How to Write Working Papers

HEADINGS
give basic information including the name of the committee that wrote the resolution, the
resolution number, sponsors, and signatories.
PREAMBULATORY LAUSES
or preambs, introduce a resolution, state its purpose, and put it into
the context of prior UN actions. Commas separate preambulatory clauses, and the first
phrase is underlined or italicized. emember, friendly or unfriendly amendments cannot
change preambulatory clauses once a resolution has been submitted. !herefore, it is
important to choose your words wisely. Common phrases that begin with preambs
include, but are not limited to"
- #ffirming
- $eeply regretting
- %ully aware
- &bserving
- #larmed by
- $esiring %ully
- believing
- ealizing
- #pproving
- 'mphasizing
- (aving devoted attention
- eaffirming
- #ware of
- 'xpecting
- (aving examined
- ecalling
- )elieving
- 'xpressing its appreciation
- (aving studied
- ecognizing
- )earing in mind
- 'xpressing its satisfaction
- (aving heard
- eferring
- Cognizant
- %ulfilling
- (aving received
- *ee+ing
- Confident
- %ully alarmed
- ,n support of
- !a+ing into account
- Contemplating
- %ully aware
- ,n view of
- !a+ing into consideration
- Convinced
- %ully believing
- -eeping in mind
- !a+ing note
- $eclaring
- %urther deploring
- Noting with regret
- .iewing with appreciation
- $eeply concerned
- %urther recalling
- Noting with satisfaction
- /elcoming
- $eeply conscious
- 0uided by
- Noting with deep concern
- $eeply convinced
- (aving adopted
- Noting further
- $eeply disturbed
- (aving considered
- Noting with approval
OPERATI!E LAUSES
are the action portion of a resolution. $epending on the nature and scope of
the committee, operative clauses can re1uest countries or international organizations to
ta+e action, re1uest fact2finding missions, form new committees, define or clarify terms,
suggest guidelines for economic, environmental, health or social issues, set international
environmental, economic, health, or other standards 3not applicable to all committees4,
clarify or discuss international law 3not applicable to all committees4, or propose or
suggest changes to the organization of the UN or other organizations 3not applicable to all
committees4. !he United Nations *ecurity Council is the only committee that has the
power to re1uire that countries ta+e action or condemn a country. 'ach clause starts with
a verb and addresses only one complete idea. Clauses are numbered and separated with
semicolons. !he last operative clause concludes with a period at the end of the resolution.
Common words to start operative clauses include, but are not limited to"
- #ccepts
- 'ncourages
- eaffirms
- #ffirms
- 'ndorses
- ecommends
- #pproves
- 'xpresses its appreciation
- eminds
- #uthorizes
- 'xpresses its hope
- egrets
- Calls %urther invite
- e1uests
- Calls upon
- %urther proclaims
- *olemnly affirms
- Condemns
- %urther reminds
- *olemnly resolves
- Congratulates
- %urther recommends
- *trongly condemns
- Confirms
- %urther re1uests
- *upports
- Considers
- %urther resolves
- !a+es note of
- $eclares
- #ccordingly
- (as resolved
- !rusts
- $eplores
- ,dentifies
- !ransmits
- $raws the attention
- Notes
- Urges
- $esignated
- Notes with regret
- /arns
- 'mphasizes
- 5roclaims
66%or more words and phrases visit http"77www.paxmun.org7calmun7resolutions.html.
RULES AND !OABULARY
8 Sponsors" *ponsors are co2authors of the wor+ing paper and resolution who have
significantly contributed ideas to the body of the resolution. #t least two delegations must
sponsor a wor+ing paper. # delegate9s country name rather than personal name is
recorded as the sponsor of a resolution 3this goes for signatories as well4.
8 Signatories" *ignatories are delegations who may or may not have contributed to the
wor+ing paper: signatories do not even have to agree its contents. *igning the document
simply means a delegation would li+e to discuss the ideas raised in the paper.
8 #rien$%& A'en$'ents" # friendly amendment is a change in a formally2introduced
resolution 3signed and approved by the dais4 that is agreeable to all sponsors and
presented to the dais only after all sponsors agree to it. &nce approved by the dais they
automatically become part of the resolution.
8 Un(rien$%& A'en$'ents" Unfriendly amendments propose a change that is not
agreeable to all the sponsors of a resolution. Unfriendly amendments must have the
signature of a set number 3usually one fifth4
of those delegations present and be approved by the dais before it can be formally
introduced and voted upon.