Customs of the Resolution
Notes from the Lead Delegate
Human societies have never been wholly rational. We consider certain hand gestures to be obscene, when they are merely hand gestures. We adopt idioms like “between a rock and a hard place” when one could simply say that they are stuck between two bad options. We continue to believe in ghosts, goblins, and gremlins, despite the immense evidence contrary to their existence. The truth is that these unnecessary beliefs and customs give us all a unique core identity as a species. So with Model United Nations resolutions. Resolutions are elaborate documents used to describe how a world problem might be solved. They add a great deal of seemingly unneeded formal flair to what would ordinarily be a few paragraphs. Thus, the beauty of the Resolution is in its complexity. Come, read step-by-step what constitutes the Resolution, and be amazed! Also, remember to consult the helpful article about Model United Nations essential vocabulary if you need some definitions.
Wait, I still don’t understand what a Resolution is!
The goal of Model United Nations is to create solutions to world problems that a majority can agree on. The formal, finalized amalgamation of your problem solving ideas is the resolution. Resolutions are written during unmoderated caucuses.
What are Signatories and Sponsors?
If you are going to write a resolution, you need a set number of signatories and sponsors in order for it to be legitimate. Sponsors are delegations that have helped create the resolution, and signatories are delegations that would like to see your resolution voted on. If you don’t have enough signatories or sponsors, all the hard work you have done to make your resolution is for naught.
The Three Components of a Resolution: Heading, Preambulatory Clauses, and Operative Clauses
Let’s start with the Heading
At the top right hand corner of your paper, list the type of committee the resolution is being written in (for instance, a General Assembly), as well as the topic and the session number. Title the entire thing with the name of the committee you are participating in (like UNESCO, for example). More laid-back committees allow you to give your resolution an original, creative title. The heading section is also where you should list the signatories and sponsors of your resolution. Take note that some committees have very specific instructions on how to properly format a resolution heading.
Now it’s time for some Preambulatory Clauses
Preambulatory clauses are the “so, this is the problem” parts of the resolution. They inform the reader of the issues your resolution will solve. Preambulatory clauses always start with nifty little words called preambulatory phrases. All you have to do to is stick the phrase onto the world problem you are trying to solve and presto! You have a preambulatory clause!
Here are some examples, where the preambulatory phrase is bolded and the world problem is italicized:
“Alarmed by the rise of drug trafficking in Mesoamerica,”
“Deeply Disturbed by the proliferation of famine throughout Ethiopia,”
“Emphasizing our dislike of the illegal use of chemical weapons by the Saudis in Yemen,”
Our friend the Operative Clause
While preambulatory clauses tell the reader about the problems the resolution will solve, operative clauses tell the reader what solutions will solve the aforementioned problems. Here is a pro tip: make sure to have more operative clauses than preambulatory clauses, because having more solutions than problems is always a good thing.
Operative clauses are constructed in a way that is quite similar to the construction of preambulatory clauses. Like preambulatory clauses, they always begin with special phrases, called (you will never guess) operative phrases. The operative phrase is mashed with the solution to a world problem, and presto! Or… maybe not presto just yet. If you want to go into more detail about the solution presented in the operative clause, you can add useful little parts called subclauses beneath the main clause. Subclauses are numbered using roman numerals or letters, unless the Chair says otherwise. If your main operative clause is not attached to any subclauses, it ends in a semicolon. If it is, then attach a colon to the last word of the main clause. For the last operative clause, end with a period.
Here are some examples of operative clauses, where the operative phrase is bolded, the solution is italicized, and the subclauses are written normally:
“Proclaims that all UN member states will embargo the Kingdom of Brunei:
a. All trade between member states and the Kingdom of Brunei must cease before Christmas Eve
b. UN member states that fail to meet these expectations are subject to a three hundred thousand dollar fine”
“Reaffirms that the citizens of all nations have a right to open defecation;”
“Establishes a demilitarized zone between Chile and Bolivia:
a. The demilitarized zone will stretch across 700 kilometers of their shared border
b. Military personnel reported in the zone will lose their legal ties to their nation of origin and may be arrested on sight
c. Economic activity is suspended in the zone until further diplomatic progress is made”
Smash the three components together!
Here is a very short example resolution combining a heading with preambulatory clauses and operative clauses:
General Assembly First Committee
Sponsors: East Timor, Iraq, and Papua New Guinea
Signatories: Portugal, Belgium, Federated States of Micronesia, Togo, Benin, Brazil, and Suriname
Topic: Violence in Schools
The General Assembly,
(Preambulatory)
Deeply conscious of the violence that is rampant throughout schools, especially in the developing world,
Recognizing the detrimental effects of drug use on student judgement,
Aware of the harmful effect of bullying,
(Operative)
- Promotes the use of tasers by school administrators in UN member states:
a. Grants for tasers involving sums of up to $50,000 will be available to all UN member states
2. Reaffirms the right of all UN member states to have control over their own school policy:
a. Each member state has the right to regulate or incentivise the use of tasers in their school systems
3. Mobilizes six hundred UN peacekeepers to isolated rural schools in Togo and Benin;
4. Condones administrative and teaching staff that have used tasers on unruly students in the past.
Was this Helpful?
If you need some more help with constructing preambulatory and operative clauses, check out this list of phrases/clauses.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below or, if you are an Enloe student, directly confront the Lead Delegate.
Happy resolution-crafting!
