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Resolution (law)

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A resolution is a formal written plan. It is a motion that a group adopts. This means the group agrees to the plan.

17750324 Resolution - In Provincial Congress - John Hancock - The Virginia Gazette
17750324 Resolution - In Provincial Congress - John Hancock - The Virginia Gazette

A group of people who make decisions is called a deliberative body. This could be a board of directors for a company. It could also be a group of leaders in a government. When they pass a resolution, they are making an official choice. They might also call this a resolve.

In a business, resolutions help things run smoothly. A board of directors often needs to give consent for big tasks. They might use a written resolution to buy or sell land. They can also use them to open new bank accounts. A company might even use one to issue shares. A company secretary signs the paper to certify it. This tells others that the sale or choice was properly authorized.

Different groups use resolutions in different ways. In the United States, a resolution is a written proposal. This is different from a motion, which is a spoken proposal. Some resolutions are non-binding. This means they do not become laws. These are used to show how a group feels. For example, a group might pass a resolution to support troops. This gives moral support but carries no legal weight.

Some resolutions are much more powerful. These are called binding resolutions. The United States Congress uses a joint resolution to declare war. They also use them to propose changes to the Constitution. The British House of Commons uses them to elect a Speaker. In the United States, the House of Representatives uses them to impeach officers. These resolutions allow groups to use their specific legal powers.

There are two main types of resolutions. Substantive resolutions deal with essential legal principles. They are like real laws. Procedural resolutions are different. They deal with the methods and ways that things are made.

17750324 Resolution - In Provincial Congress - John Hancock - The Virginia Gazette
17750324 Resolution - In Provincial Congress - John Hancock - The Virginia Gazette

History shows many famous examples. These include the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. There are also resolutions from the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.

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