Rules differ between conferences. This is a general starting point; your conference’s rules and your chair’s decision always come first.
How a resolution is built
A draft resolution has a heading, preambulatory clauses and operative clauses.
- Heading
- Committee, topic, sponsors (who wrote it) and signatories (who want it debated).
- Preambulatory clauses
- Why the committee acts: background, past resolutions, concerns. They start with a phrase in italics and end with a comma.
- Operative clauses
- What the committee does. They are numbered, start with a verb, end with a semicolon; the last one ends with a full stop.
- Sub-clauses
- Details under an operative clause, lettered a), b), c). Keep each one to a single idea.
Opening phrases
Common ways to start a clause. Strong verbs like “Condemns” or “Decides” are usually for the Security Council.
- Preambulatory
- Acknowledging, Affirming, Alarmed by, Bearing in mind, Deeply concerned, Emphasizing, Fully aware, Guided by, Noting with concern, Recalling, Recognizing, Reaffirming
- Operative
- Calls upon, Encourages, Urges, Requests, Recommends, Supports, Invites, Further requests, Designates, Decides (Security Council), Condemns (Security Council)
Points
A point is a short interruption for a specific reason. Raise your placard and wait for the chair.
- Point of personal privilege
- Something stops you from taking part, like not being able to hear the speaker.
- Point of order
- You think the procedure is not being followed correctly.
- Point of parliamentary inquiry
- A question to the chair about the rules or what happens next.
- Point of information
- A question to a speaker who has yielded their time to questions.
Common motions
Motions change what the committee is doing. The chair decides if they are in order, then the committee votes.
- Open the speakers’ list
- Starts formal debate; delegates add their names to speak in turn.
- Moderated caucus
- Short speeches on one sub-topic, called on by the chair, for a set total time.
- Unmoderated caucus
- Free time to talk in groups and write working papers.
- Move into voting procedure
- Ends debate on a draft resolution and starts voting. The doors are closed during voting: no one enters or leaves.
Common questions
Short answers. When in doubt, ask with a point of parliamentary inquiry.
- Working paper or draft resolution?
- A working paper collects ideas and has no fixed format. A draft resolution follows the format above and needs enough signatories to be introduced.
- Sponsor or signatory?
- Sponsors wrote the draft and support it. Signatories only want it to be debated; they can still vote against it.
- What does yielding mean?
- When your speech ends early, you give the remaining time to the chair, to another delegate, or to questions.
- Can I speak without being called?
- No. In formal debate and moderated caucus you speak only when the chair recognizes you.