A UN resolution is a formal expression of the will and opinion of a UN body. While any UN organ can issue a resolution, the vast majority of resolutions are issued by the Security Council and the General Assembly. Resolutions can be substantive or procedural, and are often accompanied by a press statement.
Resolutions usually follow a set format: the name of the issuing body appears at the head of the resolution, followed by the preambular clauses and then the operative clauses. Preambular clauses almost always start with verbs, while operative clauses begin and end with commas (except for the last one, which ends with a full stop/period).
A key part of any resolution is the veto power, a powerful privilege granted exclusively to the five permanent members of the Security Council. This power has roots in the aftermath of World War II, when leaders sought to prevent future conflicts and wanted to ensure that they remained in control of global peace and security. The veto was negotiated at the 1944 Dumbarton Oaks and 1945 Yalta conferences, and ultimately enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Since then, the veto has been invoked more than 1,000 times. The use of the veto declined in the post-Cold War era, but has recently risen sharply in response to conflicts in the Middle East and other geopolitical crises. As a result, the use of the veto has become a hotly debated topic amongst the international community.