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Model UN Resolution Formatter

Paste the clauses of your Model UN (MUN) working paper or draft resolution, one per line, in any order and with any punctuation. The formatter sorts preambulatory from operative clauses by their opening phrase, numbers and letters them, fixes the commas, semicolons and final period, and tells you what it couldn't work out. Free, no signup, and your text stays in your browser.

Start sub-clauses with a. or -; nest a level deeper with i. or --. Old numbering and punctuation are replaced.

Formatted resolution

Your formatted resolution appears here as you type. Not sure where to start? Load the example.

How to use the resolution formatter

  1. Fill in the heading

    Enter your committee, the topic as your background guide words it, and the sponsors and signatories, separated by commas. Any field can stay blank.

  2. Paste your clauses, one per line

    Put each preambulatory and operative clause on its own line. Start sub-clauses with “a.” or “-”, and go one level deeper with “i.” or “--”. Leave the old numbering and punctuation in; the formatter replaces them.

  3. Read the checks

    Each clause is sorted by its opening phrase. The checks list anything the formatter could not recognize, any preambulatory clause that sat among the operative ones, a missing final period, and repeated opening words.

  4. Copy it into your draft

    Use Copy for Docs or Word to keep the italics and underlines when you paste into Google Docs or Word, or Copy plain text for anywhere else.

How a Model UN resolution is put together

A resolution is one long sentence: the committee's name, the reasons for acting, then the actions. During committee it starts as a working paper written in unmoderated caucus; once it has enough sponsors and signatories and the chair accepts it, it becomes a draft resolution that can be amended and voted on.

The heading

Committee, topic, sponsors and signatories, above the first clause. Some conferences also want a draft number or a code the dais assigns once a working paper is accepted. The body of the resolution then opens with the committee’s name followed by a comma: “The General Assembly,”.

Preambulatory clauses

The case for acting. Each one opens with a participle or adjective phrase such as “Recalling”, “Noting with concern” or “Bearing in mind”, and cites something concrete: an earlier resolution, a treaty, a report, a fact about the problem. They are not numbered, and each ends with a comma. Nothing in the preamble is an action, so amendments usually target the operative clauses instead.

Operative clauses

The actions the committee is voting for. Each is numbered, opens with a present-tense verb like “Urges”, “Requests” or “Establishes”, and ends with a semicolon, except the last, which ends with a period. Good ones say who acts, what they do and, where it matters, who pays and who checks.

Sub-clauses

When an operative clause lists several parts, it ends with a colon and the parts become lettered sub-clauses (a, b, c), with roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for a further level. Each sub-clause ends with a semicolon; the last one takes the ending its parent clause would have had.

The formatting rules this tool applies

These follow the conventions most US Model UN conferences teach. Conferences do differ, so if your delegate guide or resolution template says otherwise, it wins.

Preamble first
Every preambulatory clause comes before the first operative clause. A preambulatory clause found later is moved up, and the checks say so.
Preambulatory: italic phrase, comma
Not numbered. The opening phrase is italicized and each clause ends with a comma.
Operative: numbered, underlined phrase, semicolon
Numbered 1, 2, 3 in order. The opening phrase is underlined and each clause ends with a semicolon; the last clause ends with a period.
Sub-clauses: colon, letters, semicolons
The clause that introduces them ends with a colon. They are lettered a, b, c (then i, ii, iii one level deeper) and end with semicolons, the last one carrying its parent’s ending.
Capitals and abbreviations
The opening phrase is capitalized. A period that belongs to an abbreviation such as “U.S.” or “etc.” is kept.

Preambulatory and operative phrases

Every phrase the formatter recognizes. Any of them can take a modifier in front, such as “Further”, “Also” or “Strongly”, and the formatter also accepts any “Having” + participle, like “Having reviewed”.

Preambulatory (104)

Participles and adjectives that give the reasons for acting.

  • Acknowledging
  • Acknowledging with appreciation
  • Acting under
  • Affirming
  • Alarmed
  • Alarmed by
  • Anxious
  • Appreciating
  • Approving
  • Aware
  • Aware of
  • Bearing in mind
  • Believing
  • Cognisant of
  • Cognizant of
  • Commending
  • Committed to
  • Concerned
  • Condemning
  • Confident
  • Congratulating
  • Conscious of
  • Considering
  • Contemplating
  • Convinced
  • Declaring
  • Deeply alarmed
  • Deeply concerned
  • Deeply conscious
  • Deeply convinced
  • Deeply disturbed
  • Deeply regretting
  • Deploring
  • Desiring
  • Determined
  • Determining
  • Disturbed by
  • Emphasising
  • Emphasizing
  • Encouraged by
  • Encouraging
  • Endorsing
  • Expecting
  • Expressing appreciation
  • Expressing concern
  • Expressing deep concern
  • Expressing grave concern
  • Expressing its appreciation
  • Expressing its satisfaction
  • Expressing satisfaction
  • Fulfilling
  • Fully alarmed
  • Fully aware
  • Fully believing
  • Further deploring
  • Further recalling
  • Gravely concerned
  • Guided by
  • Having adopted
  • Having considered
  • Having considered further
  • Having devoted attention
  • Having examined
  • Having heard
  • Having received
  • Having regard to
  • Having studied
  • Highlighting
  • Inspired by
  • Keeping in mind
  • Mindful of
  • Noting
  • Noting further
  • Noting with appreciation
  • Noting with approval
  • Noting with concern
  • Noting with deep concern
  • Noting with regret
  • Noting with satisfaction
  • Observing
  • Pointing out
  • Reaffirming
  • Realising
  • Realizing
  • Recalling
  • Recognising
  • Recognizing
  • Referring
  • Regretting
  • Reiterating
  • Reminding
  • Resolved
  • Seeking
  • Stressing
  • Taking into account
  • Taking into consideration
  • Taking note
  • Taking note of
  • Taking note with appreciation
  • Underlining
  • Underscoring
  • Viewing with appreciation
  • Welcoming
  • Wishing

Operative (86)

Present-tense verbs that say what the committee does.

  • Accepts
  • Acknowledges
  • Adopts
  • Affirms
  • Appeals
  • Appeals to
  • Approves
  • Authorises
  • Authorizes
  • Calls
  • Calls for
  • Calls on
  • Calls upon
  • Commends
  • Condemns
  • Confirms
  • Congratulates
  • Considers
  • Declares
  • Declares accordingly
  • Decides
  • Demands
  • Deplores
  • Designates
  • Directs
  • Draws attention
  • Draws the attention
  • Emphasises
  • Emphasizes
  • Encourages
  • Endorses
  • Entrusts
  • Establishes
  • Expresses
  • Expresses concern
  • Expresses deep concern
  • Expresses its appreciation
  • Expresses its hope
  • Extends
  • Further invites
  • Further proclaims
  • Further recommends
  • Further reminds
  • Further requests
  • Further resolves
  • Has resolved
  • Highlights
  • Implores
  • Insists
  • Instructs
  • Invites
  • Mandates
  • Notes
  • Notes with appreciation
  • Notes with concern
  • Proclaims
  • Proposes
  • Reaffirms
  • Recalls
  • Recognises
  • Recognizes
  • Recommends
  • Regrets
  • Reiterates
  • Rejects
  • Reminds
  • Renews
  • Requests
  • Resolves
  • Solemnly affirms
  • Stresses
  • Strongly condemns
  • Strongly encourages
  • Strongly urges
  • Suggests
  • Supports
  • Takes note
  • Takes note of
  • Takes note with appreciation
  • Thanks
  • Transmits
  • Trusts
  • Underlines
  • Underscores
  • Urges
  • Welcomes

Pick verbs your committee can actually use. General Assembly resolutions are recommendations to member states, so most of their operative clauses “Recommend”, “Urge”, “Encourage” or “Call upon”. Under Article 25 of the UN Charter, member states agree to carry out the decisions of the Security Council, which is why “Decides” and “Demands” carry their full weight there.

What the checks catch, and how to fix it

The formatter fixes punctuation and order on its own. These are the things it can only point out, because fixing them means rewriting a clause.

An opening the formatter doesn’t recognize

Usually a clause that starts with its subject (“The committee should…”, “Countries must…”). Rewrite it to start with a standard phrase: “Urges Member States to…”. If the word is a real participle or verb that isn’t on the list, the formatter guesses from its ending and asks you to check.

A preambulatory clause among the operative ones

It often happens when merging two working papers. The formatter moves it up, but read the preamble again afterwards: two blocs’ preambles often cite the same documents twice.

No period at the end

The whole resolution is one long sentence, and the final operative clause (or its last sub-clause) closes it. Chairs notice a missing period, especially in a draft about to go to a vote.

The same verb three times in a row

Three clauses in a row that start “Encourages” read as a list of wishes. Either vary the verb to match what each clause really asks for, or follow UN drafting practice and write the repeats as “Further encourages” and “Also encourages”.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Model UN resolution formatter free?
Yes, and it needs no account. Formatting runs in your browser, and the clauses you type are not uploaded. The research buttons open Model Diplomat search, where each question uses one search; a free account includes 200 searches on day one, then 50 a day.
Should preambulatory phrases be italicized and operative phrases underlined?
That is the most common convention at US Model UN conferences, and it is what this tool applies. It is not universal, and some conferences format operative phrases differently. Your conference’s delegate guide or resolution template has the final word; if it differs, adjust the styling after you paste.
What punctuation ends each clause in a Model UN resolution?
Preambulatory clauses end with a comma. Operative clauses end with a semicolon, except the final one, which ends with a period. A clause that introduces sub-clauses ends with a colon, and each sub-clause ends with a semicolon, with the last one taking its parent clause’s ending.
How do I write sub-clauses?
Put each sub-clause on its own line under the operative clause it belongs to, starting with a letter (“a.”) or a dash (“-”). For a second level, start the line with a roman numeral (“i.”) or a double dash (“--”). The formatter relabels them in order, so you can reorder lines without fixing the letters.
What is the difference between sponsors and signatories?
Sponsors are the main authors: they wrote the draft and back its content. Signatories want the draft debated, and signing usually does not commit them to vote for it. Conferences set how many of each a draft needs before the chair will accept it, so check your rules of procedure.
When do I use “Further” and “Also”?
When several clauses start with the same word, UN drafting practice writes the second one with “Further” and the third and later ones with “Also”: “Notes”, “Further notes”, “Also notes”. The formatter points out repeats as a tip but doesn’t change your wording.
Why was one of my clauses flagged as unrecognized?
The formatter knows 104 preambulatory and 86 operative opening phrases, plus modifiers such as “Further”, “Also” and “Strongly”. A clause that starts any other way is flagged. It is placed by its ending (“-ing” words with the preamble, “-s” verbs with the operative clauses) or, failing that, by where it sits in your list.
Does it work for Security Council resolutions?
Yes. The structure is the same, and the formatter recognizes “Acting under”, the opening Security Council resolutions use when they invoke a chapter of the UN Charter. Verbs such as “Decides” and “Demands” are recognized as operative in any committee.
All Model UN tools

Format is the easy part. Now make the clauses hold up.

A preamble that cites the right earlier resolutions, and operative clauses that name who acts and who pays, survive questions from the dais. Model Diplomat drafts clauses and finds precedent with the sources behind each one, so you can open and check them. A free account includes 200 searches on day one, then 50 a day.