Resolution
Origin
Middle English resolucioun, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French resolucion, from Latin resolution-, resolutio, from resolvere 14th Century
Definitions
- a : the act of analyzing a complex notion into simpler ones
- b : the act of answering : solving
- c : the act of determining
- d : the passing of a voice part from a dissonant to a consonant tone or the progression of a chord from dissonance to consonance
- e : the separating of a chemical compound or mixture into its constituents
- f (1) : the division of a prosodic element into its component parts (2) : the substitution in Greek or Latin prosody of two short syllables for a long syllable
- g : the analysis of a vector into two or more vectors of which it is the sum
- 2: the subsidence of a pathological state (as inflammation)
- 3a : something that is resolved <made a resolution to mend my ways>
- b : firmness of resolve
- 4: a formal expression of opinion, will, or intent voted by an official body or assembled group
- 5: the point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out
- 6a : the process or capability of making distinguishable the individual parts of an object, closely adjacent optical images, or sources of light
- b : a measure of the sharpness of an image or of the fineness with which a device (as a video display, printer, or scanner) can produce or record such an image usually expressed as the total number or density of pixels in the image <a resolution of 1200 dots per inch>
Description
A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be distributed outside of the body after its adoption. An alternate term for a resolution is a resolve.
Resolutions are commonly used in corporations and houses of legislature.
Types
In a house of a legislature, the term non-binding resolution refers to measures that do not become laws. This is used to differentiate those measures from a bill, which is also a resolution in the technical sense. The resolution is often used to express the body's approval or disapproval of something which they cannot otherwise vote on, due to the matter being handled by another jurisdiction, or being protected by a constitution. An example would be a resolution of support for a nation's troops in battle, which carries no legal weight, but is adopted for moral support.
Substantive and procedural
Substantive resolutions apply to essential legal principles and rules of right, analogous to substantive law, in contrast to procedural resolutions, which deal with the methods and means by which substantive items are made and administered.
