The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative institution of the United Nations (UN), and one of its six principal organs. It was established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations, which was signed on June 26, 1945, to provide a forum for all member states to discuss and make recommendations on international issues.
The UNGA's composition, functions, and powers are governed by Chapter IV (Articles 9-22) of the UN Charter. It meets in regular session from September to December each year. Decisions on "important questions," which include recommendations on peace and security, the admission of new members, and budgetary matters (Article 17), require a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. Its resolutions are generally non-binding. The UNGA connects to the other five principal organs, including the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), whose non-permanent members it elects.
A key mechanism that expands its role is the Uniting for Peace resolution (A/RES/377 A) from 1950, which allows the UNGA to consider matters of international peace and security when the Security Council is deadlocked. While the UN Charter has seen few formal amendments since the 1960s, a recent procedural change is the 2022 Veto Initiative. This initiative, adopted by a UNGA resolution, mandates that whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council, the matter is automatically referred to the General Assembly for a debate within ten working days, effectively increasing the UNGA's oversight role.