[Civics] Term 2: UN Flashcards
How many states are part of the Security Council?
15
How many states have veto power? (permanent members of the Security Council)
5
What are the names of the states that have veto power (permanent members of the Security Council)
US, UK, France, Russia, China
Who are the elected members (non-permanent members) of the Council elected by?
General Assembly
How long is the term of the elected members in the Security Council?
2 years
How many countries are replaced every year in the Security Council?
5
How many affirmative votes do you need to pass the UNSC Resolution, in the Security Council?
9/15 + no veto
What year was the United Nations founded?
1945
What is the mission for the United Nations?
Maintain world peace and prevent another World War
How many member countries in the UN?
193
Why are “US, UK, France, Russia, and China” permanent members?
The five victors of WW2
What does the veto power of the Security Council’s permanent members do?
Authority to reject any UN resolution
What is the organization that was created after WW1?
League of Nations
What is the six official languages that are used in the UN?
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish
What is an abstention in the Security Council?
Does not vote (permanent member)
What is the significance of an abstention in the Security Council?
Allows the resolution to be adopted if it obtains the required number of nine favorable votes + no veto
What are the criticisms of the powers laid in the Security Council?
・Disproportionate power (bcz of the veto)
・The permanent members are all influential nuclear weapon states, contradictory to the UN’s principles of promoting peace, security, and disarmament –> Reinforcing an unequal system that privileges nuclear states over non-nuclear states
・The Security Council can make decisions and pass resolutions (like telling a country to stop fighting), but it doesn’t have its own army to enforce these decisions. It relies on member countries to voluntarily send soldiers or support peacekeeping missions –> not able to effectively enforce resolutions
・Sometimes results in enforcing resolutions in some situations but ignoring others, depending on what benefits the permanent members (biased)
What are some reforms/suggestions received by the people about the Security Council? (to not have an uneven system)
Bcz its currently not so representative…
・Bring in new permanent members
or
・Expand the number of seats in the Security Council
Some think that the Security Council should bring in new permanent members. What are the countries suggested?
Germany, Brazil, India, Japan
What are the main bodies of the UN?
General Assembly, the Security Council, The Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, the UN Secretariat
What is the main organ of the UN?
General Assembly
Why is the General Assembly the representative organ of the UN?
All 193 member states of the UN are represented there
How long does the General Assembly president serve?
1 year
What is the most important organ of the UN?
The Security Council
Who is the current Security General of the UN?
António Guterres
How do you become a member of the UN?
Apply through the Security General —> Security Council makes a recommendation —> decision by the General Assembly
Who is not part of the United Nations?
Taiwan, Kosovo (not considered sovereign)
Vatican City
Palestine
Which structure of the UN does not exist anymore?
The Trusteeship Council (Bcz the last territory, Palau, gained independence in 1994)
What is the main difference between the roles/powers of the Security Council and the General Assembly?
Both aim to maintain peace and security
・The Security Council makes binding resolutions (countries have to obey)
・The General Assembly passes non-binding resolutions (majority to agree/recommendations)
What is a founding document created in 1945 outlining the purpose and principles of the UN?
United Nations Charter
What does the UN peacekeeping operation focus on, and what is it held under?
The UN peacekeeping operation is under the UN Security Council supervision, and they focus on restoring peace and security in conflicted areas
Where is its headquarters?
New York City
Why was the veto power created?
To reassure these powerful nations that their sovereignty would not be threatened
