The Charter of the United Nations, 1945 establishes six principal organs to administer international relations and coordinate global policies.
1. The Six Principal UN Organs
- General Assembly (UNGA) [Chapter IV]:
The primary deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Includes all 193 member states, each having one vote. Passes resolutions on international peace, budget, and admission of members (requires 2/3 majority for key questions; resolutions are generally non-binding recommendations). - Security Council (UNSC) [Chapter V]:
Holds primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Consists of 15 members:- 5 Permanent Members (P5): US, UK, China, France, and Russia, holding the Veto Power (any negative vote by a P5 member blocks a substantive resolution).
- 10 Non-Permanent Members: Elected for 2-year terms by the UNGA based on geographical distribution.
- Binding Authority: Under Article 25, UNSC decisions are legally binding on all UN members.
- Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) [Chapter X]: Coordinates the economic and social work of the UN and its specialized agencies (e.g., WHO, UNESCO).
- Trusteeship Council [Chapter XIII]: Established to supervise trust territories; suspended operations in 1994 upon the independence of Palau.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ) [Chapter XIV]: The judicial organ discussed in Unit 6.
- Secretariat [Chapter XV]: Carries out the day-to-day administrative work of the UN, headed by the Secretary-General.
2. Collective Security & Veto Limits
- Article 2(4): Prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
- Article 51 (Self-Defense): The sole customary exception allowing unilateral force: "Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures..."
- Chapter VII Actions: If the Security Council determines a threat to the peace (Article 39), it may authorize non-military sanctions (Article 41) or military intervention (Article 42) to restore peace.