The Resolution

 

 

The Life of a Resolution

 

Pre-Conference:            Research and Resolution Drafting

                                      Support

                                      5 Hard Copies and one on a Computer Disk

 

Conference Day One:             Lobby and negotiate in committee room

 

 

 


                                                Final copy and print in computer room

 

 

 


                                                Submit to Approval Panel

                                                          Rejections for revision

                                                          Go back to computer room

                                                                  

 

 

 


                                         Folder # 1            Folder # 2     Folder # 3

 

Approved resolutions go into “official” committee folders

 

 

Conference Day Two:            Only Official resolutions can be debated.

 

 

 

As stated earlier, the policy statement should serve as a basis for the draft resolution. The resolution, however, is the primary document of the conference, and the main focus of negotiations.

 

 

FORMULATION

 

Resolutions must be separated into perambulatory and operative sections and typed according to the official format (refer to sample resolution).

 

In drafting a resolution it is more sensible to begin with the formulation of the operative clauses. Once you have decided what kind of action you think the United Nations should take or what attitude it should adopt, you can turn to the preamble, which should contain the background to the problem, the argumentation and the reasoning behind the calls for action contained in the operative clauses. It is important to ensure that the operative clauses consist only of expression of will or calls for action and that all background information, argumentation and reasoning is contained in the preamble. The whole resolution consists of rather long but nevertheless coherent sentences, divided into clauses and sub clauses. Since delegates are pressured for time during the conference and need to study documents carefully, no resolution should be more than two pages long unless absolutely necessary.

 

PLAGIARISM

 

Since issues are taken from the real UN Agenda and since many topics have been debated over many years, not only at UN but at MUN, delegates may want to use UN resolutions or resolutions from previous conferences not only as source material, but may also be inclined to “borrow” ideas, clauses or phrases because they precisely and accurately reflect their own policy. However, delegates should be aware of blindly copying out whole sections of previous resolutions without having completely understood what is written or without having checked the contents for accuracy.

 

 

 

 

FORMAT

 

Resolutions must have a heading on each page. Each page must be numbered.

FORUM:                    name of the forum, including dub-commission where appropriate

QUESTION OF:        the issue which the resolution deals with the subject of the resolution, i.e. the name of the forum in capital letters followed by a comma.

Notice also that:

1.                  the introductory word or phrase of each clause is underlined,

2.                  there is a line-space between each clause,

3.                  the lines of text are numbered,

4.                  each operative clause is numbered,

5.                  sub-clauses are lettered a), b), c), etc.; sub sub-clauses are numbered i), ii), iii), etc.,

6.                  operative clauses and sub-clauses are indented (by using the tab settings not the space bar!)

7.                  acronyms and abbreviations are written out in full the first time they are used in a resolution,

8.                  delegate or school names do not appear on a resolution,

9.                  submitting and co-submitting delegation names appear only on the cosubmitter’s sheet.

 

Preambulatory Phrases

 

Acknowledging                         Expecting                                 Noting with appreciation

Affirming                                  Expressing its appreciation        Noting with approval

Alarmed by                              Expressing its satisfaction          Noting with deep concern

Approving                                Fulfilling                                    Noting with regret

Aware of                                  Fully alarmed                            Noting with satisfaction

Believing                                   Fully aware                               Observing

Bearing in mind                         Fully believing               Pointing out

Confident                                 Further deploring                      Reaffirming

Congratulating              Further recalling                        Realizing

Contemplating              Guided by                                Recalling

Convinced                                Having adopted                        Recognizing

Declaring                                  Having considered                    Referring

Deeply concerned                     Having considered further         Reminding

Deeply conscious                      Having devoted attention           Seeking

Deeply convinced                     Having examined                      Taking into account

Deeply disturbed                      Having heard                            Taking into consideration

Deeply regretting                      Having received                        Taking note

Deploring                                 Having studied              Viewing with appreciation

Desiring                                    Keeping in mind                        Welcoming

Emphasizing                              Noting further

 

 

Operative Phrases

 

Accepts                                                Encourages                               Recommends

Affirms                                                 Endorses                                  Regrets

Approves                                             Expresses its appreciation         Requests

Asks                                                    Expresses its hope                    Resolves

Authorizes                                            Further invites               Seeks

Calls for                                               Further proclaims                      Strongly affirms

Calls upon                                            Further recommends                 Strongly condemns

Condemns                                            Further requests                        Strongly urges

Congratulates                                       Further resolves                        Suggests

Confirms                                              Hopes                                      Trusts

Deplores                                              Proclaims                                 Transmits

Designates                                            Proposes                                  Urges

 

 

Official Heading for TAIMUN resolutions

 

Page 1 of __

FORUM:

QUESTION OF:

SUBMITTERS:

 

The TAIMUN Assembly,

 

 

 

 

MERGING

 

Resolutions should not be viewed as documents written in isolation, or as the personal property of the original author. They are simply a basis for discussion. They must be drafted and “tested” through discussion with fellow delegates and teachers prior to the conference and with allies during the lobbying process.

 

The resolution the delegate brings to the lobby should be seen only as a draft document, which is to serve as a basis for negotiation. In the lobby, the delegates will exchange views on the issues, negotiate, compare resolutions and merge. The main aim should be to formulate a resolution that both sustains the country’s position and attracts the support of others. A delegate should never disregard his country’s position in the process of negotiation, but neither should he/she be uncompromising if the end-result is mutually beneficial to the negotiating parties. Delegates should expect their resolution to be merged with others as long as national interests and security are not undermined. For example, debt-burdened countries are not about to support a solution to the debt problem if it obliges them to limit their GDP. Such a solution would work counter to the long term potential for debt repayment and growth in the particular country. There are some dangers, however, in the merging process. Delegates who seek to merge the largest possible number of resolution, in order to create the largest lobby bloc for committee strength, may in fact create an illogical, unrealistic or inherently contradictory resolution to be debated in the committee. It is essential that students recognize this point and seek to create resolutions that are representative of the policies and that make realistic recommendations for actions to be taken in dealing with the issues.

 

SEEKING CONSENSUS

 

Resolutions should, on the whole, be conciliatory and rarely condemnatory in nature. Resolution writing should not be viewed as an opportunity to make a rhetorical or an ideological statement. Resolutions should draw parties together into dialogue and stimulate mutual interest in negotiation and compromise for the grater good. The condemnation of any party often leads to alienation and decreases the chance of success in achieving peaceful solutions to world problems.