United Nations General Assembly

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is One of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
All 193 member states of the United Nations are members of the General Assembly, each of which has one vote.
UNGA is the only one in which all member nations have equal representation.
Further, the UNGA may grant observer status to an international organization, entity or non-member state, which entitles the entity to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly, though with limitations.

Powers of the United Nations General Assembly

General Assembly appoints a Secretary General of the UN based on the recommendations given by Security Council.
It elects
- Non-Permanent members of the Security Council and
- Members of the Social and Economic Council.
Along with Security Council, General Assembly elects Judges to the International Court of Justice.
It makes recommendations on any matters within the scope of the UN, except matters of peace and security that are under consideration by the Security Council.

Decision on important questions such as those on peace and security, UN budget, admission, suspension and expulsion of members to various organs of the UN requires a special majority.
Other questions are decided by a straightforward majority.
Each member country has one vote.
Apart from the approval of budgetary matters, Assembly resolutions are not binding on the members.
- According to the “Uniting for Peace resolution of November 1950,” the Assembly may also take action if the Security Council fails to act, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member.
The one-state, one-vote power structure potentially allows states comprising just five per cent of the world population to pass a resolution by a two-thirds vote.