The UN General Assembly The General Assembly is the world’s primary deliberative body with universal representation. While the exclusive Security Council grants unique veto rights to five nations, all 192 UN member states have equal voting rights in the General Assembly making it unique among world bodies. The General Assembly admits new UN members and elects members to other UN organs. It is the primary platform for the dialogue between developed and developing states. Among its duties are: •
Reviewing reports from the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council;
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Making recommendations on international political cooperation;
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Developing and systematizing international collaboration in economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields;
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Counseling and encouraging peaceful settlement of hostile situations among nations;
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Appointing the Secretary-General in conjunction with the Security Council, electing the other ten non-permanent members of the Security Council, judges of the International Court of Justice, and members of the Economic and Social Council; and
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Setting the UN budget and approving budget-related decisions that affect the functioning of the Secretariat.
Voting and Sessions Each September, a new General Assembly session convenes at UN headquarters in New York City with two weeks of open debate during which many world leaders address the body directly. This event provides heads of state and government the only universal forum in which to address one another. After these world leaders return to their capitals, representatives from their missions in New York continue to debate issues in a session that typically suspends in late December and reconvenes as needed throughout the following year. All 192 UN member states vote in the General Assembly. Additionally, several entities, such as the Vatican, have non-voting, observer status allowing them to participate in debate but not vote. Recommendations on peace and security, the election of members to organs, the admission, suspension, and expulsion of members, and budgetary matters each require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to pass. Resolutions on all other matters only require a simple majority; budgets are now adopted by consensus. Aside from budgetary matters that relate to setting the budget for the UN Secretariat, resolutions are non-binding on member states. 48