fourth step is actually writing the resolution. The resolution must include a title that accurately and succinctly describes the issue and purpose of the resolution. The resolution itself must be a long, one-sentence statement, and begins with preambular clauses.  The purpose of preambular clauses is to educate the committee about the issue. You can take many approaches to preambular clauses, but good resolutions typically address one or more of the following.  They explain the issue’s history, and/or cite relevant examples and facts, and/or refer to previous UN or international action on the issue, and/or refer to existing treaties and other international documents related to the issue, just to mention some of the more prominent possibilities.  The preambular clauses are followed by operative clauses that call for some specific action or actions.

Start with:

Your committee's name
Your country’s name 
Title of the Resolution in bold (you make it up) 
The name of the body that will take final action on the resolution if it passes the committee should be in italics (i.e. either The Security Council, if you are serving on that, or The General Assembly, if you are on one of the General Assembly's committees). 

Then write the perambular clauses, starting each in italics and following each sentence with a comma.  Try to use these clauses to educate your fellow delegates about the issue/problem, and to “set the stage” for the recommendations that follow.  Then write the operative clauses, starting each in italics and following each clause with a semi-colon, except the last one, which ends with a period. 

Here are some possible preambular clauses: Affirming, Aware of, Bearing in mind, Declaring, Emphasizing, Guided by, Noting with deep concern, Noting further, Observing, Realizing, Recalling, Taking note.   

Here are some possible operative phrases: Calls upon, Confirms, Deplores, Encourages, Expresses its hope, Further requests, Proclaims, Recommends, Requests, Strongly affirms, Supports, Urges and the preambular and operative clauses should always begin with italics.

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Example

The Security Council
The United States 
Preventing the Spread of War in the Arctic (this title should be in bold) 
The Security Council, (this should be in italics)

Bearing in mind that the December 15, 2009 attack by Coldavia against Freezonia has already resulted in more than 50,000 casualties,
Distressed that the majority of the casualties have been deaths, primarily of Freezonian civilians,
Noting with deep concern that this is the second major military action directed by Coldavia against one of its neighbors within the last three years,
Observing that Coldavia has responded to previous calls by the United Nations to resolve disputes diplomatically on three occasions over the last two decades,
Realizing that the International Modern Peace Institute has released a report indicating that a continuation of hostilities is likely to result in the deaths of more than 300,000 people,
Noting further that the conflict has already created more than 100,000 refugees,
Recalling resolutions 129 (2003), 47 (2007), and 201 (2008) as well as the 18 December, 2009 statement of the President of the Security Council,
1. Reaffirms resolutions 129 (2003), 47 (2007), and 201 (2008);
2. Expresses its support for the Secretary-General's efforts to negotiate a cease-fire;
3. Directs that Coldavia cease its attacks immediately;
4. Requests that all member states freeze Coldavian financial assets and cease all trade and investment relations   with Coldavia until a ceasefire is verified by the United Nations;
5. Highly commends Northonia for its efforts to provide succor to the refugees seeking its protection;
6. Calls upon all member states to contribute to the Freezonia refugee fund;
7. Calls upon all parties concerned to refrain from activities inconsistent with the objectives of this resolution;
8. Decides to remain seized of the question.

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Note: the last operative clause indicates that the Security Council is expressing its willingness to continue to address the issue.

Resolutions should conform to the following guidelines (adopted from the Arrowhead Conference’s General Administrative Rule 11):

 §  Resolutions submitted by member-state delegations must accurately reflect the policy positions of their respectiveGovernments. 

§  The Secretariat has full discretion regarding determinations about whether a resolution shall be included in the agenda, and where it shall be placed on the agenda. Decisions of the Secretariat shall be final. 

§  Resolutions must conform to the proper use of the English language. 

§  Each delegate may submit one (1) resolution for his/her committee’s consideration.