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1 1 (December 16, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govehev0001 and id is 1 raw text is: nformfifl essionaI Resear h SerVice I h le islitive debate since 1914 0 Updated December 16, 2021 United Nations Issues: Congressional Representatives to the U.N. General Assembly The annual session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly is held at U.N. Headquarters in New York City. The President generally appoints one Democrat and one Republican to serve as U.S. representatives to the session, alternating each year between the House and Senate. The 75th session opened in September 2020 and operated remotely due to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; congressional representatives from the Senate did not appear to participate. The 76th session began on September 14, 2021, and has been conducted mostly in- person. Congressional representatives to the session are Representatives Barbara Lee and French Hill. Overview of the U.N. General Assembly The U.N. General Assembly is composed of all 193 U.N. member states, including the United States. It is the primary deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations. Each country, including the United States, has one vote. A two-thirds majority vote is required for decisions related to key issues such as peace and security, admission of new members, and the budget. A simple majority vote applies for all other matters. The Assembly's annual regular session opens in September and runs for one year. The main part of the session, from September to December, includes most of the work of the Assembly's six committees. The annual meeting of heads of state and government, often referred to as the general debate, is held at the beginning of the Assembly session. Members of Congress generally serve as representatives during this time. Most of the 76th Assembly session is being held in person. Previously, the 75th session was virtual, with most high- level speeches delivered via video link. Members used a silence procedure to adopt resolutions. Under this procedure, the president of the Assembly circulated a draft resolution and members had at least 72 hours to raise objections. If there were no objections, the president then circulated a letter stating that the resolution was adopted. History of Congress na Representation The concept of congressional representation to the U.N. General Assembly emerged from extensive participation by both Senators and Representatives in the 1945 San Francisco Conference on International Organization, which led to the adoption of the U.N. Charter. The practice began at the first Assembly session in 1946, when Members of the Senate and House held positions as representatives and alternate representatives, respectively. Since that time, with few exceptions, each year two Senators have alternated with two Representatives-with the Senate typically serving in years when the House holds elections. In most cases, both parties have been represented and, when possible, the Administration and Congress have aimed to select Members who have not previously served as delegates. (See Table 1 for a list of congressional representatives since 2006.) Legislative Authority After the adoption of the U.N. Charter, Congress enacted the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (UNPA; 22 U.S.C. 287 et seq.), which provides legislative authority for U.S. engagement in the United Nations. UNPA does not require congressional participation in sessions of the General Assembly, but anticipates and permits participation of Members of Congress, among other U.S. representatives, in such sessions. Section 2 of the act sets out the authorities for U.S. representation the United Nations. Specifically, Section 2(a) specifies that the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall designate not more than five U.S. representatives to attend a specified session or specified sessions of the General Assembly. UNPA does not specify whether Members are eligible to be appointed as U.S. representatives; however, Section 2(g) prohibits compensation for Members serving as U.S. representatives, signaling that Members might serve. Role and Responsibilities The role and duties of congressional representatives are not formalized; thus, the level and extent of congressional engagement during the Assembly session depends on the interests and priorities of individual Members. Delegates generally travel to New York at the beginning of the regular session. In the past, some Members have attended the general debate and the President's reception for visiting heads of state, while others have stayed for several additional days or returned for other parts of the Assembly session. Congressional representatives have also followed the activities of one of the General Assembly's six main committees, with at least one Member tracking the work of the fifth committee, which is responsible for administrative and budgetary matters related to the organization. Before or during the session, Members may also schedule appointments on policy issues of interest; these might include one-on-one visits with heads of state, foreign representatives, or U.N. officials. Congressional representatives have often received support from congressional committee staff and State Department officials. For example, staff from the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) might write statements, provide background materials and briefings, or arrange meetings for Members. State Department officials generally coordinate meetings and brief Members on U.S. policy and key issues

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