General Assembly Plenary

The General Assembly Plenary (often abbreviated GA Plen or GA Plenary) is the highest deliberative body of the United Nations General Assembly, convening all member states in a single forum. Unlike the six Main Committees (First through Sixth), which handle specialized portfolios such as disarmament or legal affairs, the Plenary takes up cross-cutting agenda items, hears reports from the Main Committees, and formally adopts resolutions on their recommendation.

Each regular session opens in September with the General Debate, during which heads of state and government deliver national statements. Throughout the session, the Plenary considers items including the Secretary-General's annual report, the situation in the Middle East, reform of the Security Council, and reports of the Human Rights Council. Some items — such as those deemed politically sensitive or urgent — are allocated directly to the Plenary rather than to a committee.

Voting follows the rules in the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly. Under Article 18 of the UN Charter, decisions on "important questions" (peace and security, admission of new members, budgetary matters) require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting; other matters require a simple majority. Each member state holds one vote.

In Model UN, GA Plenary is typically simulated as a large committee (often 100+ delegates) with a slower pace, longer speakers' lists, and more emphasis on bloc diplomacy than on rapid crisis response. Topics commonly mirror real GA agenda items, and merged or omnibus draft resolutions are common because of the chamber's size. Procedurally, MUN Plenary sessions tend to use standard parliamentary motions — moderated and unmoderated caucuses, motions to introduce draft resolutions, and roll-call votes — though some conferences adopt rules closer to the actual UN Rules of Procedure, including the right of reply and explanations of vote before or after the vote (EVBV/EVAV).