International General Assembly (Think Before You Act)

The International General Assembly (IGA/GA) is one of the seven principal branches of the United Nations and is the only branch that allows all member nations to have equal representation. Its purpose is to oversee the International league’s budget, appoint non-permanent members to the International Security Council, receive reports from parts of the world and solve crises through International Resolutions. It also established a wide number of agencies in the organization.

The head of the General Assembly is its president, officially known as the International Secretariat. The General Assembly meets every month to address certain issues from humanitarian crises to terrorist groups. It can also hold special and emergency sessions in times such as war or other things. The composition, functions, powers, voting, and procedures are laid out according to Chapter IV of the International League Charter.

The first meeting of the General Assembly took place in the Palace of Conventions in Geneva on January 1st, 1949. After the completion of the World Capital District in Washington D.C., the headquarters of the General Assembly moved there. At that time, it included representatives from 10 nations.

Voting in the General Assembly on important issues ranging from recommendations on peace and security to allow military intervention is often talked and voted about. The election of members to organs, admission, suspension, and expulsion of members, budgetary matters, and humanitarian aid is also talked about. A majority vote is require to pass a resolution, with the majority opposition means the resolution can be permanently turned down or modified to satisfy some more members. Each member country has up to one vote. Other than budgetary issues, Assembly resolutions do not bind on the members. The Assemble does make recommendations on any matters within the IL with the exception of the matters of peace and security, which is considered by the Security Council. The one state, one vote power allows states to have equal voting power in the IL regardless of size, power, or population.

Since the end of the Cold War, the Assembly became a forum for the issue of world demilitarization between the two former sides (France and America and their allies) of the Cold War. The issues include nuclear weapons and certain other powerful WMDs due to the massive stockpile left behind from the Cold War. Also, the growth of the IL from 10 nations to 22 nations forced them to establish the First Group of 11, which was consisted of developed countries, while another group called the Second Group of 11, was made up of the least developed countries. For many countries, the IL is the place where they have the most diplomatic influence and the principal outlet for their foreign policies and relationships.