The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the only UN body where every member state gets a vote. As of 2026, it represents 193 UN Member States plus the United Nations’ two observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.
Quick Fix Summary
UNGA membership is automatic for every UN Member State. If your country isn’t listed or you need to double-check credentials, head to the UN Member States page. Observer states can join the discussions but can’t vote on budget or peace-and-security decisions.
What exactly does the General Assembly do?
Think of the General Assembly as the UN’s main talking shop—it’s where every member country gets a seat at the table. (UN Charter, Art. 9–22) Every year, it holds its regular session, and when things get urgent, it can call special or emergency meetings. Its main jobs? Debating global peace, electing temporary Security Council members, approving the UN’s budget, and signing off on the Secretary-General (once the Security Council gives the nod).
How can I check if my country’s properly represented?
Here’s a simple way to confirm your country’s status or find official documents:
- Confirm membership first
Head to the UN Member States list and search for your country. If it’s there, your government’s already part of the UNGA.
- Check credentials next
Every September, each country’s delegation sends over their credentials to the UN Secretariat. The UN Credentials Committee reviews them. Need to verify a delegation’s status? The Credentials page lets you filter by year.
- Find UNGA documents easily
All UNGA resolutions, reports, and meeting notes are published in six languages. Use the UN Digital Library and search by document symbol—like “A/RES/78/123” for quick results.
- Know the voting rules
Big decisions—the budget, new members, peace-and-security issues—need a two-thirds majority. Most other votes only need a simple majority. The UNGA Voting Rules spell it out.
What if I can’t find my country’s delegation?
If your country’s missing from the list or you’ve hit a snag:
- Start with the UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) if credentials are the problem: legal.un.org.
- Contact your country’s UN Mission in New York. Every member state has a permanent mission there; you’ll find contact details on the UN country missions page.
- File a formal inquiry through the UN Secretariat’s General Assembly Affairs Branch using the UN Ask DAG service.
How can I avoid running into problems later?
A little prep goes a long way. Here’s how to stay ahead:
- Renew credentials every year before the September session—don’t wait until the last minute.
- Bookmark the UNGA schedule at un.org/en/ga to keep tabs on agenda items that matter to your country.
- Sign up for the UN Document Distribution Service (DDS) to get early copies of draft resolutions and reports.
- Work with your regional group—whether it’s African, Asia-Pacific, Eastern European, Latin American & Caribbean, or Western European & Others—to align positions and dodge procedural headaches.
