The General Assembly is the principal organ of the United Nations, consisting of all UN member states, with each member having a maximum of five representatives. It currently has 193 members. The General Assembly has powers including electing non-permanent Security Council members and other UN bodies, approving the budget, and initiating studies on international issues. It can make recommendations and declarations on international matters, but its resolutions are not binding. Voting is based on the principle of one member, one vote, with decisions requiring a two-thirds majority.

2. Composition:
 Principal organ of The United Nation;
 Consists of all the members of The
United Nation;
 Each member can have max five
representatives;
 At present there are 193 members;
 Last joined- South Sudan.

3. Voting Rights:
 Power of vote- One member: One Vote;
 Decisions and declarations made by
two-third (2/3) majority of the members
(Present & Voting).
 Decisions includes the matter related
to:
◦ Maintenance of International Peace &
Security;
◦ Elections of the members:
 Economic and Social Council, and
 Trusteeship Council.

4. Voting Rights:
 Admission of new member of the UN;
 Suspension of Rights & privileges of
memberships;
 Expulsion of members;
 Operations of trusteeship system;
 Budgetary matters.

5. Powers and Functions:
 According to Prof. Leonard’s
classification of powers and functions of
General Assembly as following:
◦ Deliberative Functions;
◦ Supervisory Functions;
◦ Financial Functions;
◦ Elective Functions; and
◦ Constituent Functions.

6. Deliberative Functions:
 Functions regarding decisions, discussions, studies
declarations and recommendations on different matters;
 Matter within the scope of present Charter; or
 Relating to functions & powers of other organs;
 Art 12 provides an exceptions to interfere with Security
Council unless it request to do so;
 G.A. consider general principles of cooperation in the
maintenance of international peace and security;
 G.A. may call attentions of the Security Council to
situations which are likely to endanger international
peace and security (Art 11(3))

7.  Art 13- G.A. entrusted imp. responsibilities that it can
initiate studies & make recommendations for the
purposes of:
 Promoting international cooperation in political field;
 Encouraging the progressive development of international
law & its codification;
 Promote the international cooperation in economic, social,
cultural, educational & health fields and assists in the
realization of H.R. & fundamental freedom.
 Limitations:
 Resolutions & declarations are not bounding to states;
 Lack of “Domestic Jurisdictions”.
Deliberative Functions:

8. Supervisory Functions:
 The G.A. supervises the functions of other principal
organs & specialized agencies of UN;
 Particularly exercises sufficient control over:
 Economic and Social Council; and
 Trusteeship Council.
 In face these two organs works as a sub-ordinate organs of
the G.A.;
 Security Council and other organs of the UN have to
submit Annual Reports to the G.A.;

9. Financial Functions:
 It consider & approves the budget of the UN;
 Expenses of the organizations shall be borne by the
members of the G.A.;
 It examine and administrate the budgets made for the
agencies of the UN with a view to making
recommendations to the agencies concerned;
 “As G.A. control purse strings, it is a potent power.”

10. Elective Functions:
 Admission of new states to UN:
 Decision of the members by two-third (2/3) majority
(present & voting) can lead to:
 Election of new state; and also
 Suspension, expulsion or deprivation of its vote due to preventive
action taken by Security Council, violation of laws of charter and
failure to payments of financial contribution respectively.

11.  Election of member for other organ of the UN:
 Elects 10 non-permanent members of the Security
Council;
 Elects 54 members of Economic & Social Council;
 Elects some members of Trusteeship Council;
 Take part in the election of the Judge of the
International Court of Law;
 Also take part in the appointment of Secretary
General.
Elective Functions:

12. Constituent Functions:
 Take part in the amendments of the Charter;
 The two-third of the majority of the members pass the
Charter;
 And, it should be rectified in accordance with the
constitutional processes, again by the majority of two-
third of the members.

13. Query, if any please…