Resolutions, Amendments &

Voting Procedure!
The last major topic in GC

Warm-up #9
Define the following:
Position Paper
Opening Speech
Resolutions

Review: Subtopics
Socioeconomic conditions
Street Children
Child Soldiers

Resolutions
Your ideas and solutions about the problems
raised in the committee!
Should focus on only ONE sub-topic
You may NOT bring pre-written resolutions to
the conference!
However, you can come with written ideas for
action

Resolutions
The Dais will select TWO resolutions from the conference
to be debated
You should think creatively AND realistically

Resolutions
Sponsors: The principal authors of a resolution
Signatories: Delegations that wish to see the resolution
debated in the committee; may or may not agree with
resolution
**At least 20% of the committee must be a sponsor or a
signatory of a draft resolution in order for it to be
brought to a vote.

Concept Questions!
1. Name the three UNICEF
subtopics and explain ONE of
them.
2. What is the difference
between a sponsor and a
signatory?

Resolutions - Preambulatory Clauses

Purpose: describe the problem that the committee
is trying to address - The WHY section.
One long sentence = no periods, only commas!

Resolutions - Preambulatory Clauses

Use gerunds:
Acknowledging
Believing
Concerned
Emphasizing
Fully Aware

Keeping in mind
Reiterating
Stressing
Welcoming
etc

Example - Preambulatory Clauses

Concept Questions!
3. What is the purpose of a preambulatory clause?

Resolutions - Operative Clauses

Purpose: Identify the actions and
recommendations made in a resolution. The TO
DO section.
No periods; use semicolons instead.

Resolutions - Operative Clauses

Begins with soft
terms:
Adopts
Authorizes
Calls upon
Confirms
Declares

Directs
Encourages,
Instructs
Recommends
Suggests
Urges
Etc

Remember the UN cannot force a country to do something, so

these verbs can only be suggestions!

Example Operative Clauses

Concept Questions!
4. What is the purpose of an
operative clause?
5. Can the UN force a member
country to adopt a specific action?

Amendments
Written statement that adds, deletes, or revises an
operative clause in a draft resolution.
Be sure to specify which clause you wish to amend!
Can be written by ANY country, not just the
sponsors

Amendments
There are two types of amendments:
Friendly Amendment all
sponsors agree, no vote
needed

Unfriendly Amendment
one or more sponsors dont
agree, vote needed

Voting Procedure
Can vote
FOR: I agree
AGAINST: I disagree
ABSTAIN: I decline to vote (counted as against)

Vote on Amendments 1, Resolution 1, Amendments 2,

Resolution 2
A 50% vote is needed for a Resolution to pass!
Its OK if both, one, or neither of the Resolutions pass.

Concept Questions!
6. What is an amendment?
7. What is a friendly amendment?
8. What is an unfriendly amendment?

Points of Inquiry?