Writing Resolutions
Understanding Resolutions
The purpose of a committee session is to pass a resolution. It is the work product of all the speeches, debates, negotiations, and teamwork that happens during a committee session.
- A resolution is a document that contains all the issues that the committee wants to solve and the proposed solutions to that issue.
- A draft resolution is called a working paper.
- The author of a resolution is called a sponsor. Resolutions often have multiple sponsors.
- Signatories are delegates who may not agree with a resolution but will add their name to a paper just to see it debated.
- Pre-ambulatory clauses explain the reasons why the committee is working on this issue. They might mention what actions have been done in the past to try to address the issue– for example, past UN resolutions, treaties, or conventions related to the topic. They might reference the UN charter or statements made by a Secretary-General. Pre-ambulatory clauses also can be used to share general background information or facts about the topic, its significance, and its impact.
- Operative clauses explain the actions that the sponsors believe should be taken to address the problems mentioned in the preambulatory clauses. The purpose of operative clauses is to propose solutions.
How to draft working papers/resolutions at SPU HSMUN
ALL resolutions at SPU HSMUN MUST be written during the conference. Pre-written work is strictly prohibited.
Please use the “Resolution Template” to begin drafting. Your Chair will have additional copies if you need them. (You don’t need to have 4 preambulatory clauses and 6 operative clauses. Do as many or as few as you need. Feel free to use the back of the paper or additional templates.)
- Fill in the name of the committee where the resolution will be introduced
- Fill in the Topic of the resolution addresses
- Write the names of the countries that are sponsors of the resolution
- Write the names of countries that agree to be signatories to the resolution
- For all resolutions, the minimum number of sponsors + signatories must be at least 5.
- Draft Preambulatory Clauses.
- See the list of preambulatory phrases to help you start each clause.
- Draft Operative Clauses.
- See the list of operative phrases to help you start each operative clause.
Amendments
An amendment changes a resolution by adding, striking out, or substituting a word or phrase.
There are two types of amendments: friendly and unfriendly.
- Friendly Amendments
- A friendly amendment is agreed upon by all sponsors of the resolution.
It automatically becomes part of the resolution upon being submitted.
- Unfriendly Amendments
- An unfriendly amendment is not supported by one or more of the sponsors.
- An unfriendly amendment requires signatures from 5 delegations of the body to be considered.
- Unfriendly amendments are voted upon at the closure of debate, before their respective resolutions, in the order submitted, and are treated as individual entities (similarly to resolutions).
- An unfriendly amendment requires a two-thirds vote to become included in the resolution.
ALL amendments must be submitted to the chair in writing.
Amendments may not be amended, and may not amend the Preamble of a Resolution.