The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives of all 191 Member States – all of which has one vote.
The work of the United Nations year-round derives largely from the decisions of the General Assembly – that is to say, the will of the majority of the Members as expressed in resolutions adopted by the Assembly. Much of this work is carried out in committees (see links) established by the Assembly to study and report on specific issues.
Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new Members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority.
Decisions on other questions are reached by a simple majority. These decisions may be adopted without a vote, or with a vote, which may be recorded, non-recorded or by roll-call.
While the decisions of the Assembly have no legally binding force for Governments, they carry the weight of world opinion on major international issues, as well as the moral authority of the world community.
Many issues are also addressed by international conferences called for by the Assembly; and by the Secreteriat of the United Nations – the Secretary-General and his staff of international civil servants.
The General Assembly's regular session begins each year on the third Tuesday in September and continues usually until the third week of December. In recent years, the Assembly has been in session throughout the year. At the start of each regular session, the Assembly elects a new President, 21 Vice-Presidents and the Chairmen of the Assembly's six Main Committees.
The Assembly also holds a general debate, a high level segment of the GA, in which Member States express their views on a wide range of matters of international concern.
To ensure equitable geographical representation, the presidency of the Assembly rotates each year among five groups of States: African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American and Caribbean, and Western European and other States.