The General Assembly is composed of all member states of the UN. It is the main deliberative organ of the UN and has the right to discuss and make recommendations on all matters within the scope of the charter. It has no power to compel action by any government, but its recommendations carry moral weight as an expression of world opinion.
As new problems arise, the General Assembly initiates activities to deal with them. The General Assembly, consequently, has encouraged humanitarian relief efforts, development programmes, campaigns against colonialism and racism, and the negotiation of treaties and other agreements on matters of global concern, such as the Law of the sea.
Each member of the General Assembly has one vote. Decisions on important questions-such a recommendations on peace and security, admission, suspension, and expulsion of members, and budgetary matters-need a two-thirds Majority. Decisions on other questions are made by simple majority. The regular session begins each year on the third Tuesday in September and continues usually until mid-December.