UN General Assembly Documentation

Resolutions of the General Assembly are first published as individual documents:

• Symbol pattern: A/RES/-

From 1946-1975, the first 3,541 resolutions were consecutively numbered, with the session indicated in roman numerals, for example:

Beginning in 1976, 31st session, the symbol includes the session information and order of adoption of the resolution, for example:

Decisions of the General Assembly are published in the sessional cumulation of resolutions and decisions. They are not issued as individual documents and have no document series symbol assigned to them.

From 1945-1975, decisions were unnumbered. 

At the 31st session (1976), a numbering system similar to that for resolutions was established:

• pattern: General Assembly decision session/sequential number
• examples: 
• decision 50/411 
• decision ES-7/11

For decisions adopted at regular sessions:

• the first set of numbers is reserved for decisions related to elections and appointments,
• the second set for decisions related to matters other than elections and appointments.

For each session of the General Assembly, resolutions and decisions are compiled and issued as a supplement to the General Assembly Official Records (GAOR).

• For special and emergency special sessions, as well as originally for regular sessions, this cumulation has been the final supplement.

For regular sessions, starting with the 42nd session, the document has been assigned number 49, and is Supplement 49 to the GAOR.

Currently, there are usually 3 volumes:

• Vol. I: Resolutions adopted September - December
• Vol. II: Decisions adopted September - December
• Vol. III: Resolutions and decisions adopted January - the close of the session in September
• symbol pattern: A/session/49
• example: A/70/49 (Vol.I), A/70/49 (Vol.II), A/70/49 (Vol.III)

Since the 59th session, the sessional cumulations have included information about the vote in the plenary on the draft resolution.

Full Text

Compilations of resolutions and decisions

The process by which a resolution or decision is adopted depends on the rules of procedure of the body adopting the text. In general, draft proposals follow similar path and share similar characteristics.

Draft resolutions and decisions are usually presented for adoption in an open formal meeting; they may be introduced to the body by a sponsor, co-sponsor or an official of the body, such as the Chair or President. 

Draft proposals may be

• issued as separate documents called draft resolution or draft decision , eg S/2024/528 ; A/78/L.95 
• included in the report of a subsidiary to its parent organ, eg. E/2024/42- E/CN.18/2024/9

The sponsors of draft proposals are usually listed in the document that transmits the draft to the adopting body; additional sponsors sometimes are added when the draft is introduced in the meeting. Sometimes the draft does not include information about sponsors. Sponsors may include:

• states
• groups of states (eg, G77+China, Nordic Group, etc.)
• Presiding officer of the body (President or Chair),  often after informal consulations
• subsidiary organs 

Depending on the rules of procedure of the body and its established practices, draft proposals may be adopted by consensus or may be voted on.