What Is the Job Description of a U.N. Ambassador?

United Nations ambassadors act as the chief diplomats of their respective countries at the United Nations. They head their countries' U.N. delegations and vote on their nations' behalf in the General Assembly and other administrative bodies. The United Nations, headquartered in New York City, has 192 member nations, including the United States. Many prominent American political figures have held the position of U.N. ambassador.

Function

U.N. ambassadors head their home countries' delegations, or missions, at the United Nations. They represent their countries in the General Assembly, the United Nations' primary deliberative body. They also serve on administrative bodies in which their respective countries are members. In the United States, the U.N. ambassador not only represents the the United States in the U.N. General Assembly, but also is a member of the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. has a permanent seat on the Security Council, which deliberates on matters related to world peace and security. The American U.N. ambassador also heads the approximately 100 staff members who make up the U.S. delegation to the United Nations.

Responsibilities

Other important responsibilities of a U.N. ambassador include reporting to his home country on U.N. activities. In the U.S., for example, the U.N. ambassador, or a delegation member designated by the ambassador, reports to the State Department on meetings at the U.N. and recommends needed actions or positions the United States should take. Ambassadors may also relay pertinent information on U.N. activities to their countries' diplomatic centers around the world.

Significance

In general, U.N. ambassadors are appointed to their jobs by their countries' head of state or head of government, such as a president or prime minister. In the U.S., the U.N. ambassador is appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Some presidents have elevated the position of U.N. ambassador to a Cabinet-level post. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama made the U.N. ambassador a Cabinet-level position, while President George W. Bush did not.

Famous Ties

Most U.N. ambassadors are career diplomats, having served in other diplomatic positions. They may have represented their country as ambassador to another nation, or served as a foreign ministry official. Prominent American political figures who have held the post of U.N. ambassador include former President George H.W. Bush, former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick, Dr. Madeleine Albright and Henry Cabot Lodge.

Misconceptions

Although the U.N. ambassador is the senior representative of the United States at the U.N. General Assembly, she does not act in this capacity if a more senior U.S. official, such as the president or the secretary of state, is present.

Resources

• U.S. Mission to the United Nations