GSUMUN 2010

A resolution is the primary working instrument of the United Nations. Resolutions direct the flow of United Nations programmes and dictate general policy.

Generally speaking, resolutions are non-binding: that is, they are reccomendations or set only UN policy. Only Security Council resolutions can require a state to perform action.

Resolutions generally start out as "working papers" while delegates draft them and continue to make substantial changes. Once they have been accepted as debate instruments by the committee staff, they become "draft resolutions". Finally, if the committee passes the draft resolution, they become full resolutions.

A resolution is actually one long sentence, composed of many clauses. These clauses fall into one of two categories: preambulatory and operative clauses. Each clause generally starts with a verb (optionally prefixed with one or more adverbs) that is italicized. Every line of the resolution is numbered in the left margin.

Preambulatory clauses start with present participles, including a passive verb, and generally provide background on the issue, citations to past UN resolutions on the issue, and explain why the resolution is relevant and reasonable. Preambulatory clauses end in a comma.

Operative clauses begin with an active verb and call for action on the issue. Operative clauses are also numbered. Operative clauses may have suboperatives, which should be ordered using letters. Operative clauses should end in semicolons, with the final operative clause ending in a period, to conclude the resolution.

Before the content of the resolution itself, a header including the name(s) of the sponsoring delegation(s), any signatories, the committee, and the topic under which the resolution should be considered. The topic listed here should be identical to how it is published in the background guide for the committee.

Below is a list of sample preambulatory phrases. These are some of the most commonly used ones, but others along these lines may also be used.

Preambulatory Phrases
Affirming	Alarmed by	Approving	Aware of
Bearing in mind	Believing	Contemplating	Convinced
Declaring	Deeply alarmed by	Deeply concerned by	Deeply convinced of
Deeply disturbed by	Deeply regretting	Desiring	Emphasizing
Expecting	Expressing its alarm	Expressing its appreciation	Expressing its concern
Expressing its satisfaction	Fulfilling	Fully alarmed by	Fully aware of
Fully believing	Further deploring	Further noting	Further recalling
Further recognizing	Guided by	Having adopted	Having considered
Having considered further	Having devoted attention	Having examined	Having reconsidered
Having studied	Keeping in mind	Noting	Noting further
Noting with approval	Noting with deep concern	Noting with regret	Noting with satisfaction
Observing	Reaffirming	Realizing	Recalling
Recognizing	Referring	Seeking	Taking into account
Taking into consideration	Taking note of	Welcoming

These are some of the more commonly used operative phrases. Again, you are not limited to these, but they should provide a good starting point.

Operative Phrases
Accepts	Affirms	Approves	Authorizes
Calls upon	Condemns	Confirms	Congratulates
Considers	Decides	Declares	Designates
Draws attention to	Emphasizes	Encourages	Endorses
Expresses its appreciation	Expresses its hope	Expresses its support	Further invites
Further proclaims	Further recommends	Further reminds	Further requests
Further resolves	Invites	Notes	Proclaims
Reaffirms	Recommends	Regrets	Reminds
Requests	Resolves	Solemnly affirms	Strongly Urges
Strongly affirms	Strongly condemns	Strongly requests	Supports
Takes note of	Trusts	Urges

The following guidelines should be observed in formatting the resolution:

All lines of the resolution (excepting the header) should be numbered.
Operative clauses should be numbered clause by clause (in addition to line numbers).
The resolution should be single spaced, but a blank line should be left between clauses.
Only working papers submitted using the GSUMUN template will be accepted.