A resolution is the written document that contains all of the proposed solutions for a particular topic. The main goal of committee sessions is for delegates to come up with a resolution that will address the issue they are trying to solve. This resolution will then be voted on by the entire committee and can either be adopted or rejected. A resolution should have a header which includes the date, an alphabetical list of countries that contributed to the document (sponsors) and the name of the body that the resolution is coming from.
The main section of the resolution consists of operative clauses that lay out the solutions that are being offered to the problem at hand. The operative clauses should be specific, and the language should be strong to convey that the sponsors are serious about their proposals.
A resolution can also contain sub-resolutions and/or annexes. A resolution is not only a formal expression of opinion but also a record of action taken by the United Nations. Resolutions are numbered and published individually, but resolutions of subsidiary bodies appear in annual or sessional compilations. Resolutions can be binding or non-binding depending on how the language is worded. A good example of this is resolution 242, which calls for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied by Israel in recent conflict, but does not explicitly state that those territories must be returned to Israel. The language used in these kinds of resolutions can sometimes be confusing to those who are new to UN politics.