The General Assembly and the Security Council are two main bodies of the United Nations. The United Nations describes the Assembly as “the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ” of the organization. Under the UN Charter, the Organization’s Members give the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

The two bodies differ in size, powers and voting rules. They are also linked, because the Assembly elects some Council members and the Council reports to the Assembly. The sections below describe each body on the same points, based on UN pages.

Membership

According to the General Assembly’s official page, it is made up of all 193 Members of the United Nations. The Assembly was established in 1945 under the Charter.

The Security Council has 15 members, according to Article 23 of the Charter. The UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library lists five permanent members with veto power: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. The other 10 are non-permanent members. The General Assembly elects five of them each year for a two-year term.

The Charter says a retiring member of the Council is not eligible for immediate re-election. It also says the General Assembly must pay due regard to a country’s contribution to international peace and security and to equitable geographical distribution. The Library says the pattern for non-permanent seats is five from African and Asian States, one from Eastern European States, two from Latin American States and two from Western European and other States. This pattern was set by an amendment that entered into force on Aug. 31, 1965. That amendment raised the Council from 11 members to 15.

Roles and powers

The General Assembly provides what its page calls a forum for multilateral discussion of the full range of international issues covered by the Charter. It makes recommendations to States on international issues within its competence. It also plays a central role in setting standards and codifying international law, according to the page.

The Charter lets the Assembly approve the UN budget and set the financial assessments of Member States. It may elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and members of other UN councils and organs. On the recommendation of the Security Council, it appoints the Secretary-General. It may also discuss any question relating to international peace and security. It may make recommendations on such a question, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council.

Article 24 of the Charter says UN Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Members agree that the Council acts on their behalf in carrying out these duties. Under Article 25, Members agree to accept and carry out the Council’s decisions in accordance with the Charter. Article 24 says the Council’s specific powers are laid down in Chapters VI, VII, VIII and XII of the Charter. Under Article 26, the Council is also responsible for formulating plans for a system to regulate armaments. It does this with the help of the Military Staff Committee.

Voting

Each of the 193 Member States in the General Assembly has one vote, according to the Assembly’s page. Votes on designated important issues need a two-thirds majority of Member States. These include recommendations on peace and security, elections to the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, and budget questions. Other questions are decided by a simple majority. The page adds that most resolutions are adopted without a vote, by consensus, after informal consultations among Member States.

Under Article 27 of the Charter, each Security Council member also has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters need an affirmative vote of nine members. Decisions on all other matters need nine affirmative votes, including the concurring votes of the permanent members. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library says this is often called the veto power of permanent members. Article 27 adds that in decisions under Chapter VI, a party to a dispute must abstain from voting.

How each body meets and organizes itself

The Assembly meets each year from September to December in its main part. It then continues from January to September in a resumed part, as required, according to its page. It begins its yearly work with a general debate, where Member States express their views on major international issues. Because the agenda has so many items, it sends items to six Main Committees. These committees recommend draft resolutions and decisions to the Assembly. The post of President of the General Assembly rotates among the Assembly’s regional groups. The Assembly may also meet in special and emergency special sessions.

Article 28 of the Charter says the Security Council must be organized so that it can function continuously. Every member must keep a representative at the Organization’s seat at all times. The Council writes its own rules of procedure, which cover how its President is chosen. According to the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, the presidency rotates each month among Council members in English alphabetical order of their names.

Both bodies may set up subsidiary organs. Article 22 of the Charter allows the Assembly to establish those it considers necessary. Article 29 gives the Council the same ability. The Charter also lets UN Members that are not on the Council take part, without a vote, in Council discussions. They may do so when the Council considers that their interests are specially affected. A party to a dispute under Council consideration is invited to take part without a vote.

How the two bodies connect

The sources describe several links between the two bodies. The Assembly elects the Council’s non-permanent members. On the recommendation of the Council, the Assembly appoints the Secretary-General. Under Article 24, the Council submits annual reports, and special reports when necessary, to the Assembly for its consideration. The Assembly’s page says it may consider reports from the Security Council.

The Assembly page also describes a case in which the Assembly may act on peace and security. This applies when the Council has failed to act because a permanent member cast a negative vote. Under the Assembly’s Uniting for peace resolution of Nov. 3, 1950, the Assembly may consider the matter immediately. It may then recommend collective measures to its Members to maintain or restore international peace and security.

The pages provided do not give cost figures for either body. The Assembly’s page says the Assembly may consider and approve the UN budget.