Writing Resolutions in Model UN

What are resolutions and why do they matter?

Resolutions are written solutions for the topics that delegates debate in their committees. These
documents are written collaboratively by blocs of delegates during unmoderated caucus and then,
if there is enough interest, debated and voted on by the committee as a whole. Resolutions are
typically passed by a majority vote and then approved by the Chair.

Producing a good resolution is the purpose of the conference - to diplomatically collaborate with
others and solve the issues set out in the background guides. Being actively involved in the
writing, debate and amendment of resolutions can make a delegate a strong contender for awards
consideration.

Key Terms

In order to understand the resolution writing and debate process, you should know the meanings of the
following terms:

Working Paper - A document that contains the resolution ideas of one or more delegates and has
been introduced to the committee for discussion but is not formatted like a resolution. It could
instead take the form of a list, paragraph, etc.

Draft Resolution - A document that contains the resolution ideas of one or more delegates and
has been introduced to the committee for discussion. It is formatted like a proper resolution but
has not yet been voted on.

Sponsors - Delegates who wrote or significantly helped to write the draft resolution.

Signatories - Delegates that may or may not agree with the draft resolution’s content but want it
to be debated so that they can discuss it and possibly propose amendments.

Bloc - A group of delegates that work together to achieve a common goal or purpose.

Amendment - A change made to a draft resolution after it was presented and before being voted
on by the committee. Amendments can be friendly or unfriendly.

Friendly Amendment - Proposed changes to a draft resolution that all the sponsors agree with
and that are immediately adopted into the resolution and do not need to be voted on.

Unfriendly Amendment - Proposed changes to a draft resolution that one or more sponsors do not
agree with. These must be discussed and voted on.

Resolution - A formal document containing the solution ideas of one or more delegates that has
been discussed and passed by the committee.

Resolution Format & Organization

Resolutions contain three parts: the heading, preambulatory clauses, and operative clauses.
1. Heading

The heading contains the committee name and topic and a list of the resolution’s sponsors and
signatories.

● There should be at least two sponsors for any resolution. Those who significantly
contributed to its writing should be listed as sponsors. They will also be the ones who
present the resolution to the committee.
● Those who contributed only a little to the writing of the resolutions can be listed as
signatories instead of sponsors.
● Most conferences have a minimum number of signatories that are required in order for a
draft resolution to be debated in committee (usually 25-30% of the committee).
● Delegates who want to vote a resolution down should not be a sponsor or signatory to it.
● Delegates should not panic if they aren’t a sponsor or signatory to tons of resolutions.
Staying on policy and being active in the debating of resolutions is more important.

2. Preambulatory Clauses

Preambulatory clauses are clauses that explain why the resolution is needed.

● They each begin with an underlined preambulatory phrase starter.

● In this section, delegates can make general statements about the topic and its significance
and/or make references to facts from outside sources like UN resolutions and press
releases, NGO research, etc. that illustrate why the resolution is necessary.
○ If outside sources are referenced, they should be cited using footnotes in whatever
citation style the conference requires.
● Leave a blank line between each clause.
● Preambulatory clauses should each end with a comma (resolutions are written as one long
sentence).

3. Operative Clauses

Operative clauses describe the actions that will be taken by the committee to solve the issue.

● They each begin with an underlined operative phrase starter and are numbered.
○ Avoid using words like “demands”, “insists”, or “requires” since resolutions passed in
the UN by any body other than the Security Council are just recommendations and
have no binding legal power.
● Clauses should be worded clearly and specifically in order to avoid confusion or loopholes.
● Clauses should be organized in a logical manner (order of importance, chronological,
sequential, hierarchical, etc.) and each contain only a single idea.
○ If a clause requires further explanation, include sub clauses (indented under the
clause in question, labeled with letters) and sub-sub clauses (indented under the
sub clauses, labeled with roman numerals)
○ If using sub clauses/sub-sub clauses, you should have two or more. If you have only 1
sub clause/sub-sub clause, integrate it into the original clause/sub clause instead.
● Operative clauses end with a semicolon, except for the final one which should end with a
period since it is the end of the resolution.
Resolution Writing Tips

● Write as many preambulatory and operative clauses as you need. You should have at least
two of each at the very minimum but there is no maximum limit.
● Avoid repetition and redundancy.
● Be realistic. Don’t design resolutions that could not actually be achieved in real life.
● Be collaborative, not combative - the more people you can get on your side, the more likely it
is that you can pass your resolution.
● Proofread - check work closely for spelling and grammar mistakes and formatting errors.

Things to Avoid

● Avoid plagiarism at all costs! Cite anything that you referenced from an outside source
using footnotes. Failure to cite can lead to expulsion from committee and/or exclusion from
awards consideration.
● Avoid being egotistical or adversarial. The name of the game is diplomacy. Unless another
bloc’s resolution says something that directly opposes your own, try to merge with them.
● Never bring pre-written working papers or draft resolutions to a conference. For most
conferences, this would mean automatic expulsion or exclusion from awards consideration.
● Never write a draft resolution outside of committee time. Unmoderated caucus is for
resolution writing - free time is not.

Amending Resolutions

An amendment is a change made to a draft resolution during committee, once a resolution has
been presented. There are three kinds of amendments that a delegate can make:

● Change the wording of a clause or sub-clause

● Add a new clause or sub-clause
● Remove a clause or sub-clause

Don’t waste the committee’s time by writing an amendment that has to do with changing the
spelling and grammar of a clause. Amendments should be about changing the content of clauses.

When writing an amendment, it is not necessary to rewrite the entire draft resolution. A delegate
can just write the operative clause that they want to add, replace, or change. For example,

● Change: “Changes operative clause 4 to read ‘4. Recommends that the UN Declaration of
Human Rights serves as the benchmark for this inquiry.’”
● Add: “Adds an operative clause that reads ‘3. Further invites all OAS states to contribute 100
members of their armed forces to the coalition.’”
● Remove: “Deletes operative clause 7.”

Just like with a draft resolution, delegates will need to have a certain number of signatories for
their amendment in order for it to be discussed with the committee.
Any delegate that sponsors a resolution should be prepared for it to be questioned and amended.
Do not be offended or emotional. Stay professional and stay on policy.

Resolution Phrase Starters

Preambulatory Starters Operative Starters

● Affirming ● Having devoted Accepts

● Alarmed by attention Affirms
● Approving ● Having heard Approves
● Aware of ● Having received Authorizes
● Bearing in mind ● Having studied Calls
● Believing ● Keeping in Calls upon
● Confident mind Condemns
● Contemplating ● Noting with Confirms
● Convinced deep concern Congratulates
● Declaring ● Noting with Considers
● Deeply regret Declares accordingly
concerned ● Noting with Deplores
● Deeply satisfaction Designates
conscious ● Noting further Draws the attention
● Deeply ● Noting with Emphasizes
convinced approval Further invites
● Deeply ● Observing Encourages
disturbed ● Pointing out Expresses its appreciation
● Deeply ● Reaffirming Expresses its hope
regretting ● Realizing Further invites
● Desiring ● Recalling Further proclaims
● Emphasizing ● Recognizing Further reminds
● Expecting ● Referring Further recommends
● Expressing its ● Reminding Further requests
appreciation ● Seeking Further resolves
● Expressing its ● Taking into Note
satisfaction account Proclaims
● Fulfilling ● Taking into Reaffirms
● Fully alarmed consideration Recommends
● Fully believing ● Taking note Regrets
● Further ● Viewing with Requests
deploring appreciation Reminds
● Further ● Welcoming Solemnly affirms
recalling Strongly condemns
● Guided by Supports
● Having adopted Takes note of
● Having Transmits
 considered Trusts
Urges

Resolution Template

Heading

Committee SOCHUM (Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee)

Sponsors

Signatories

Topic ”Ensuring the Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Areas of Armed Conflicts”

Preambulatory Clauses
(Each should begin on its own line with an underlined preambulatory phrase
starter and end with a comma - leave a blank space between clauses)

The Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee,

Deeply concerned about how keeping cultural heritage safe in areas of armed conflicts is very
laborious,

Bearing in mind that the culture and the identity are what form a country and destroying it is
considered a crime,

Deeply regretting that a large amount of cultural heritage has been demolished by human
hands,

Operative Clauses
(Each should be numbered and begin with an underlined operative phrase starter.
All clauses should end with a semicolon other than the last one which ends with a
period - leave a blank space between clauses and between clauses and subclauses)

1. Encourages the implementation of fast emergency plans for safeguarding cultural

heritage and enables cultural workers to safely evacuate museum collections and to
shelter collections;

2. Recommends all members to develop training courses for law enforcement services and
judicial authority with the cultural institutions;
 3. Further proclaims conserving resources and reducing waste;

a. Emphasizes that by retaining and retrofitting old buildings, the need for raw
material extraction and associated energy consumption can be reduced;

*Remember to cite any outside information you referenced using footnotes

Sample Resolution Format

United Nations Children’s Fund
Sponsors: Canada, France, United Kingdom, South Korea
Signatories: South Africa, Malaysia, Maldives, Belgium, Norway, Australia, Tanzania, Denmark,
Mexico, Colombia, Japan, Chile, Botswana
Topic: “Preventing child marriage in the developing world”

The United Nations Children’s Fund,

Confident that it is in the best interest of all UN member states to prevent child marriage,

Recognizing that 12 million girls under the age of 18 are forced into marriage each year 1,

Deeply disturbed that laws instituted to prevent child marriage are circumvented by entire
communities in the name of tradition,

Desiring that all children have agency over their bodies and the choice to pursue the future of their
dreams,

1. Calls upon all member states to make school attendance mandatory for all children until
the age of 18

a. Emphasizes that economic conditions must be created that enable families to send
their children to school

i. Declares accordingly that governments must remove financial barriers to

public education, including tuition, uniform and supply costs
ii. Proclaims that microfinance be used in order to provide families in need with
economic opportunity so children are not needed for labor;

b. Trusts that families who purposefully do not allow their children to attend school will
be met with financial and legal penalties;

2. Expresses its hope that all governments will prioritize female empowerment in their
educational curriculum so that young women are aware of their rights;

1 Government of Canada, “Child, early and forced marriage”. 2020.

3. Authorizes four million dollars of coalition funds to be spent on a campaign targeting rural
villages that informs families about the negative emotional and physical impacts of child
marriage;

4. Further recommends that member states who do not reduce the occurrence of child
marriage in their state within two years face trade sanctions.