A resolution is a written proposal whereby the Ohio Model United Nations RESOLVES to take action.  Resolutions are prepared by delegates of a nation, presented by a team from the nation and debated in Council Sessions and in the OMUN General Assembly.

             A resolution is a proposal prepared by OMUN delegates from a member nation that can do one or more of the following:

          MAKE A RECOMMENDATION - A resolution can make a recommendation that the United Nations take a particular action on the proposal presented by the member nation.  It can be written as a recommendation only and not ask for immediate action.  Example:  Recommending the establishment of a permanent site for the Olympic Games or recommending the total withdraw of troops from an occupied region.

            FORM A COMMITTEE - A resolution can ask for the United Nations to form a committee to take a certain action, to study a particular problem, to perform a function or any combination of these actions.  Example:  Forming a committee to study terrorism worldwide or to study human rights violations in a particular nation or to form a committee to distribute supplies and food to a nation in need.

            ESTABLISH A NEW PROGRAM - A resolution could ask the United Nations to establish a new program.  Example:  Establishing a new program to fight terrorism, to establish a health program to protect children in an underdeveloped nation, to establish an international child adoption agency or to establish a new network to locate criminals throughout the world.

A resolution can focus on one of the above areas or it may be written to focus on a combination of these areas.

             Resolutions contain TWO BASIC SECTIONS.  Study the sample resolutions provided and identify the sections of the resolution.

 The first section is the WHEREAS section.  It states all of the basic reasons why the resolution is needed.  These reasons should be general and should NOT contain too much specific information.  Specific information, including statistics, should be included in the Author's Speech.  However, some specific information will be needed to generate reasons for the resolution.  Resolutions can have as many WHEREAS sections as needed.

            The second section is the THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED section.  This section actually states the intent of the resolution.  It states what the resolution will actually do if accepted by the United Nations.  In this section a resolution is specific as to the intent, such as make a recommendation, form a committee, establish a new program, ask for action or any combination of these efforts. 

             Good topics will vary from nation to nation.  Topics should be generated during the RESEARCH phase of preparing for OMUN.  While conducting research try to locate UNIQUE topics for resolutions.  

A resolution should be written on a topic that would be considered by the United Nations.  Keep in mind that the United Nations focuses on problems that are international in scope and related to keeping peace or providing humanitarian assistance.  Problems that are internal to a nation are not good topics for resolutions.  The United Nations will only become involved in a nation's internal affairs if these problems are monumental or are at risk of endangering citizens or causing international dangers.  

 Good resolutions can deal with ideas that benefit the member nation, another nation, a group of nations, a region of the world or the entire world. 

Ask these questions when forming a topic for a resolution:

·        What is the IMPACT of this resolution on my nation?

·        What is the IMPACT of this resolution on our region of the world?

·        What is the IMPACT of this resolution on other nations?

·        What is the IMPORTANCE of this resolution to members of the United Nations?

·        What is the IMPORTANCE of this resolution to world affairs?

·        What is the IMPORTANCE of this resolution to the goals of the United Nations?

             All members of the nation should conduct research and have input into the development of the resolution.  The resolution should be a team effort and should reflect the work of each member of the nation's delegation.  All delegates should be familiar enough with the resolution to defend it in debate or to answer questions about its intent or meaning.

             The resolution should be submitted to the OMUN ADVISOR by established deadlines and should be written in the correct form.  All resolutions submitted to Ohio Leadership Institute for publication in the OMUN Resolution Booklet MUST be in the correct form and MUST be typed. 

             Each resolution MUST have two (2) or three (3) main authors.  These authors will present the resolution at OMUN.  The authors of a resolution must prepare an Author's Speech in order to persuade delegates to accept the resolution.  Each author must present part of the Author's Speech.  The time limit for the Author's Speech is three (3) minutes.  Authors share the time with each author giving a portion of the Author's Speech.  The authors may be asked questions about the resolution by delegates during the debate process.  The authors will also be asked to make Closing Comments on the resolution.  The Closing Comments may be given by one, two or all three authors.  The time limit for Closing Comments is one (1) minute.  Authors may want to use this time to clarify remarks made during the debate or to rebut any opposing comments made by other delegates.