QUICK GUIDE: LOCATING UNITED NATIONS DOCUMENTATION
LOCATING RESOLUTIONS ISSUED BY THE VARIOUS BODIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS
According to Bluebook Rule 21.7.2, "when citing resolutions, it is proper to cite to either the Official Record or to the online version." Resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council are issued in their final official form as a supplement to the Official Records of those bodies at the conclusion of a session. This supplement contains the text of all resolutions issued by that body for the session. A representative citation to a General Assembly Resolution would look like this:
G.A. Res. 832, U.N. GAOR, 9th Sess., Supp. No. 21, U.N. Doc. A/2890 (October 21, 1954)
(Note: "GAOR" refers to the General Assembly Official Records.)
I. Print Sources for General Assembly Resolutions
- Key resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, 1946-1996. New York : Cambridge University Press, 1997. [Location: Reference KZ 5006.2 .K49 1997] (OCLC: 36930717)
- Resolutions and Decisions Adopted by the General Assembly. New York: United Nations. [Location: LL2: KZ 5006.2 .U54] (OCLC: 3783691)
- Resolutions and Decisions Adopted by the General Assembly during its ... Session. New York: United Nations, Dept. of Public Information. [Location: LL2: KZ 5006.2 .U545] (OCLC: 20451439)
- United Nations Resolutions; Series I - Resolutions Adopted by the General Assembly. Dobbs Ferry: Oceana, 1976- . [Location: LL2: KZ 5006.2 .U53] (OCLC: 4417838)
II. Electronic Sources for General Assembly Resolutions
- Official Document System (ODS) of the United States
Most comprehensive database for full-text PDF documents of the General Assembly for the time period 1993- present. Full-text resolutions go back to 1946.
- General Assembly website
Provides full-text access to the resolutions and documentation of the General Assembly back to the 52nd Session (1997). Earlier documents are in HTML, Wordperfect, or PDF depending on the session. The site also includes links to subsidiary bodies. Verbatim records are available back to the 55th Session (2000/2001).
- UN Documentation Centre
Full-text session documentation and verbatim records are available back to the 53rd session (1998). Resolutions are available back to the 1st session (1946) (Official Records Resolution Supplement version).
III. Print Sources for Security Council Resolutions
- Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council; Résolutions et Décisions du Conseil de Sécurité. Dobbs Ferry: Oceana, 1988 . [Location: LL2: KZ 5036 .U55]. (OCLC: 17780463)
- Wellens, Karel L., ed. Resolutions and Statements of the United Nations Security Council (1946-2000): a Thematic Guide. New York: Kluwer Law International,2001. [Location: LL2: JZ 5006.7 .R47 2001] (OCLC: 48163303)
IV. Electronic Sources for Security Council Resolutions
- Official Document System (ODS) of the United States
Most comprehensive database for full-text PDF documents of the General Assembly for the time period 1993-present. Full-text resolutions go back to 1946.
- Security Council Website
The Security Council's website provides access to meeting records back to 1994 and resolutions from 1946- are available in their Official Record edition. The site also includes reports of the Secretary General to the Security Council from 1994. Press releases and voting records are also available. The site also includes links to subsidiary bodies.
- UN Documentation Centre
Verbatim records are available back to the 1994. Resolutions are available back to 1946 (Official Records version). Press releases are also available.
Locating Resolutions in the U.N. Microfiche Collection
The U.N. microfiche is found in the blue microfiche cabinet at the rear of the microtext area on LL1. For General Assembly resolutions, go the section entitled "General Assembly Supplements" under the symbol A/[session]/number. The compilation of resolutions is usually supplement 49 or 50. The Security Council resolutions are filed under the symbol S/RES/[number].
last updated: 7/6/06