Approval Panel- All about MunoM- MunoM e.V.

What the Approval Panel does

The main objective for delegates at MunoM is to pass resolutions. Resolutions are written plans on how to deal with a certain issue. Each committee debates on resolutions, which will then either pass or fail, depending on how many votes it gets by the delegates. A resolution that passes therefore represents the shared opinion of a committee.
Of course, the committee consists of delegates representing different countries or organizations, and their very different opinions. This means it is unlikely that a resolution that is presented by a few delegates will immediately gain support from the whole committee. Even after the submitters of the resolution explain their ‘plans’ to the forum, and have had lively debates, the majority might still be against the resolution. It might be that some delegates agree with the main idea set forth in a resolution but disagree on some details. It is then important that the resolution can be easily adjusted during a debate to the liking of a majority of the forum. In other words, the resolution must be ‘debatable’.
This is where the Approval Panel comes in. The Approval Panel (AP) sees to it that the resolutions on which forums debate are actually debatable. It checks that the framework, i.e. the grammar, spelling and layout are correct. Furthermore, it checks whether the content of the resolution is legal and its proposals are within the rules of the UN.

Processing resolutions

Prepared delegates will come to MunoM with at least one resolution that they will consequently want to get passed. However, in order to pass a resolution it must first be debated in their committee. For the resolution to be debated it must first go through the Approval Panel. A resolution can only go through the Approval Panel once it has 6 co-submitters. As one can see, resolutions go through quite a process:

A delegate writes a resolution
The delegate finds at least the requested minimum number of co-submitters (co-submitters are delegates who would like to debate the resolution, they are not necessarily fully in favour of the resolution)
The delegate takes the resolution to the chair, who will check it
The delegate corrects the resolution, if any mistakes were found
The chair will check it again, then send the resolution to the AP
The resolution goes through the AP
The delegate corrects the resolution, if any mistakes were found
The AP will check it again, then either approve, disapprove or recommend to be failed (is this new, because it was only in the new description of the AP)
The resolution comes back to the chair, who decides whether or not to debate the resolution
The resolution is debated, and either passes or fails.

More on point three

The chair will be the first step in the process of passing a resolution. They will be checking over the resolution, focusing on grammar, layout and spelling. If any mistakes in these areas are found the chair will let the delegate know, who will consequently correct their resolution. The chair will then give the resolution a final check, and if satisfied will ask the AdStaff to bring the resolution to the AP.

More on point six

The AdStaff will arrive at the approval panel with the printed resolution and an MUN Director will check the grammar, layout and spelling of the resolution (this should be a quick process as most of the work has been already done in point three). The MUN Director will also be checking pre-ambulatory clauses and operative clauses to check that the resolution’s proposals are legal and coincide with the rules of the UN (for example, budgets are not discussed in any committee). However, the AP will not make too many changes to a resolution’s content. The delegates will be able to improve resolutions during debate by submitting amendments. If the resolution is approved, it can be debated in the committee. If the resolution is disapproved it means that there are errors in the resolution, but it can still be debated. If the resolution is recommended to be failed, it means the Approval Panel thinks that the resolution should not be debated.

More on point eight

The chair decides which resolutions are to be debated in the committee and in what order. The delegate must give the chair the resolution check form as well as the resolution, so that the chair can see what the Approval Panel said about the resolution. The chair may decide to debate a resolution even if it is disapproved by the Approval Panel. If a resolution was recommended to fail by the Approval Panel and the chair strongly disagrees with the Approval Panel’s decision, the chair may go to the Chief of Protocol (see executive staff members) to get permission to debate the resolution anyway.

Number of copies

Delegates are asked to hand in 1 copy of their resolution to the AP along with the resolution check form the first time and the second time they are asked to hand in the original copy with the AP’s corrections written on them and another copy, where they have made those corrections, altogether 2 copies along with the resolution check form.