UN: How the body is governed

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Summary: A short overview on how the UN is governed.


Representatives of each member country meet in the General Assembly, this is the closest thing to a world parliament. Each country has a single vote. Decisions that are voted for become resolutions. The Assembly's decisions are not laws. Governments follow resolutions because they represent the world's opinion on major international issues.

The 15 members of the UN Security Council try to keep the world a peaceful and secure place. They vote on the best ways to prevent countries fighting. There are two groups of members: five permanent members (France, UK, Russia, China, United States) and ten temporary members (These members are voted for every two years by the rest of the UN). Each of the five permanent members can stop the UN from making decisions they may not agree with. This is called the power of veto.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues, and for formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States and the United Nations system.

It is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress; identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems; facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation; and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. With its broad mandate the Council takes over 70 per cent of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system.

The role of the International Court of Justice is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions. The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.

The Secretariat carries out the diverse day-to-day work of the UN. It services the other principal organs of the United Nations and administers the programmes and policies laid down by them. At its head is the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five- year, renewable term.

The Trusteeship Council was established to help ensure that States unable to govern themselves were administered in the best interests of the inhabitants and of international peace and security. The trust territories - many of the m territories taken from nations defeated at the end of World War II - have all now attained self-government or independence, either as separate nations or by joining neighbouring independent countries. Council operations have thus been suspended.

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