Resolution Writing
Resolutions: the products of debate -Drafted alone (or usually preferably) with several countries -One super long sentence, typically sectioned with commas/semicolons -Three parts: heading, preamble, operative section -Draft resolution must gain sufficient support before submission -Staff member must accept and assign a number to draft -Questions, amendments may follow
Format Committee Name Sponsors: Signatories: Topic: Committee Name, Preambulatory Clauses, (use commas) 1. Operative Clauses; (use semicolons) (period after last operative)
General Assembly Fourth Committee Sponsors: United States, United Kingdom, and Spain Signatories: Japan, France, Germany, Zimbabwe, and Canada Topic: Human Trafficking The General Assembly, Deeply concerned about the issue of human trafficking, Observing the increase of human trafficking over the past decade, Stressing the fact that reform is of desperate need, 1. Encourages all nations of this assembly to make the stopping of human trafficking a higher priority; 2. Requests that programs be created to inspect probable cases of human trafficking; 3. Calls for an increase in enforcement of human trafficking laws in all nations; 4. Stresses the need to realize and stop this illegal practice; and 5. Urges member states to work together to free the 27 million slaves of the world.
Sponsors: The countries who wrote the resolution -List in alphabetical order if you want to be nice, -(or put your country first if you did all the work) Signatories: Countries that want to see the resolution debated -Do not have to support it to be a signatory
Preambulatory 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. Preambulatory clauses can include: References to the UN Charter; Citations of past UN resolutions or treaties on the topic under discussion; Mentions of statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN body or agency; Recognition of the efforts of regional or nongovernmental organizations in dealing with the issue; and General statements on the topic, its significance and its impact.
Operative Clauses Operative clauses identify the actions or recommendations made in a resolution. Each operative clause begins with a verb (called an operative phrase) and ends with a semicolon. Operative clauses should be organized in a logical progression, with each containing a single idea or proposal, and are always numbered. i. If a clause requires further explanation, bulleted lists set off by letters or roman numerals can also be used. ii. (If you use one sub clause, you need to have multiple) After the last operative clause, the resolution ends in a period.
Friendly Amendments A change in a draft resolution that EVERY SPONSOR agrees to Once it is approved by all sponsors and the chair, it is automatically added to the resolution If even one or more sponsors does not agree, it is an UNFRIENDLY AMENDMENT
Unfriendly Amendments A change to a resolution that is not approved by the sponsors The committee votes to add the unfriendly amendments before voting on the resolution as a whole If the amendment passes, the resolution is voted on with it included If it doesn t pass, the resolution is voted on without it
Rember: YOU CAN PASS MORE THAN ONE RESOLUTION Getting your resolution passed does not mean you win and passing a resolution you did not write does not mean you lose Sometimes it is best to pass multiple resolutions that address specific aspects of the topic Try not to repeat things that have already been done in past resolutions (research what the actual UN has passed in your topic) The base of your resolution is the operative clauses, you should not have more preambs than operatives