About UNGA

• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. 
• It is one of the six principal organs which make up the UN.
• All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.
• The annual session is attended by world leaders to discuss and debate the world’s most important global issues and how to address them. 

Voting

• Each country has one vote. 

• Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. Decisions on other questions are by simple majority.

About UNSC

• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was established in 1946 as one of the six principal organs of the UN. It is generally viewed as the apex of the UN system. 
• It is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. 
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.

Membership

• UNSC consists of 15 Members.
• The council has five permanent members (P-5) United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France. 
• These permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolutions, including those on the admission of new member states.
• The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis as follows: 
  • five for African and Asian States; 
  • one for Eastern European States; 
  • two for the Latin American and Caribbean States; and 
  • two for Western European and other States.
• Each year the 193-member UN General Assembly (UNGA) elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term. 
• The body’s presidency rotates monthly among its members. 

Vote and Majority Required

• Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote.
• Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members.
• Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members.
• However, any member, whether permanent or nonpermanent, must abstain from voting in any decision concerning the peaceful settlement of a dispute to which it is a party.

Why in News?

• UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is all set to be re-elected as chief of the world body after the Security Council adopted by acclamation a resolution recommending his name to the General Assembly for a second five-year term beginning January 1, 2022.
• The 15-nation Council held a closed meeting recently where it adopted the resolution recommending Guterres’ name to the 193-member General Assembly for a second term as Secretary General.
• India had expressed its support for re-election of Guterres as UN Chief and welcomed the adoption of the resolution recommending his name.

Role of Secretary General

• The UN Charter describes the Secretary-General as “chief administrative officer” of the Organisation, who shall act in that capacity and perform “such other functions as are entrusted” to him or her by the Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council and other United Nations organs. 
• The Charter also empowers the Secretary-General to “bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”.

Election Process

• The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council. 
• To be selected as Secretary-General, a candidate must receive the votes of at least 9 members of the United Nations Security Council, with no vetoes from permanent members. The Secretary-General is then appointed by a majority vote of the United Nations General Assembly.
• Although there is technically no limit to the number of five-year terms a Secretary-General may serve, none so far has held office for more than two terms. 
• Informal rules influence the selection process. For example, nationals of permanent members of the Security Council – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom or the United States – cannot be considered for the post, because of possible undue influence. 

Reference:

1. https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/un-secy-gen-antonio-guterres-set-to-be-re-elected-as-chief-of-world-body-121060801526_1.html