• The "international community" gets together every year at the U.N. General Assembly.united nations building image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  The General Assembly is one of the six main bodies which make the United Nations. It is a general debate arena in which all members are equal. It deals with a diverse agenda and has the responsibility for coordinating and supervising other U.N. bodies, but with power only to make recommendations to members. It also decides which countries can become U.N. members. The General Assembly meets for three months each year.
  
  

History

• The foundation of the United Nations was created by a 1941 joint declaration by U.S. President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill calling for collaboration on economic issues and a permanent system of security. The U.N, was officially formed on April 25, 1945, at a conference in San Francisco, and it is the successor organization of the League of Nations.
  
  

Equality Principle

• The fundamental principle of the U.N. is the sovereign equality of member states, which means that members do not recognize any higher governing authority. This principle is the key for the functioning of the General Assembly, but not the Security Council, where five permanent members---USA, Russia, China, France and the UK---have veto power.
  
  

Elective Functions

• The General Assembly has important elective functions. It admits states to U.N. membership, elects non-permanent members of the Security Council, appoints judges to the International Court of Justice and appoints the secretary-general, on the recommendation of the Security Council.
  
  

General Assembly Agenda

• The General Assembly agenda has grown significantly since 1946, but includes many questions that are debated year after year. Among the issues debated at the assembly are arms control, human rights, global resources, development, U.N. finances and legal issues.
  
  

Other Responsibilities

• Although the Security Council is the main U.N. body dealing with threats to international peace and security, the General Assembly can make inquiries and studies about conflicts, it may discuss situations and make recommendations if it thinks the Council is not doing its job properly. The assembly also has a role in the development of international law, because its resolutions include new principles, which can be the basis for international law. Finally, the assembly has a shared responsibility with the Security Council for the revision of the U.N. Charter.
  
  

Political Significance

• The General Assembly is often described as nothing more than a talking shop, because it does not have significant formal powers. However, Karns and Mingst describe it in "International Organizations" as the closest to what is often called the "international community." It is more important among weaker states, because it gives them a platform to voice their concerns and influence decisions by forming coalitions.