What is the current process for the selection of the UN Secretary-General?
A. According to Article 97 in Chapter 15 of the UN Charter, the Secretary-General “shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.” Historically, candidates’ names are submitted to the Security Council either officially through nominations by the candidate’s home country or unofficially. The Security Council then holds closed consultations to consider candidates and has been known to utilize a system of straw polling to determine where support lies. All candidates are subject to the veto and thus must gain the support of all five permanent members of the Security Council. According to GA Resolution 11/1 of 1946, a candidate must gain an affirmative vote of nine members of the Security Council, including concurring votes of the permanent members, in order for a nomination to go forward to the General Assembly. Resolution 11/1 also requested the Security Council to submit only one candidate for consideration by the GA to discourage debate over
