NationStates Jolt Archive

I was reading some of the proposed (and passed) resolutions and me immediate thought was WTF?!

I don't have a problem with resolutions that are especially informal, but some people seem to be trying to make an effort without any idea of how to structure a resolution.

Basically a resolution has two parts, the first called the perambulatory clauses define the issues behind why the resolution was written.

For example:

Concerned that some member stations use the word "whereas" in their resolutions.

Recognizing that the UN is not a member of the United States of America

Perambulatory clauses always have a small expression of feeling at the start, common words are: deeply concerned, concerned, noting, noting with alarm, aware, etc

The second part of a resolution are the operative clauses. These are the clauses that contain the rules and are always numbered.

Here's an example:

1. Demands that all member nations refrain from attempting to write UN style resolutions unless they have actually read a UN resolution

2. Further Demands that member nations refrain from using United States or other government terminology for UN resolutions. Especially by refraining from calling resolutions "Bills" (ie Universal Bill of Rights, correct terminology should be Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

If you're interested in reading some real resolutions head over to www.un.org

Agreeing that form and content are a problem here in the NationStates UN,

Acknowledging that not all member nations of the UN are trained diplomats and scholars,

Having verified that English is not in fact the native language of all member nations,

Recognizing that a certain degree of out-of-game politics will inevitably colour the perceptions of those lesser-trained members,

1. Be it resolved that perhaps the representative from Texta should perhaps consider cutting them a bit of slack.

I don't have a problem with resolutions, it's just when people put all this crap in them like "whereas" if people don't want to write UN style resolutions that's fine. But if they're going to make them formal, they could at least get it right.