Because of the great number of questions which the Assembly is called upon to consider (166 separate agenda items at the 51st (1996/1997) session of the Assembly, for example), the Assembly allocates most questions to its six Main Committees:

(Relevant document series symbols appear in parentheses.)

• First Committee--Disarmament and International Security Committee (A/C.1/sess./-)
  
• Second Committee--Economic and Financial Committee (A/C.2/sess./-)
  
• Third Committee--Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (A/C.3/sess./-)
  
• Fourth Committee--Special Political and Decolonization Committee (A/C.4/sess./-)
  
• Fifth Committee--Administrative and Budgetary Committee (A/C.5/sess./-)
  
• Sixth Committee--Legal Committee (A/C.6/sess./-)

   

• There is also a General Committee, composed of the President and 21 Vice-Presidents of the Assembly and the chairmen of the six Main Committees and a . . .
• Credentials Committee. The Credentials Committee consists of nine members appointed by the Assembly on the proposal of the President at each session who reports to the Assembly on the credentials of representatives.

Some questions are considered directly in plenary meetings, rather than in one of the Main Committees. All questions are voted on in plenary meetings, usually towards the end of the regular session, after the committees have completed their consideration of them and submitted draft resolutions to the plenary Assembly.