Question of the composition of the relevant organs of the United Nations : amendments to rules 31 and 38 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly.

33. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SPECIAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE
138. Question of the composition of the relevant organs of the United Nations: amendments to rules 31 and 38 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly

The General Assembly, Recognizing that the composition of the various organs of the United Nations should be so constituted as to ensure their representative character, Taking into account the considerable increase in the membership of the United Nations, Recalling its resolution 1990 (XVIII) of 17 December 1963, Taking also into account that the General Committee of the General Assembly should be enlarged with a view to providing for a more adequate geographical representation, Believing that it is desirable to distribute the vice-presidencies of the General Assembly and the chairmanships of the Main Committees separately between the African and Asian States, Noting that the General Committee is composed of the President of the General Assembly, the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly and the Chairmen of the Main Committees,

1. Decides to amend rules 31 and 38 of its rules of procedure as follows:

"Rule 31

"The General Assembly shall elect a President and twenty-one Vice-Presidents, who shall hold of fice until the close of the session at which they are elected. The Vice-Presidents shall be elected, after the election of the Chairmen of the seven Main Committees referred to in rule 98, in such a way as to ensure the representative character of the General Committee."

"Rule 38

"The General Committee shall comprise the President of the General Assembly, who shall preside, the twenty-one Vice-Presidents and the Chairmen of the seven Main Committees. No two members of the General Committee shall be members of the same delegation, and it shall be so constituted as to ensure its representative character. Chairmen of other committees upon which all Members have the right to be represented and which are established by the General Assembly to meet during the session shall be entitled to attend meetings of the General Committee and may participate without vote in the discussions."

2. Decides to replace the annex to General Assembly resolution 1990 (XVIII) by the annex to the present resolution concerning the election of the President of the General Assembly, the twenty-one Vice-Presidents of the Assembly and the seven Chairmen of the Main Committees;

3. Decides to include in the agenda of its thirty-fourth session the item entitled "Question of the composition of the relevant organs of the United Nations".

89th plenary meeting
19 December 1978

ANNEX

1. In the election of the President of the General Assembly, regard shall be had for equitable geographical rotation of this office among the regions mentioned in paragraph 4 below.

2. The twenty-one Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly shall be elected according to the following pattern, subject to paragraph 3 below:

(a) Six representatives from African States;

(b) Five representatives from Asian States;

(c) One representative from an Eastern European State;

(d) Three representatives from Latin American States;

(e) Two representatives from Western European or other States;

(f) Five representatives from the permanent members of the Security Council.

3. The election of the President of the General Assembly will, however, have the effect of reducing by one the number of vice-presidencies allocated to the region from which the President is elected.

4. The seven Chairmen of the Main Committees shall be elected according to the following pattern:

(a) Two representatives from African States;

(b) One representative from an Asian State;

(c) One representative from an Eastern European State;

(d) One representative from a Latin American State;

(e) One representative from a Western European or other State;

(f) The seventh chairmanship shall rotate every alternate year among representatives of States mentioned in subparagraphs (b) and (d) above.