United Nations Structure, Functions, and Membership

The United Nations: Founding and Structure

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945 in San Francisco. Initially, 50 countries signed the Charter, with Poland becoming the 51st original member state shortly thereafter. Today, the UN comprises 193 member states.

Core Purposes of the UN

• Maintain international peace and security.
• Develop friendly relations among nations.
• Cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights.
• Harmonizing the actions of nations.

The UN Charter

The UN Charter is structured into 111 articles and 19 chapters.

Membership Criteria

Membership is open to peace-loving States that accept the obligations contained in the UN Charter. New members are admitted by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Security Council.

Observer Status

Entities such as Palestine and the Holy See hold observer status. Kosovo is also a related entity often discussed in this context.

The Six Principal Organs of the UN

The UN system is built around six main organs:

1. The General Assembly (GA)
2. The Security Council (SC)
3. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
4. The Secretariat
5. The Trusteeship Council
6. The International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Adapting the UN to Global Power Shifts

There are ongoing discussions regarding the adaptation of the UN structure to reflect the current global power configuration. For example, countries like Brazil, India, and Germany seek permanent seats on the Security Council.

The General Assembly (GA)

The GA is the deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of the UN. It includes all member states, each holding one vote. It serves as a unique forum for multilateral discussions of international issues covered by the Charter.

GA Committees

The GA conducts much of its work through specialized committees:

• Disarmament and International Security
• Economic and Financial
• Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural
• Specific Political and Decolonization
• Administrative and Budgetary
• Legal

Decision Making in the GA

Important decisions—such as those concerning peace and security, new members, and budgetary matters—require a two-thirds majority. Other decisions require a simple majority.

Note: The General Assembly has no power to issue binding measures; only the Security Council holds this authority.

The Security Council (SC)

The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is the only UN organ authorized to take military action against an aggressor and can recommend actions to the General Assembly.

SC Membership and Structure

The SC consists of 15 members:

• 5 Permanent Members
• 10 Non-Permanent Members: Elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms (staggered, 5 elected each year).

The SC has the authority to establish subsidiary organs, such as peacekeeping operations.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the UN, located in The Hague, Netherlands. It acts as a world court and possesses dual jurisdiction:

1. Jurisdiction in Contentious Cases: Settling disputes of a legal nature between states in accordance with international law, provided the states submit the case to the Court.
2. Advisory Jurisdiction: Providing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.

The UN System and Affiliated Programs

The UN system, often called the “UN Family,” is composed of the UN itself plus various affiliated programs, funds, and specialized agencies.

Other Principal Organs

• Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Responsible for coordinating the economic, social, and related work of specialized agencies and commissions.
• Trusteeship Council: Established to supervise the administration of Trust Territories. It formally suspended operation in 1994.
• Secretariat: Headed by the Secretary-General, who serves as the chief administrative officer of the Organization.

Related International Financial Institutions

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a specialized agency related to the UN system. Its governance structure includes:

• Board of Governors
• Executive Board
• Managing Director