1. Resolution Writing
MUN OR DIE

2. A statement of international opinion or a piece of international law
In non-nerd terms: what your committee is going to do about the issue you’re discussing.
Most committees follow a “resolution format” but some will have different outcome documents
Only Security Council (and Reformed Security Council) can create legally binding resolutions
What is a resolution?

3. The Process Brainstorming Working paper  (Google Docs)
Edits from the Dais
Draft resolution
Voting Block
Resolution
The Process

4. A document is a working paper from the moment it is created until it is approved by the dais
Once approved, it becomes a draft resolution
WPs cannot be referred in speeches
WPs are not officially property of the committee.
Working Paper (WP)

5. Draft Resolutions (DR)
Once your working paper has been approved by the dais and is given a code, it’s a DR!
Sponsors and signatories list is removed once it’s DR
DRs will be distributed for all members to read (by the dais)
Any changes to DRs must be made in the form of amendments
Friendly (all sponsors approve and no vote needed)
Unfriendly (anyone can submit and requires vote during voting block)
Draft Resolutions (DR)

6. Once the body votes a majority in favor of the draft resolution, it becomes a resolution
In the context of the real world:
It’s what the body is going to do about a certain topic
Most the of the time, they’re non-binding and strictly recommendations
Resolutions

7. What a resolution looks like

8. Part 1 of a Resolution Section 1: Required Stuff Section 2: Preambles
Code, Committee, Subject
Sponsors
Countries who have contributed substantially to the paper
Must vote in favor of resolution
Signatories
Countries that want to see the resolution voted on
Section 2: Preambles
Creates the context in which operatives will be presented
Definitions, previous actions, and other
Cannot be amended once it becomes a DR
Part 1 of a Resolution

9. Part 2 of a Resolution Section 3: Operatives
The action that your committee is going to do about the topic
Bulk of your work
Area that will lead to the most contention
Part 2 of a Resolution

10. The Secret Formulas Perambulatory Clauses (Preambles/Preambs)
[preamble phrase] (italicized) + [important context for operatives] + [comma]
Ex: Recognizing the astounding positive impact of Chipotle burritos on diminishing hunger as noted by General Assembly resolution 1337 (2015),
Operative Clauses (Ops)
[op phrase] (italicized) (numbered) + [detailed solution proposal] + [semicolon]
Ex: Recommends the development of a Chipotle franchise on the University of Washington campus in the Husky Union Building in replacement of Subway;
The Secret Formulas

11. Translating Ideas into a Resolution
Step 1) Brainstorm some general ideas related to the topic
Step 2) Think about what’s needed to make your idea feasible
Turn your broad idea into a specific and detailed one
Step 3) Gather information from the int’l community and develop a context for your now detailed idea
Step 4) Write preambles to formalize the context for your ops via the secret formula
Step 5) Write ops using the secret formula
Step 6) Present your ideas to others
Dumbed down version: brainstorm  research  write  share
Translating Ideas into a Resolution

12. Most Common Edits from Dais
Lack of details in proposed operative clauses
Funding
Oversight and enforcement
Regulation
Incentives for member states
Ensure that every operative has at least one preamble to establish a context for it
Defining all acronyms
What advanced dais will tell you: HOUR GLASS FIGURE
Most broad perambulatory first going into most specific.
Most specific operatives to most broad
Don’t EVER build something new, build on something that exist
Merge with papers with similar content
Most Common Edits from Dais

13. MERGERS! …ew Why it happens : Preventing mergers How to handle mergers
Inefficient to have papers with same ideas
Most UN committees try to pass a few resolutions as possible
Merging papers = more total consensus
5 people from DR 1 merges with DR2 which has 30 people
Combining DR1 with DR2 gives a total of 35 people… or about 35 votes
More likely to pass
Preventing mergers
Come up with a detailed resolution that focuses on one specific aspect of the topic rather than trying to encompass everything
Convince people that your resolution stands best alone
How to handle mergers
Choose main ops that are important and don’t lose them
Be diplomatic and nice  people don’t respond well to assholes
Pick their ops (the paper you’re merging with) that are similar to yours and convince them to keep yours instead
Don’t take your eyes of your paper through the entire process
MERGERS! …ew

14. PRO TIPS! Before the Conference
Check the guidelines and format of a resolution for each conference
Each conference varies… but the main ideas should apply to all
Spend as much time as possible in the third paragraph of your paper
Third paragraph should outline what you want in a resolution
Specific things to research:
Powers of your committee
UN stuff
Frameworks to build on
Your allies
Read real UN resolutions!
PRO TIPS! Before the Conference

15. PRO TIPS! In General DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS!
Be realistic in your proposed solutions
Always consider funding
Will make or break a paper
Use Google docs with caution
Don’t lose track of your paper, and note any changes made
To prevent merging, create a paper completely unique and specific to one primary idea
Incorporate ideas and feedback from others
Your paper won’t pass unless the majority agrees with it
Be confident and just write
Refer to chart on the right
PRO TIPS! In General

16. PRO TIPS! In General DETAILS DETAIL DETAILS!
Be realistic in your proposed solutions
Always consider funding
Will make or break a paper
Use Google docs with caution
Don’t lose track of your paper, and note any changes made
To prevent merging, create a paper completely unique and specific to one primary idea
Incorporate ideas and feedback from others
Your paper won’t pass unless the majority agrees with it
Be confident and just write
Refer to chart on the right
PRO TIPS! In General

17. QUESTIONS ?
or comments if you dare