Amendments Process

Amendments.  

The amendment process is used to strengthen consensus on a resolution by allowing delegates to change certain sections of the resolution.  At UNA-USA MUN there are two types of amendments: friendly and unfriendly.  

• Friendly amendment.  A friendly amendment is a change to the resolution that all sponsors feel is appropriate.  The amendment must be signed by all of the sponsors, and approved by the Director.  After this, the amendment is automatically incorporated into the resolution. 
• Unfriendly amendment.  An unfriendly amendment is an amendment that the sponsors of the resolution do not support.  In this case, the author/s of the proposed amendment must obtain the same number of signatures as they would need for a working paper.  After the appropriate number of signatures has been obtained, the Director must approve the amendment.  Unfriendly amendments are voted on in order of severity (established at the discretion of the Chair).  

Once the debate is closed and the body moves into formal voting procedure, the draft resolution(s) and unfriendly amendments, if any, are voted upon in the order determined by the Chair.

Sample of an amendment Committee: G.A. Third Committee – Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Subject: Strengthening U.N. Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance Sponsors: France, Romania, and Poland Signatories: Togo, Australia, Fiji, Brazil, St. Lucia, Viet Nam, New Zealand, Pakistan, Kuwait and Argentina Add as the final operative clause… Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post conflict assistance though reconstruction and development.

 *Note: Amendment sheets will be provided for delegates to follow when drafting them during 

sessions. 

Voting
After closure of debate, draft resolutions are voted upon in the order that they were received. 

At UNA-USA MUN, more than one draft resolution can be passed by a committee.