Resolution Papers
David Li, Undersecretary General for Content
Alright, a weekend of debate has gone by, what are you left with? If your debate has been productive, you should be left with a resolution paper. Simply put, a resolution paper is the whole point of the debate. Both in real life and in MUN, simply debating won’t get you anywhere, you need to take action to solve a problem. The debate is simply to clarify what type of action you want to take. Resolution papers are documents that delegates work on throughout the weekend, and details the actions that they, representing their countries, believe that the UN should take to solve the problem.
However, different countries might have different solutions in mind. Small countries might prefer solutions where big countries take the brunt of the impact, big countries, the other way around. North Korea might prefer solutions that enforce state control, Switzerland might prefer solutions that benefit a more federated democracy. Any delegate can write a resolution paper, but because a resolution paper needs a majority vote to actually pass (be accepted), delegates usually work on resolutions in blocs. A bloc is essentially what parties are in real life politics. A team of delegates working together to bring about something that they want to see. Because of different wants of different countries, there are usually many blocs, just as there are many parties in real life. And so, usually by the end of a conference, there will be two or three resolution papers, sometimes even more. One paper from each bloc, representing that bloc’s ideal solution.
Because cross-talking is forbidden outside of unmoderated caucuses (and breaks), unmoderated caucuses are crucial for delegates to find like-minded allies to form a bloc with. And because delegates can walk around and talk, unmods are also ideal times for delegates in the same bloc to work together on their resolution papers.
The resolution paper has to go through several phases. First, the delegates write what is called a working paper. This is the draft of their final resolution. All working papers must be presented to chairs by a specified time, and the chairs will look over and approve of the working papers, or return them with feedback and corrections. The working paper must follow the proper format of a resolution paper as well, with preambulatory clauses and operative clauses. The details for how to write a resolution paper can be found on the OxfordGlobal website. After the working paper has been approved, it becomes the draft resolution. Delegates can still edit the draft resolutions, but despite it being called a draft, it’s mostly finalized. When all the delegates are ready, all the draft resolutions will be presented, and delegates can vote on the draft resolutions. The first draft resolution to get a simple majority in votes passes, and becomes the Final Resolution Paper. There can only be one final resolution paper, so when any draft resolution becomes final, all other draft resolutions automatically get tabled (failed).
Each resolution has a number of sponsors and a number of signatories. Sponsors are the people who wrote most of the resolution, and who will get most of the credit for the resolution. Signatories can be people who helped with the resolution, or simply people who want to see the resolution debated. When debating the resolution, the sponsors will be in charge of presenting the resolution to the whole committee. Generally, there can only be a maximum of 3 or 5 sponsors on each resolution, the number might differ dependant on the committee, so within the bloc, there might be a struggle for who gets to be a sponsor.
When voting on draft resolutions, there is a phase where amendments can be proposed. All delegates can propose amendments to the resolution, specifying what clause of the resolution they want to edit, remove, or add. The sponsors can choose to either approve of the amendment, or refuse it. If the sponsors approve, the amendment is called a friendly amendment, and is automatically added. If the sponsors refuse, the entire committee votes on the amendment. If a majority supports it, the amendment gets implemented even if the sponsors don’t approve. If not, the amendment gets discarded. The final vote on each resolution comes after all the amendments are done.
When a Final Resolution Paper has been passed, if there is enough time, the committee will move on to the next topic, and the procedures will restart. If there is not enough time, or if there was only one topic, the committee would end.
So, to summarize the whole committee:
Following the first roll call, delegates will first move into the Primary Speakers List. Here, delegates who wish to can speak to deliver their positions, but each delegate may only speak a maximum of once.
Next, the committee moves onto the Secondary Speakers List. Here, any delegate can speak as many times as they want to on any topic they want to as long as it is relevant, but the delegates are still in formal debate, and so cannot talk to each other or leave their seats.
When the delegates want to, they can move from the SSL into a Moderated Caucus, where delegates can discuss specific topics. Alternatively, they can move into a Unmoderated Caucus, where they can form blocs, negotiate, work out differences, or work on resolution papers.
The committee will alternate between moderated caucuses, unmoderated caucuses, and secondary speakers list for the duration of the conference, or until the delegates are ready to present the resolution papers. When they wish to, delegates can present and vote on resolution papers. Either a resolution paper passes, or none passes, either way, the committee will likely end, or move on to the second topic if there is enough time left.
There will be breaks decorating the schedules. After every break, there will be a roll call, just to make sure everyone has come back from the break. This roll call does not interfere with the rules of procedure listed above, there will not be a primary speakers list after any roll call apart from the very first one.