The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is a principal organ of the United Nations, serving as the chief deliberative, policymaking, and representative institution of the organization. It was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations to provide a unique forum for multilateral discussion on the full spectrum of international issues. The UNGA was created to be the "parliament of nations," solving the problem of providing a platform where all member states could participate in global decision-making with equal representation.
The UNGA is composed of all 193 UN member states, with each state having a single vote. Its powers, functions, and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the UN Charter. Decisions on "important questions," such as recommendations concerning international peace and security, the admission of new members, and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. The UNGA considers and approves the UN budget and establishes the financial assessments of member states, giving it significant control over the organization's finances (Article 17). It also elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council and appoints the Secretary-General upon the Security Council's recommendation. The UNGA connects to other principal organs, including the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the International Court of Justice, by receiving reports from them and participating in the election of their members or judges.
A recent change occurred in July 2026, when the UN General Assembly approved a major reform to its financial rules, ending a decades-old system that required the organization to return unused funds to member states, which was straining the UN's financial stability. Additionally, in September 2025, the UNGA adopted a resolution that shaped the rules for the selection of the Secretary-General, introducing a basic timetable for the process. The UNGA's central position as the chief deliberative and representative organ, as affirmed in the 2005 World Summit, has stayed the same.