RULES OF PROCEDURE

Explanatory Note

Introduction

I. SESSIONS (Rules 1 to 11)

• Closing date
• Notification of session
• Notification to other bodies
• Opening date
• Place of meeting
• Regular sessions
• Request by Members
• Special sessions
• Summoning at the request of the Security Council or Members
• Summoning by the General Assembly
• Temporary adjournment of session

II. AGENDA (Rules 12 to 24)

• Additional items
• Amendment and deletion of items
• Adoption of the agenda
• Debate on inclusion of items
• Explanatory memorandum
• Modification of the allocation of expenses
• Provisional agenda
• Regular sessions
• Special sessions
• Supplementary items

III. DELEGATIONS COMPOSITION (Rules 25 and 26)

• Alternates

IV. CREDENTIALS (Rules 27 to 29)

• Credentials Committee
• Provisional admission to a session
• Submission of credentials

V. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS (Rules 30 to 37)

• Acting President
• Elections
• General powers of the President
• The President shall not vote
• Replacement of the President
• Temporary President

VI. GENERAL COMMITTEE (Rules 38 to 44)

• Composition
• Functions
• Participation by members requesting the inclusion of items in the agenda
• Revision of the form of resolutions
• Substitute members

VII. SECRETARIAT (Rules 45 to 50)

• Duties of the Secretariat
• Duties of the Secretary-General
• Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization
• Notification under Article 12 of the Charter
• Regulations concerning the Secretariat

VIII. LANGUAGES (Rules 51 to 57)

• Interpretation
• Languages of resolutions and other documents
• Languages of the Journal of the United Nations
• Languages of verbatim and summary records
• Official and working languages
• Publications in languages other than the languages of the General Assembly

IX. RECORDS (Rules 58 and 59)

• Records and sound recordings of meetings
• Resolutions

X. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ITS COMMITTEES AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES (Rules 60 and 61)

• General principles
• Private meetings

XI. MINUTE OF SILENT PRAYER OR MEDITATION (Rule 62)

• Invitation to silent prayer or meditation

XII. PLENARY MEETINGS (Rules 63 to 95)

• Adjournment of debate
• Closing of list of speakers, right of reply
• Closure of debate
• Conduct during voting
• Conduct of business
• Decisions on competence
• Discussion of reports of Main Committees
• Division of proposals and amendments
• Elections
• Emergency special sessions
• Equally divided votes
• Meaning of the phrase “members present and voting”
• Method of voting
• Order of procedural motions
• Points of order
• Precedence
• Proposals and amendments
• Quorum
• Reconsideration of proposals
• Reference to committees
• Report of the Secretary-General
• Simple majority
• Speeches
• Statements by the Secretariat
• Suspension or adjournment of the meeting
• Time limit on speeches
• Two-thirds majority
• Voting
• Voting on amendments
• Voting on proposals
• Voting rights
• Withdrawal of motions

XIII. COMMITTEES (Rules 96 to 133)

• Absence of officers
• Adjournment of debate
• Categories of subjects
• The Chairman of a Main Committee shall not vote
• Closing of list of speakers, right of reply
• Closure of debate
• Conduct during voting
• Conduct of business
• Congratulations
• Decisions on competence
• Division of proposals and amendments
• Elections
• Election of officers
• Equally divided votes
• Establishment, officers, organization of work
• Establishment of committees
• Functions of the Chairman
• Main Committees
• Majority required
• Meaning of the phrase “members present and voting”
• Method of voting
• Order of procedural motions
• Organization of work
• Points of order
• Precedence
• Proposals and amendments
• Quorum
• Reconsideration of proposals
• Representation of Members
• Speeches
• Statements by the Secretariat
• Subcommittees
• Suspension or adjournment of the meeting
• Time limit on speeches
• Voting
• Voting on amendments
• Voting on proposals
• Voting rights
• Withdrawal of motions

XIV. ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS TO THE UNITED NATIONS (Rules 134 to 138)

• Applications
• Consideration of applications and decision thereon
• Notification of applications
• Notification of decision and effective date of membership

XV. ELECTIONS TO PRINCIPAL ORGANS (Rules 139 to 151)

• Annual elections
• Appointment of the Secretary-General
• By-elections
• Economic and Social Council
• General provisions
• International Court of Justice
• Method of election
• Occasions for elections
• Qualifications for membership
• Re-eligibility
• Security Council
• Terms of office
• Trusteeship Council
• Vacancies

XVI. ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY QUESTIONS (Rules 152 to 160)

• Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions
• Appointment
• Committee on Contributions
• Composition
• Financial implications of resolutions
• Functions
• General provisions
• Regulations for financial administration

XVII. SUBSIDIARY ORGANS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Rule 161)

• Establishment and rules of procedure

XVIII. INTERPRETATION AND AMENDMENTS (Rules 162 and 163)

• Italicized headings
• Method of amendment

ANNEXES