Discuss the organisation, power and functions of General Assembly as an Organ of UNO.

Give an account of the organisation and functions of General Assembly.

Ans. 

Introduction:

The General Assembly is the largest organization in the world. It is also called the 'world parliament'. It is akin to the parliament of the United Nations. 

Membership: 

Every member of the UN is a member of this Assembly. Each nation sends 5 representatives to it. They can also send 5 alternate representatives, but the vote of these representatives is counted as one.

Session: 

The Assembly meets every year on the third Thursday of September. The Secretary General can also call a special session if requested by the Security Council and a majority of the UN members. The Assembly also elects a President. Seven Vice Presidents are also appointed who serve till the end of the session. 

Functions: 

The General Assembly has the right to discuss all matters mentioned in the UN Charter. 

The functions of the General Assembly include:

• (i) Electing various officials of the UNO
• (ii) Overseeing the work of all UN agencies
• (iii) Other functions

The details of these functions are:

(i) Efforts to Maintain World Peace: 

This Assembly has the right to establish international laws and disarmament plans with the aim of establishing international cooperation and peace. For this, it can issue directives to the Security Council. It deliberates and attempts to resolve disputes related to peace and security presented by any nation, whether it is a member of the UN or not.

(ii) Election of the Chief Official of the U.N.O.: 

This Assembly elects six temporary members to the Security Council, eighteen members to the Economic and Social Council, fifteen judges to the International Court of Justice. It also grants membership to new nations based on recommendations of the Security Council. 

(iii) To keep Watch over all the Agencies of the U.N.O.: 

The General Assembly reviews and expresses its opinion on reports received from the Security Council and other departments of the UN.

(iv) Miscellaneous Functions:

Other functions of the General Assembly include:

• (a) It promotes economic, social and cultural cooperation internationally to provide equality and freedom to all humanity.
• (b) It increases cooperation in the political sphere.
• (c) It attempts to give international laws an honorable status.
• (d) It amends the Charter as per Articles 108 and 109.
• (e) It reviews the work of the UN. It adopts international laws.
• (f) It has the power to approve the budget of the UN. 

The 1952 resolution gave the General Assembly the power that if under special circumstances, the Security Council is unable to perform its duties due to the use of the veto, then the General Assembly will deliberate and recommend collective measures to maintain world peace, including use of military force.

Powers of the General Assembly: 

Articles 10 to 17 of the Charter describe the powers of the General Assembly. 

As per these articles, the powers of the General Assembly are:

• 1. To discuss matters described in the UN Charter.
• 2. To elect temporary members of the Security Council, members of the Economic and Social Council, and members of the Trusteeship Council. 
• 3. To appoint the Secretary General on the recommendation of the Security Council.
• 4. To consider reports presented before it by the Secretary General, Security Council and other committees.
• 5. To decide the conditions under which non-member states can appear before the International Court of Justice as plaintiffs, based on suggestions by the Security Council.
• 6. To elect judges of the International Court of Justice. 
• 7. To seek advice from the International Court of Justice on any legal matter.
• 8. To consider reports of the International Atomic Energy Commission.
• 9. To authorize other committees to also seek advisory suggestions.
• 10. It approves the conditions established by the Economic and Social Council for associating certain specialized agencies with the UN.

Although the decisions of the General Assembly are in the form of suggestions and lack binding force, they have the moral force of global public opinion behind them.

Committees of the General Assembly:

There are many committees to conduct the work of the General Assembly. These committees deliberate on matters referred to them by the General Assembly and present their reports to the Assembly. 

These committees are of four types:

I. Chief Committees: 

These are - 

• 1. Political and Security Committee
• 2. Economic and Financial Committee
• 3. Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee
• 4. Trusteeship Committee including autonomous regions
• 5. Administrative and Budgetary Committee
• 6. Legal Committee

II. Procedural Committees: 

These committees handle organizational tasks. 

There are two types:

• 1. General Committees 
• 2. Credential Committees

III. Permanent Committees: 

There are two types:

• 1. Appropriations Committees
• 2. Administrative Budget Committees

IV. Misc. Committees: 

There are five types:

• 1. Final Committees of the General Assembly
• 2. Disarmament Committee 
• 3. Peace Observation Committee
• 4. Collective Measures Committee
• 5. Committee to advise on peaceful uses of atomic energy

Withdrawal from Membership of United Nations Organisations:

On the recommendation of the Security Council, the General Assembly can deprive of membership a nation violating the articles of the Charter. Under normal circumstances, voluntary withdrawal from UN membership is not possible. 

Little Assembly and Unity for Peace Proposal: 

Until 1947, the Cold War between the USSR and USA had led to a deadlock in the Security Council due to the use of the veto power. This resulted in it becoming difficult to maintain peace globally. To deal with this situation, on 13th November 1947 the General Assembly established an auxiliary body called the Interim Committee. It is also referred to as the 'Little Assembly'. When the General Assembly is not in session, this Little Assembly can carry out its functions. It can keep watch on the responsibilities of the Security Council.

Groupism in General Assembly:

In the General Assembly, some nations regularly or intermittently consult each other on issues of common interest and function as groups or alliances. 

There are five categories of states in the General Assembly:

• 1. African States
• 2. Latin American States
• 3. Asian States
• 4. Eastern European States
• 5. Western European and other States

These groups have some common organizational characteristics. They meet about once every few weeks during the Assembly session.