THE RESOLUTION FORMAT

A resolution is one (very long) sentence. It begins with the committee or

subject (“The World Health Organization” for example), which is indented
by five spaces, underlined, and followed by a comma. After the subject,
come the preambulatory clauses. Formally, these are participle or
adjectival phrases modifying the subject. Informally, they describe the
committee’s intent, motivation, and frame of mind in writing the
resolution. Preambulatory clauses are followed by a comma and begin
with an underlined participle or adjective, which is capitalized. Examples
of these “first words” include:

Affirming Gravely concerned

Alarmed by Having adopted
Approving Having considered
Aware of Having considered further
Believing Having devoted attention
Bearing in mind Having examined
Confident Having studied
Considering also Having heard
Contemplating Having received
Convinced Keeping in mind
Declaring Noting further
Deeply concerned Noting with approval
Deeply conscious Noting with deep concern
Deeply convinced Noting with regret
Deeply disturbed Noting with satisfaction
Deeply regretting Noting with zest
Desiring Observing
Emphasizing Reaffirming
Expecting Recalling
Expressing its satisfaction Recognizing
Expressing its wish Referring
Fulfilling Reiterating
Fully aware Seeking
Fully alarmed Taking into account
Fully believing Taking into consideration
Further deploring Taking note
Further recalling Viewing with appreciation
Guided by Welcoming
The operative clauses, which follow the perambulatory clauses, formally
make the predicate of the sentence. More informatively, they contain the
action of the resolution. Each operative clause begins with a capitalized
present tense verb in the third person singular. Each “paragraph” formed
by a new operative verb is indented five spaces, numbered, indented to
the tenth space, and finally ended with a semicolon. The last paragraph
ends with a period. The following are representatives of operative verbs:

Accepts Further endorses

Affirms Further invites
Appeals Further proclaims
Approves Further reminds
Authorizes Further recommends
Calls Further resolves
Calls upon Further requests
Commends Has resolved
Condemns Notes
Congratulates Offers
Confirms Proclaims
Considers Reaffirms
Decides Recommends
Declares accordingly Reminds
Demands(*) Renews
Deplores Requests
Designates Solemnly affirms
Draws the attention Strongly condemns
Emphasizes Supports
Encourages Trusts
Endorses Takes note of
Expresses its appreciation Transmits
Expresses its hope Urges

(*) only the Security Council may “demand”