United Nations General Assembly

The United Nations General Assembly is the UN's principal deliberative, policymaking and representative organ. Under the Charter, all UN members are represented and each has one vote. It discusses matters within the Charter, makes recommendations and exercises important electoral, budgetary, supervisory and institutional powers.

Deliberative and recommendatory powers

Under Articles 10 and 11, the General Assembly may discuss questions within the Charter, including international peace and security, and make recommendations to members or the Security Council.

• It may consider principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments and recommend measures for their implementation.
• It may call the Security Council's attention to situations likely to endanger international peace and security.
• Under Article 14, it may recommend the peaceful adjustment of situations likely to impair friendly relations among nations.
• Under Article 13, it initiates studies and makes recommendations concerning international cooperation, international law and human rights.

Institutional, electoral and financial powers

The Assembly takes decisions necessary for the functioning of the UN, although its recommendations addressed to states are generally not legally binding.

• Under Article 17, it considers and approves the UN budget and apportions the organization's expenses among members.
• Its budgetary authority includes approving financing for peacekeeping operations.
• It elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of the Economic and Social Council.
• It admits, suspends or expels members upon the Security Council's recommendation and appoints the Secretary-General on its recommendation.
• Under Article 22, it may establish subsidiary organs, including investigative or other bodies, necessary for performing its functions.

Oversight and decision-making

The Assembly provides institutional oversight by receiving and considering reports from other principal UN organs.

• Under Article 15, it receives and considers annual and special reports from the Security Council and reports from other UN organs.
• Under Article 18, important questions require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting; other questions are decided by a simple majority.
• The Assembly considers the Security Council's reports, helping subject its work to discussion by the wider UN membership.

Peace and security limits

Under Article 24, the Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The Assembly therefore builds consensus and political legitimacy but cannot impose binding Chapter VII enforcement action.

• Under Article 12, while the Security Council is exercising its functions concerning a dispute or situation, the Assembly ordinarily cannot recommend on it unless the Council requests this.
• Questions requiring enforcement action must be referred to the Security Council under Article 11.
• Under the Uniting for Peace Resolution, 1950, the Assembly may recommend collective measures when permanent-member disagreement prevents Council action.
• Uniting for Peace permits an emergency special session, but does not transfer the Council's binding enforcement powers to the Assembly.