Resolution Submission Process

Resolution Submission Process

Step 1

One or more delegates write a working paper.  The authors of a working paper, also known as the sponsor(s), then obtain a required number of signatures, which equals 10% of the delegations present in the specific committee.  After roll call for each meeting, the Chair will notify the delegates of the exact number of signatures needed. 

Step 2

The sponsor(s) take the working paper to the Director, who approves the working paper only if:

1. It is in proper format, does not contain a substantial number of mistakes, and is legible if handwritten; 
2. It carries the required number of signatures; 
3. It is in character for the sponsor(s); and 
4. Its subject matter and proposed actions are within the power of the respective committee or organ. 

If any of those conditions are not met, the Director returns the working paper to the sponsor(s) explaining his or her reasons. Once the working paper has been approved by the Director, it is sent to Conference Services for copying. After the working paper has been copied, it will be given to the sponsors, so they may distribute it in the committee. There is no formal time for introducing working papers. Rather, they are introduced via the speakers list and yields. Only approved working papers can be referred to by the delegates on the floor. 

Step 3

Copies are returned to the sponsor(s) and the committee. Debate on the ideas contained in the working paper continues. At this stage, as the sponsor(s) are building support for their proposals, two or more working papers are frequently combined and specific clauses are changed, added or deleted. 

Once the changes have been incorporated and the working paper is (re)typed, the sponsor(s) obtain the new required number of signatures, which equals 20% of the delegations present in the specific committee. After roll call for each session, the Chair will notify the delegates of the exact number of signatures needed. 

Step 4

Sponsor(s) take the working paper to the Director. If the conditions outlined under step two are met, and there are no other working papers circulating which are similar in substance, the Director approves it. He/she then assigns it a number and a priority, and sends it to Conference Services for final copying. At this point, the working paper can now be referred to as a draft resolution. 

Note that the Director may, in the interest of time and/or if the committee is nearing the closure of debate on a certain agenda item, proceed directly to Step 4. However, all of the relevant conditions outlined in Steps 1-3 have to be met by the sponsor(s). 

Step 5

Copies are distributed to all delegates. Sponsor(s) are given the floor to introduce the document as a draft resolution. They may also get on the speakers list and/or have time yielded to them in order to answer questions about the draft resolution.

Final refinement of the draft resolution in regular debate occurs through friendly amendments, which are submitted by the sponsor(s) and automatically incorporated into the text. Should there be significant changes at this time, the Director may decide to proceed again from Step 4.