[ 1951 ] Part 1 Chapter 2 Functions and Organization of the United
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY II. Functions and Organization of the United Nations A. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY The General Assembly is the only one of the The Charter, however, recognizes the special six principal organs of the United Nations which responsibilities of the Security Council as the consists of all the Members of the United Na- organ of the United Nations entrusted with the tions. It is essentially a deliberative, supervisory primary responsibility for the maintenance of and reviewing organ.1 international peace and security. Thus, Article 12, In broad terms, the Charter states that the paragraph 1, of the Charter provides that, while General Assembly may discuss any questions or the Security Council is exercising in respect of any any matters within the scope of the Charter or dispute or situation the functions assigned to it relating to the powers and functions of any in the Charter, the General Assembly is not to organs of the United Nations; and, subject to make any recommendations with regard to that the provisions of Article 12, paragraph 1, (see dispute or situation, unless requested by the 1.a, below) it may make recommendations to the Council to do so. Members of the United Nations or to the Security The General Assembly may, in accordance Council, or to both, on any such questions or with Article 11 of the Charter, discuss any ques- matters. The Assembly receives and considers tions relating to the maintenance of international annual and special reports from the Security peace and security brought before it by any Council, including an account of the measures Member of the United Nations or by the Security that the Council had decided upon, or taken, to Council, or by a State which is not a Member of maintain international peace and security. The the United Nations and which is a party to a Assembly also receives and considers reports from dispute—if that State accepts in advance the obli- other organs of the United Nations. gations of pacific settlement provided for in the Charter. Subject to the provisions of Article 12, paragraph 1, it may make recommendations on 1. Functions and Powers such questions to the State or States concerned or to the Security Council. Any such question on The functions and powers of the General As- which action is necessary is to be referred to the sembly fall into the following main categories: Security Council by the General Assembly, either maintenance of international peace and security; before or after discussion. promotion of international political, economic and Subject also to Article 12, paragraph 1, the social co-operation; operation of the International General Assembly may recommend measures for Trusteeship System and consideration of infor- the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regard- mation on Non-Self-Governing Territories not less of origin, which it deems likely to impair the placed under the System; organizational, admin- general welfare or friendly relations among na- istrative and budgetary functions. tions, including situations resulting from violations of the Purposes and Principles of the United a. MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE Nations. AND SECURITY In its resolution adopted on 3 November 1950 The General Assembly may consider the gen- under the title "Uniting for peace,"2 the General eral principles of co-operation in the maintenance Assembly decided that if the Security Council, of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the 1 The Charter provisions with respect to the General Assembly are contained in Ch. IV, Arts. 9-22, and Arts. regulation of armaments, and may make recom- 1, 2, 4-7, 23, 24, 35, 60-64, 66, 85-88, 93, 96-98, mendations with regard to such principles to the 101, 105, 108 and 109. Arts. 4, 7-15, 32, 33 and 69 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice also con- Members of the United Nations or to the Security tain provisions relating to the Assembly. Council, or to both. 2 Resolution 377(V); see Y.U.N., 1950, pp. 193-95. 10 Yearbook of the United Nations because of lack of unanimity of the permanent assisting in the realization of human rights and funda- members, fails to exercise its primary responsi- mental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion. bility for the maintenance of international peace and security in any case where there appears to The functions and powers of the United Nations be a threat to the peace, a breach of the peace or with respect to international economic and social an act of aggression, the Assembly shall consider co-operation are vested in the General Assembly the matter immediately with a view to making and, under the Assembly's authority, in the Eco- 3 recommendations to Members for collective meas- nomic and Social Council. ures to maintain or restore international peace and security. These recommendations may include, c. OPERATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL in the case of a breach of the peace or act of TRUSTEESHIP SYSTEM aggression, the use of armed force when necessary. The functions and powers of the United Na- The Assembly may meet for this purpose in tions with regard to territories not designated as emergency special session at the request of the strategic4 that are placed under the International Security Council on the vote of any seven mem- Trusteeship System, including the approval of the bers, or at the request of a majority of the Mem- terms of Trusteeship Agreements and of their bers of the United Nations. alteration or amendment, are exercised by the The Assembly at the same time established a General Assembly. The Trusteeship Council, Peace Observation Commission to observe and operating under the authority of the General As- report on the situation in any area where there sembly, assists the General Assembly in carrying exists international tension the continuance of out these functions.5 which is likely to endanger international peace and security. The Assembly also recommended d. INFORMATION ON NON-SELF-GOVERNING that each Member of the United Nations maintain TERRITORIES within its national forces elements so trained, or- ganized and equipped that they could promptly Members of the United Nations which are re- be made available, in accordance with its consti- sponsible for the administration of Non-Self- tutional processes, for service as United Nations Governing Territories not placed under the Inter- units on recommendation of the Security Council national Trusteeship System have undertaken, un- or the Assembly. der Article 73e of the Charter, to transmit to the Secretary-General statistical and other technical The General Assembly may call the attention information relating to economic, social and edu- of the Security Council to situations which are likely to endanger international peace and se- cational conditions in these Territories. The Gen- curity. eral Assembly considers the Secretary-General's summaries and analyses of this information, and The Secretary-General, with the consent of the is assisted in this consideration by a special com- Security Council, notifies the General Assembly mittee established by it for the purpose.6 at each session of any matters relative to the main- tenance of international peace and security which e. ORGANIZATIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND are being dealt with by the Security Council, and BUDGETARY FUNCTIONS similarly notifies the General Assembly (or the Members of the United Nations if the General The General Assembly elects the non-permanent Assembly is not in session) immediately the Se- members of the Security Council, the members of curity Council ceases to deal with such matters. the Economic and Social Council, and such mem- bers of the Trusteeship Council as may be neces- b. PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL sary to ensure that its membership is equally POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL divided between Members of the United Nations CO-OPERATION which administer Trust Territories and Members The General Assembly initiates studies and which do not. The General Assembly and the makes recommendations for the purpose of: 3 See p. 48. (1) Promoting international co-operation in the 4 The functions of the United Nations relating to political field and encouraging the progressive develop- strategic area Trust Territories are exercised by the ment of international law and its codification; Security Council. See pp. 40-41. (2) Promoting international co-operation in the eco- 5 See p. 85. nomic, social, cultural, educational and health fields, and 6 See p. 81. Functions and Organization of the United Nations 11 Security Council, voting independently, elect the Decisions of the General Assembly on impor- members of the International Court of Justice. tant questions are made by a two-thirds majority Upon the recommendation of the Security Coun- of the Members present and voting. These ques- cil, the General Assembly appoints the Secretary- tions include: recommendations with respect to General of the United Nations. The Secretary- the maintenance of international peace and se- General makes an annual report to the General curity; the election of the non-permanent members Assembly on the work of the United Nations. He of the Security Council, the members of the Eco- appoints the staff of the Secretariat in accordance nomic and Social Council and the elective mem- with regulations established by the General Assem- bers of the Trusteeship Council; the admission of bly. new Members; the suspension of the rights and The General Assembly considers and approves privileges of membership; the expulsion of Mem- the budget of the United Nations and decides on bers; questions relating to the operation of the the proportion of the budget to be paid by each Trusteeship System; and budgetary questions. De- Member. The Assembly considers and approves cisions on other questions, including the determin- any financial and budgetary arrangements with ation of additional categories of questions to be specialized agencies and examines the administra- decided by a two-thirds majority, are made by a tive budgets of such agencies with a view to majority of the Members present and voting.