General Assembly

The main deliberative organ

Main organs

The General Assembly is the UN's main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ, in which all 193 members are represented with one vote each.

Composition

Every member state has one seat and one vote. A President is elected for each annual session, rotating among regional groups, along with Vice-Presidents and six main committees (on disarmament, economics, social and humanitarian issues, decolonization, administration and budget, and legal matters).

Functions and powers

Discusses any question within the scope of the Charter and makes recommendations.
Considers principles of cooperation for peace and security, including disarmament.
Approves the UN budget and decides members' financial contributions.
Elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the members of ECOSOC and, with the Security Council, ICJ judges.
Appoints the Secretary-General on the Security Council's recommendation.
Admits, suspends and expels members on the Security Council's recommendation.
Initiates studies and recommendations to develop international law and promote human rights.

Uniting for Peace

Under the 'Uniting for Peace' resolution (377 A, 1950), if the Security Council fails to act because of a veto, the General Assembly can meet in an emergency special session and recommend collective measures.

Limitations

General Assembly resolutions are recommendations, not legally binding (except on budgetary and internal matters), so they depend on states' willingness to follow them.

Pakistan in the General Assembly

Pakistan's Sir Muhammad Zafarullah Khan was President of the 17th session (1962). Pakistan regularly raises the Kashmir issue and leads initiatives on interfaith harmony and combating Islamophobia.