Model United Nations

RESOLUTION, RULES AND LAYOUT

LAYOUT:

(State the question and committee)
(Address the appropriate committee or General Assembly)
(List of co-submittors)
(List of co-sponsors)

Preambulatory Clauses; separate preambulatory clauses with commas. Use the verbs provided to begin each preambulatory clause. The preambulatory clauses define the present situation and the UN's or the submittor's position on the issue. (These do not need to be very long)

Operative Clause; separate operative clauses with semicolons. Use the verbs provided to begin each operative clause. Operative clauses are the policy portion of the resolution, they describe the plan of action, the proposed solution. Each clause should not be a collection of unrelated statements on a broad topic but should deal with one aspect of the problem,

RULES:

·        The resolution is not allowed to be any longer than 80 lines, starting from the operative clauses (so it would be a good idea to use a small font and not skip lines unless you need to because you'll probably find that you have more ideas than you can fit into 80 lines).

·       Each line must be numbered.

·       This rules must strictly adhered to or it won't pass through the vetting committee which checks resolutions for mistakes. If does happen to pass and the mistake is spotted by a delegate, they can choose to table your resolution for competence (which is explained later on) and your resolution will no longer be valid.

·       Co-submittors are delegates who have contributed to the content of the resolution, Co­sponsors are delegates who support the resolution,

 Rules regarding resolutions:

1. Competence Tabling - A resolution can be tabled for incompetence if it does not follow any of the rules given above, (this rule may also apply to an amendment) A Motion to Question the Competence of a Resolution must be made when the Resolution in question is on the floor. The Motion is debatable to the extent of one speaker For and one Against. For the Motion to pass, it requires a majority of members who are present and voting, Tabling is accepted within the committee meetings but is not part of the General Assembly.
 

2. Amendments - (An amendment is a change that a delegate would like to introduce to the resolution.) While in session, a delegate move to amend any Resolution which has been introduced, All amendments must be submitted in writing. If the original sponsor of the Resolution accepts the amendment, it is considered a friendly amendment and is immediately incorporated into the Resolution. The acceptance of a friendly amendment shall be announced to the session during the course of debate on the Resolution either from the floor or in a speech.

If the original sponsor of the Resolution does not accept the proposed amendment, it is considered non-friendly. Before it can be considered on the floor, an non-friendly amendment needs to have received 8 signatures, Only very lengthy amendments must written out in full. A non-friendly resolution amendment may be introduced when the Resolution is and the floor is open. Amendments dealing with other Resolutions or an unrelated Resolution is out of order.

When there is a move to make an non-friendly amendment, general debate shall be suspended. Speakers List shall be drawn up For or Against and this is shall take priority, Once the General Assembly (or Committee Session) has acted on upon the amendment, general debate on the Resolution shall resume.

Only 2 amendments per Resolutions will be allowed in the G.A. The Chair has the right to rule any amendment out of order if it drastically alters the intent of the Resolution. This decision may be appealed. A Motion for a third amendment is out of order,
 

3. Division of the Question - After debate has closed on any Resolution or amendment, a delegate may move, in written from with 8 signatures, that the operative clauses of the resolution be voted upon individually or grouped in any manner. If objection if made to the request for division, the Motion shall be voted on, It is debated by one speaker For and one Against, Division requires a majority vote of those present and voting,

All requests for Division of the Question requires 8 signatures.
If all the operative parts of the Resolution are rejected, the whole Resolution is rejected.

H. Berghuis