UN Security Council

UN Security Council, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. It is the only UN organ that, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, can order enforcement action, ranging from economic sanctions to military measures, in established cases of aggression or breach of the peace. The Security Council has 15 members, of which 5 are permanent: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China (represented by Taiwan, until November 23, 1971, when the seat was taken by the People's Republic of China). The other members are elected by the General Assembly to 2-year terms that may not run consecutively. These seats rotate on a geographical basis; five are elected from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East; two from Western countries and two from Latin America; and one from Eastern Europe. The presidency of the council is held for a month at a time by each of the members, in English alphabetical order by country.

Under the UN Charter the Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Disputes and breaches of peace may be brought before it by any UN member nation; countries that are not members of the council, if affected by the issue at question, may be invited to participate in the discussion without vote.

Nine affirmative votes are required to pass a resolution. In procedural decisions, any nine votes suffice, but on all substantive matters the negative vote of any of the five permanent powers prevents the adoption of any resolution, whether or not nine members voted in favour. This negative vote is known as the veto right of the great powers and has been a point of controversy since the establishment of the UN. The frequent use of the veto by the former Soviet Union, especially, has given rise to repeated complaints in the UN. In 1950 this Soviet use of the veto led to the adoption of the United for Peace resolution, which provides that the General Assembly may continue to consider a problem if the council is blocked on it by veto. Great Britain, France, the United States, and Nationalist China also used their veto rights.

The Security Council also recommends to the assembly admission of new UN members and appointment of a new secretary-general; it participates equally with the General Assembly in electing judges to the International Court of Justice. The council has two standing committees and a Military Staff Committee, which is not currently functioning; the council may also establish ad hoc bodies.