A resolution has a fixed shape. A resolution that does not have it is not ready to go to the chairs. Read this before you submit rather than afterwards.
The heading. The committee, the topic, the main submitter, and the co-submitters.
The preambulatory clauses. Not numbered. Each begins with a starting phrase and ends with a comma. See Preambulatory clauses.
The operative clauses. Numbered from one. Each begins with a starting phrase and ends with a semicolon. The last one ends with a full stop. See Operative clauses.
Sub-clauses. Indented under the clause they belong to. Sub-sub-clauses are indented again under the sub-clause they belong to.
In MEDIMUN, resolutions are written in MediBook and the format is checked before the resolution reaches the chairs. A resolution that breaks any of the rules below cannot be submitted. MediBook explains what to fix and nothing is sent.
A resolution needs at least one preambulatory clause.
A resolution needs at least one operative clause.
Every clause needs a starting phrase and text. A starting phrase with nothing after it is not a clause. Text with no starting phrase is not a clause either.
A clause with sub-clauses needs at least two of them. One sub-clause on its own is not allowed. If you only have one point to make, put it in the clause itself.
The same rule applies to sub-sub-clauses. Two or none.
The same check runs again when the chairs send the resolution on to the Approval Panel. Chairs can edit a resolution while they have it, so the format is checked at both steps. See The Approval Panel for delegates.
SCREENSHOT: /medibook/sessions/22/committees/ga1/resolutions - the submit step showing a format error and what to fix
Read the resolution through once from the top.
Does every clause start with a starting phrase.
Does every clause say something after it.
Does every sub-clause list have two entries or more.
Is there at least one preambulatory clause and one operative clause.
Are the operative clauses numbered in a sensible order.
Is there anything in it that was copied from somewhere else. See
If you only want one sub-point. Put it in the clause itself. A list of one is not a list, and it will stop the submission.
If you have not finished writing a clause. Save your work and come back to it. The resolution will not submit while a clause is empty.
If your resolution saved but will not submit. Saving and submitting are different things. Saving keeps your work. Submitting sends it to the chairs, and only a resolution that passes the format check is sent.
If only some of the alliance can submit. The alliance leader submits the resolution to the chairs. Everyone in the alliance can write it. See Main submitter and co-submitters.
If the chairs changed your resolution. Chairs can edit a resolution while it is with them. The version debated on the floor is the version they hold, not the version you last saved.
Every clause in a resolution takes a starting phrase rather than a heading, including the ones that introduce a list of sub-clauses.
If you are unsure whether the format is right. Try to submit it. If something is wrong, MediBook tells you what and nothing is sent, so nothing is lost by trying.