Resolutions in the UN model are the result of much negotiation and discussion over the topics addressed, they make suggestions or recommendations for which course of action to take in the future. Although, for resolutions to be redacted and approved there is a protocol involved. There are certain stages of development a resolution needs to clear in order to be accepted and implemented into the UN. Here is the general process they must undergo.
How they are Written
First, a draft resolution needs to be redacted, which consists of a heading, preamble and an operative section.
Header: Consists of the following; a list of the countries that are authors of the resolution, called sponsors; a list of signatories, which is a list of countries that wish to see the resolution debated so they can propose amendments and further improving it; and a topic, a phrase starting with a verb in present participle stating the resolution’s purpose or goal. After the header, the rest of the resolution is written as a single sentence.
Preamble: Begins with the subject, being the assembly in which the resolution is being made, followed by a comma. All preambulatory clauses begin with a verb in present participle and are separated by commas. The preambulatory phrases stipulate the reasons why the topic is being treated and relevant past events and actions, they provide context for the operative section.
Operative Section: Requests the action or consideration of UN agencies to address the issue at hand. Operative clauses must be separated by a semicolon. This is the actual petition that the resolution is making to the rest of the countries in the forum.
If the draft resolution has enough supporters within the committee, then it can be submitted to the staff for debate. Most conferences require 20% of countries in the forum to support the resolution in order for it to be debated. If the resolution meets the needed percentage of approval, and a staff member assures it is relevant and in proper format, then it will be assigned a number and presented for debate.
Header: Consists of the following; a list of the countries that are authors of the resolution, called sponsors; a list of signatories, which is a list of countries that wish to see the resolution debated so they can propose amendments and further improving it; and a topic, a phrase starting with a verb in present participle stating the resolution’s purpose or goal. After the header, the rest of the resolution is written as a single sentence.
Preamble: Begins with the subject, being the assembly in which the resolution is being made, followed by a comma. All preambulatory clauses begin with a verb in present participle and are separated by commas. The preambulatory phrases stipulate the reasons why the topic is being treated and relevant past events and actions, they provide context for the operative section.
Operative Section: Requests the action or consideration of UN agencies to address the issue at hand. Operative clauses must be separated by a semicolon. This is the actual petition that the resolution is making to the rest of the countries in the forum.
If the draft resolution has enough supporters within the committee, then it can be submitted to the staff for debate. Most conferences require 20% of countries in the forum to support the resolution in order for it to be debated. If the resolution meets the needed percentage of approval, and a staff member assures it is relevant and in proper format, then it will be assigned a number and presented for debate.
Amendment process
After a draft resolution has been approved it goes into the amendment process, which consists on making amendments, or changes, on the operative section of the resolution. There are two types of amendments, friendly and unfriendly ones, which consist on the following:
Friendly: An amendment made in the resolution to which all sponsors agree and sign upon making. With approval of all authors and the committee’s director, the amendment can be made right away.
Unfriendly: An amendment to which some or all of the sponsors disagree with. The committee will vote upon making unfriendly amendments; again, about 20% of the committee’s votes are needed for this type of amendment to take place.
After amendments have taken place, the committee will vote upon approving the resolution as a new UN official resolution. In this case, the majority of the committee must vote for the resolution in order for it to be approved, the assembly decides wether it to be passed or rejected.
Friendly: An amendment made in the resolution to which all sponsors agree and sign upon making. With approval of all authors and the committee’s director, the amendment can be made right away.
Unfriendly: An amendment to which some or all of the sponsors disagree with. The committee will vote upon making unfriendly amendments; again, about 20% of the committee’s votes are needed for this type of amendment to take place.
After amendments have taken place, the committee will vote upon approving the resolution as a new UN official resolution. In this case, the majority of the committee must vote for the resolution in order for it to be approved, the assembly decides wether it to be passed or rejected.
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