The General Assembly:
what it is, what it does?
The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. Here every nation has a vote, and every vote is equal. The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations and has the right to discuss all matters within the scope of the United Nations Charter, including the powers and functions of the other United Nations organs, which submit reports to it. All Member Nations of the United Nations are represented in the General Assembly. Each member delegation consists of not more than three representatives and three alternates and as many advisers and experts as may be required. At present, the Assembly has 192 Member States.

Each Member Nation has one vote, and every vote is equal. Important questions such as recommendations regarding the maintenance of international peace and Security, the election of members of the United Nations councils, questions of the membership of the United Nations, matters relating to the operation of the Trusteeship System, and budgetary questions, are decided by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. An abstention is not considered a vote. Other questions are decided by a simple majority , including the determination of what other specific decisions are to be taken by a two-thirds vote. The General Assembly meets regularly once a year. It may also hold special sessions and emergency special sessions at the request of the Security Council or of a majority of United Nations members.

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS

The General Assembly also initiates studies and makes recommendations to: promote international cooperation in the political field; encourage the progressive development of international law and its codification; promote international co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational and health fields; and assist in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.

The Assembly may discuss any international problem brought before it by Member States and by other United Nations bodies. On all such matters, including those affecting peace and Security, if the Security Council so requests, the Assembly may recommend actions. It may make recommendations on general principles of cooperation in maintaining peace and Security include those governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments. The Assembly has the power to adopt recommendations only, not binding decisions; the force of such recommendations is that they represent the judgement of the majority of the Member Nations.

PEACE AND SECURITY

While the Security Council is primarily responsible for maintaining international peace and security and is authorized under Chapter VII of the Charter in certain circumstances to use military force to maintain or restore peace, the functions of the organization for the peaceful solution of conflicts, under Chapter VI of the Charter, have developed along a much broader front.

Chapter VI calls for the solution of international disputes by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means. Under this chapter any United Nations Member may bring any dispute, or any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute, to the attention of the Security Council or of the General Assembly. In such a case, if the Security Council has the matter under consideration, the Assembly is not empowered to make any recommendations unless the Council so requests. A non-Member State may also bring to the Security Council or the General Assembly a dispute to which it is a party if it accepts in advance, for the purpose of the dispute, the obligation of the pacific settlement provided in the Charter.

Where there appears to be a threat to peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression, and where the Security Council fail to act because of the lack of unanimity of its permanent members, the Assembly may meet in emergency special session within, 24 hours at the request of the Council on the vote of any nine Council members, or at the request of a majority of the United Nations members. In such a case the Assembly may make recommendations to members for collective measures, including, in the case of a breach or the peace or act of aggression, the use of armed force, to maintain or restore international peace and security. The General Assembly elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council.

The Assembly also elects the members of the Economic and Social Council and some members of the Trusteeship Council. Together with the Security Council, it elects the judges of the International court of Justice, and on the recommendation of the Security Council, it appoints the Secretary-General. New Member Nations are admitted to the United Nations by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.

The Assembly considers and approves the annual budget for the entire organization and apportions the expenses of the United Nations among all its member states. It determines the percentage that each is to contribute for meeting such expenses by taking into account such factors as national income, comparative income per person, temporary dislocation of national and ability to secure foreign currency.

DECOLONIZATION

In a declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories, the Charter proclaims that the interests of the inhabitants of territories which have not yet attained full self-government are paramount, and that Member States which administer them accept certain obligations regarding their well-being, advancement and development. In 1960, the Assembly adopted a declaration on the granting of independence to colonial countries and people, in which it solemnly proclaimed "the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism in all its forms and manifestations". A special committee on the implementation of the declaration - often referred to as the Committee of 24-examines the situation in Non-Self-Governing Territories and makes suggestions and recommendations to the Assembly.

The Charter provided for establishment of an international Trusteeship System for the administration and supervision of Trust Territories places under it by member states; and the Assembly, with the assistance of the Trusteeship Council, exercises the function of the United Nations with regard to all Trust Territories not designated as strategic . The Security Council exercises those functions in the case of strategic areas. Among the basic objectives of the Trusteeship System is the promotion of the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the inhabitants of the Trust Territories and their progressive development towards self-government or independence.

In addition to taking up certain matters directly in plenary meeting, the Assembly refers most questions on its agenda to one of its six main committees. These committees discuss the items and then submit proposals for approval by the assembly itself in plenary meeting. Voting in committees and sub-committees is by simple majority.

MAIN COMMITTEES

Each member state is represented on each of the six main committees. Two of these deal with political and security questions; the other with economic and financial questions; social, humanitarian and cultural matters; questions concerning trusteeship and information for non-self-governing-Territories; administrative and budgetary matters; and legal questions.

The organization of the work of the Assembly session is the responsibility of the General Committee consisting of the President, 21 Vice-Presidents and the Chairmen of the six main committees . The general committee recommends to the assembly what item should be included in the agenda of the session.

At the opening of the session, the Assembly appoints, on the nominations of the President, a Credentials Committee which reports on the credentials of the delegates to the session.

The Assembly is also assisted by two standing committees - an Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and a Committee on Contributions. Both are appointed by the Assembly.

The recognition of a new State or Government is an act that only States and Governments may grant or withhold. It generally implies readiness to assume diplomatic relations. The United Nations is neither a State nor a Government, and therefore does not posses any authority to recognize either a State or a Government. As an organization of independent States, it may admit a new State to its membership or accept the credentials of the representatives of a new Government.

Membership in the Organization, in accordance with Paragraph I of Article 4 of the Charter of the United Nations, "is open to all peace-loving States which accept the obligations contained in the United Nations Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able to carry out these obligations." States are admitted to membership in the United Nations by decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.  The procedure is briefly as follows:

1. The State submits an application to the Secretary-General and a formal declaration stating that it accepts the obligations  under  the Charter.

2. The application is considered first  by the Security Council. Any recommendation for admission must receive the affirmative votes of nine of the 15 members of the Council, provided that none of its five permanent members - China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America - have voted against  the application.

3. If the Council recommends admission, the recommendation is presented to the General Assembly for consideration. A two-thirds majority vote is necessary in the Assembly for admission of a new State, and membership becomes effective the date the resolution for admission is adopted.

At each session, the General Assembly considers the credentials of all representatives of Member States participating in that session.  During such consideration, which routinely takes place first in the 9-member Credentials Committee but can also arise at other times, the issue can be raised whether a particular representative has been accredited by the Government actually in power. If controverted, this issue is ultimately decided by a majority vote in the Assembly. It should be noted that the normal change of Governments, as through a democratic election, does not raise any issues concerning the credentials of the representative of the State concerned.
 
 
 

For further information, please contact: Public Inquiries Unit, United Nations, GA-57, New York, NY 10017; tel: 212-963-4475; fax: 212-963-0071; e-mail: inquiries@un.org; http://www.un.org/geninfo/faq