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Preambulatory and operative clauses, or paragraphs: the MUN phrase list with meanings

In short

Preambulatory clauses are the reasons in a MUN resolution, and operative clauses are the actions. The UN calls the same two parts preambular and operative paragraphs. A preambular paragraph opens with a phrase such as “Recalling” or “Deeply concerned”; an operative paragraph opens with a verb such as “Requests”, “Calls upon” or “Decides”, and that verb sets what the committee does and how strongly.

Your bloc's draft is open, operative paragraph 3 is still empty, and “Encourages” feels too weak. The operative list runs from soft requests to “Demands”: search it, check the meaning, keep writing.

In this guide · 8 parts · 12 min

Preambulatory and operative clauses list

Search either list: every opening phrase comes with what it means.

Writing an action? Jump to the operative verbs. Every phrase here appears in UN resolutions. Five of the opening phrases UN texts use most: “Recalling”, “Recognizing”, “Reaffirming”, “Noting” and “Welcoming” in the preamble; “Encourages”, “Requests”, “Calls upon”, “Welcomes” and “Recognizes” in the operative part.

Preambulatory clauses: opening phrases

40 phrases

Pointing to what came before

Recalling
Points to an earlier resolution, treaty or decision the committee builds on.
Reaffirming
Restates a commitment or principle already agreed, such as the UN Charter.
Reiterating
Repeats what the body said in an earlier text.
Guided by
Names the principles the committee follows, usually the Charter.
Bearing in mind
Keeps a fact or principle in view as the background to the action.
Mindful of
Shows the committee keeps a duty or a fact in mind.
Taking into account
Shows the committee has weighed a fact or an interest.

Stating facts and beliefs

Noting
States a fact the committee observes, without judging it.
Recognizing
Accepts a fact or a right as true and important.
Acknowledging
Accepts a fact, an effort or a problem as real.
Aware of
Says the committee knows of a fact or a risk.
Conscious of
Like Aware of, with a sense of responsibility for what follows.
Cognizant of
A formal way to say aware of.
Realizing
Marks a fact the committee has come to see.
Believing
States the committee's opinion.
Convinced
States a firm belief, often that an action will work.
Affirming
States a principle as true.
Emphasizing
Gives a point special weight.
Stressing
Gives a point special weight, like Emphasizing.
Underlining
Gives a point special weight, like Stressing.

Concern and alarm

Concerned
Names a problem the committee worries about.
Deeply concerned
Stronger concern, for a serious problem.
Gravely concerned
Very strong concern, for a crisis.
Noting with concern
Observes a worrying fact.
Expressing concern
Puts the committee's worry on record.
Deeply disturbed
Marks shock at events.
Alarmed
Expresses alarm at a serious danger. UN texts write Alarmed at or Alarmed that; MUN lists often write Alarmed by.

Thanks and praise

Welcoming
Praises a positive step, report or initiative by others.
Commending
Praises the work of a state, a body or a person.
Expressing its appreciation
Thanks someone formally for their work.
Noting with appreciation
Observes good news with approval.
Noting with satisfaction
Observes progress the committee is glad of.
Thanking
Thanks a state, a body or a person directly.

Reports and work done

Taking note of
Receives a report, statement or decision without saying it agrees.
Taking note with appreciation
Receives a report and praises the work in it.
Having considered
Shows the committee has examined a report or proposal.
Having heard
Records a statement made to the committee.
Having received
Records that a report or letter has arrived.

Judging

Deploring
Strongly disapproves of an act or a situation.
Condemning
Sharp blame for an act. Many conferences reserve it for the Security Council.

Operative clauses: opening verbs

41 phrases

Asking others to act

Invites
A polite request, often to a body or organization the committee cannot direct.
Encourages
A soft push to act, easy for most members to accept.
Discourages
The soft way to ask states not to do something.
Recommends
Advises a course of action. A General Assembly draft uses it to ask the Security Council.
Requests
The standard, neutral way to ask, often for a report from the Secretary-General.
Calls upon
A stronger, public request, usually to states. Calls on means the same.
Calls for
Asks for an outcome, such as a ceasefire, without naming who must act.
Appeals to
An urgent, heartfelt request, often for money or for calm.
Urges
Stronger still: presses for action soon.
Demands
The strongest request, kept for when softer words have failed.

Noting and praising

Notes
Observes a fact without judging it.
Notes with concern
Observes a worrying fact.
Expresses concern
States the committee's worry openly.
Takes note of
Receives a report or statement without saying it agrees.
Welcomes
Praises a step taken by others.
Commends
Praises a state, a body or a person for its work.
Expresses its appreciation
Thanks someone formally for work done.

Judging

Deplores
Strong disapproval, a step softer than Condemns, so it often wins more votes.
Condemns
Sharp, public blame for an act.
Strongly condemns
Condemns with extra force.
Denounces
Publicly rejects an act as wrong.
Rejects
Refuses to accept a claim, a plan or an act.

Agreeing and stressing

Recalls
Points back to an earlier resolution or decision, often the body's own.
Reaffirms
Restates something the body has agreed before.
Reiterates
Repeats what the body said in an earlier resolution. Repeat the words, not only the number.
Affirms
States a principle as agreed.
Recognizes
Accepts a fact or a need as real and important.
Acknowledges
Accepts a fact or an effort as real.
Emphasizes
Gives a point special weight.
Stresses
Gives a point special weight, like Emphasizes.
Underlines
Gives a point special weight, like Stresses.
Supports
Backs a plan, a body or an effort.
Endorses
Gives formal approval to a plan or a recommendation.

The committee acts itself

Decides
Takes a decision. Every member must carry out a Security Council decision; other bodies decide their own work. To set up a body or a fund, write Decides to establish.
Adopts
Approves a text, such as a programme of action or rules.
Approves
Gives formal consent, for example to a plan or a budget.
Accepts
Agrees to an offer or a recommendation, such as an offer to host a conference.
Agrees
Records that the members agree on a point.
Declares
Announces a position or a status formally.
Authorizes
Gives permission. The Security Council can authorize states to use force; the General Assembly authorizes the Secretary-General, for example to spend money.
Renews
Extends a task, an invitation or a commitment.

Preambular or operative: which phrase goes where

A preambular phrase is an -ing word or an adjective that gives a reason; an operative phrase is a verb ending in -s that acts.

The UN Editorial Manual sets the rule, and one test shows it: put the body's name in front. “The General Assembly, recalling its resolution...” gives a reason, so “Recalling” opens a preambular paragraph. “The General Assembly requests...” does something, so “Requests” opens an operative paragraph.

Preambular phrases are -ing words such as “Recalling”, or adjectives such as “Concerned”. Operative phrases are verbs ending in -s, such as “Requests” or “Decides”. Many verbs come in both forms:

The same idea as a preambular and an operative phrase
Preambular (why) Operative (what)
NotingNotes
WelcomingWelcomes
ReaffirmingReaffirms
RecognizingRecognizes
Expressing concernExpresses concern
DeploringDeplores

A preambular paragraph ends with a comma, and an operative paragraph is numbered and ends with a semicolon:

One preambular and one operative paragraph
  1. PP1Deeply concerned by the volume of plastic waste shipped to countries that cannot recycle it,
  2. OP1Calls upon all Member States to stop exporting plastic waste to countries without recycling capacity by 2030;

Practice sample

Clauses and paragraphs are the same thing. Many MUN conferences say preambulatory and operative clauses, while the UN says preambular and operative paragraphs. In negotiations, delegates label them PP1, PP2 and OP1, OP2. Use whichever your conference uses. The UN puts the opening phrase in italics, while THIMUN-style conferences usually underline it, and the resolution format covers the rest.

How strong is each operative verb?

“Requests” is neutral, “Calls upon” stronger, “Urges” stronger still and “Demands” the strongest and rarest.

The verb you choose decides how hard your draft pushes, and how many votes it wins. In UN drafting practice, four verbs of asking climb from neutral to strongest:

How strongly an operative verb asks others to act
Verb How strong Use it when
RequestsNeutral, and very commonYou ask for something ordinary, such as a report
Calls uponStrongerYou want states to act, in public
UrgesStronger stillThe matter is urgent
DemandsThe strongest, rarely usedSofter words have already failed

You can soften or sharpen any verb. “Urges states to consider ratifying” is softer than “Urges states to ratify”, and “Strongly condemns” is sharper than “Condemns”. Softening one verb is a classic way to win over a hesitant bloc, and in MUN Command you suggest that change as an amendment.

One real text shows the range. Security Council resolution 2730 of 2024, on protecting humanitarian workers, uses “Calls upon”, “Demands”, “Urges”, “Strongly condemns”, “Condemns”, “Encourages” and “Requests” in its operative paragraphs, each for a different job.

Which body can use which phrase

The Security Council can oblige every member and authorize force; the General Assembly recommends, but may still condemn and demand.

Write only what your body has the power to do. The General Assembly makes recommendations, while every member must carry out the decisions of the Security Council.

Operative verbs in the General Assembly and the Security Council
Verb General Assembly Security Council
DecidesOnly for its own work, such as its meetings or its budgetDecisions every member must carry out
AuthorizesThe Secretary-General, for example to spend moneyStates, even to use force
DemandsUsed, but only as a recommendationUsed
CondemnsUsed, as in resolution ES-11/4Used
RecommendsTo states, or to the Security CouncilTo the General Assembly, such as admitting a new member

Other bodies have habits of their own. The World Health Assembly prints its operative verbs in capitals, as in URGES Member States, and the Human Rights Council uses “Decides” to set up or extend its own investigations.

Condemns or deplores?

Both judge and neither obliges anyone; “Condemns” is sharper, “Deplores” wins more votes.

Both verbs judge an act, and neither obliges anyone to do anything. In practice, judgment climbs from “Notes with concern” through “Expresses concern” and “Deplores” to “Condemns” and “Strongly condemns”. “Condemns” is the stronger blame, and “Deplores” is strong disapproval that more members will usually vote for.

So when a vote is close, offer to swap “Condemns” for “Deplores”, or keep “Deplores” and sharpen it with “in the strongest terms”. Judge the act, not the country, and more delegations can vote for it. In March 2022 the General Assembly did both in one resolution: it “Deplores in the strongest terms” the aggression against Ukraine, and “Condemns” all violations of international humanitarian law.

Also and further: repeating an opening phrase

Repeat an opening phrase with also, then further: after the phrase in the preamble, before the verb in the operative part.

When two paragraphs in a row open with the same phrase, add “also” to the second and “further” to the third. In the preamble the word goes after the phrase, and in the operative part before the verb:

Repeating an opening phrase
Part First Second Third
PreambleRecallingRecalling alsoRecalling further
Operative partRequestsAlso requestsFurther requests

Security Council texts vary, and some write “Decides also”, so keep one pattern through your draft.

Common mistakes with opening phrases

Keep actions out of the preamble, never welcome your own past resolutions, and save “Demands”.

  • An action in the preamble. “Requests”, “Urges” and “Decides” belong in operative paragraphs; the preamble only explains.
  • Welcoming your own resolution. A body never welcomes or takes note of its own past decision: write “Recalling” or “Reaffirming”.
  • “Reiterates” with nothing to repeat. Use it only when an earlier resolution says the same; otherwise write “Affirms” or “Stresses”.
  • “Demands” everywhere. Save it for the one paragraph that needs it, and use “Calls upon” or “Urges” for the rest.
  • Requests aimed at the Security Council in a General Assembly draft. The Assembly can only recommend to the Council, so write “Recommends” or “Invites”.
  • A resolution that acts. The committee decides, not the resolution: never write “This resolution decides”.

Practise choosing opening phrases

Pick the right verb for a General Assembly draft, then fix three opening phrases.

Exercise

Pick the verb for a General Assembly draft

Your General Assembly committee's draft asks all Member States to stop shipping plastic waste to countries that cannot recycle it. You need the votes of undecided exporting countries. Which opening verb fits best?

  1. Decides that all Member States shall stop

    Not quite The General Assembly cannot oblige states. “Decides” is for its own work.

  2. Calls upon all Member States to stop

    Right Firm and public, within the Assembly's power to recommend, and still easy for undecided delegations to support.

  3. Demands that all Member States stop

    Not quite Allowed in the Assembly, but it pushes away the undecided exporters you need, and many conferences reserve it for the Security Council.

  4. Notes that all Member States should stop

    Not quite “Notes” only observes. It asks no one to act.

Show the model answer

“Calls upon”. It asks states firmly and publicly to act, and it is the strongest step the undecided exporters will vote for.

Check your answer

Exercise

Fix three opening phrases

Each of these paragraphs from a draft on ocean plastic opens with the wrong phrase. Rewrite the three opening phrases.

  1. PP1Requests United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/14 of 2 March 2022, which started talks on a treaty to end plastic pollution,
  2. OP1Welcomes its own resolution adopted last year on marine litter;
  3. OP2Recognizing the need for more recycling plants in coastal states;
Hint 1

Ask of each one: is it a reason or an action, and does it treat the committee's own work correctly?

Show the model answer
  1. PP1Recalling United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/14 of 2 March 2022, which started talks on a treaty to end plastic pollution,
  2. OP1Reaffirms its resolution adopted last year on marine litter;
  3. OP2Recognizes the need for more recycling plants in coastal states;

A preamble gives reasons, so PP1 needs an -ing word: “Recalling”, or “Welcoming” if you want to praise that decision. A body reaffirms its own past resolution instead of welcoming it. An operative paragraph needs a verb ending in -s, so “Recognizing” becomes “Recognizes”.

Check your answer

You can now pick the right opening phrase for every paragraph of your resolution.

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Questions and answers

What is the difference between preambulatory and operative clauses?

Preambulatory clauses give the reasons for acting and open with an -ing word or an adjective, such as “Recalling”. Operative clauses are the actions: they are numbered and open with a verb ending in -s, such as “Requests”. The UN calls them preambular and operative paragraphs.

What does preambulatory mean?

It means coming before. Preambulatory clauses form the preamble, the part of a resolution before the actions, and give the reasons. The UN calls them preambular paragraphs.

What is the strongest operative clause?

“Demands” is the strongest way to ask, and it is rarely used. For blame, “Strongly condemns” is the sharpest. In the Security Council, “Decides” obliges every member. To make the whole paragraph stronger, see strong operative paragraphs.

Can the General Assembly condemn or demand?

Yes. The General Assembly can condemn and demand, as it did in resolution ES-11/1, but in the Assembly neither binds any state. Many conferences reserve both for the Security Council, so check your rules.

Should I write condemns or deplores?

“Condemns” is the stronger blame. “Deplores” is strong disapproval that more members will vote for, so it often wins a close vote.

Do I write also or further first?

“Also” comes first, then “further”: “Recalling also”, then “Recalling further” in the preamble; “Also requests”, then “Further requests” in the operative part.

Is it calls upon or calls on?

Both are correct, but “Calls upon” is far more common in UN texts. Pick one and keep it through your draft.

Can I use an opening phrase that is not on the list?

Yes, if it is an -ing word or an adjective in the preamble and a verb ending in -s in the operative part. UN wording reads best: “Alarmed” rather than “Fully alarmed”, “Noting with appreciation” rather than “Viewing with appreciation”.

On this page

  1. The list
  2. Which goes where
  3. How strong
  4. Which body
  5. Condemns or deplores
  6. Also and further
  7. Mistakes
  8. Practice
  9. Questions