TIME: Almanac 1995

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<text id=93CT1940> <title> The United Nations:Structure </title> <history> Compact ALMANAC--World Organizations </history> <article> <source>CIA World Factbook</source> <hdr> The United Nations Structure </hdr> <body> Principal organs: General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat. Membership: Membership of the United Nations is open to all peace-loving nations which accept the obligations of the United Nations Charter and, in the judgement of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations. (For a list of Member States, see "Member States" section.) New Member States are admitted by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. The Charter provides for the suspension or expulsion of a Member for violation of the principles of the Charter, but no such action has ever been taken since the establishment of the Organization. Amendments to the Charter: The Charter can be amended by a vote of two thirds of the Members of the General Assembly and ratification by two thirds of the Members of the United Nations, including the five permanent members of the Security Council. So far, four Charter Articles have been amended, one of them twice: --in 1965, the membership of the Security Council was increased from 11 to 15 (Article 23) and the number of affirmative votes needed on procedural matters was increased from seven to nine; on all other matters it was also increased to nine, including the concurring votes of the five permanent members (Article 27); --in 1965, the membership of the Economic and Social Council was increased from 18 to 27 and, in 1973, was further increased to 54 (Article 61); --in 1968, the number of votes required in the Security Council to convene a General Conference to review the Charter was increased from seven to nine (Article 109). Official Languages: Under the Charter the official languages of the United Nations are Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Arabic has been added as an official language of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. The Charter established six principle organs of the United Nations: GENERAL ASSEMBLY. The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ. It is composed of representatives of all Member States, each of which has one vote. Decisions on important questions, such as recommendations on peace and security, admission of new Members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. Decisions on other questions are reached by a simple majority. Functions and powers. Under the Charter, the functions and powers of the General Assembly include the following: --to consider and make recommendations on the principles of co-operation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments; --to discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, to make recommendations on it; --to discuss and, with the same exception, make recommendations on any question within the scope of the Charter or affecting the powers and functions of any organ of the United Nations; --to initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political co-operation, the development and codification of international law; the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and international collaboration in economic, social, cultural, educational and health fields; --to make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation, regardless of origin, which might impair friendly relations among nations; --to receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other United Nations organs; --to consider and approve the United Nations budget and to apportion the contributions among Members; --to elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council, the members of the Economic and Social Council and those members of the Trusteeship Council that are elected; to elect jointly with the Security Council the Judges of the International Court of Justice; and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, to appoint the Secretary-General. Under the "Uniting for peace" resolution adopted by the General Assembly in November 1950, the Assembly may take action if the Security Council, because of a lack of unanimity of its permanent members, fails to act in a case where there appears to be a threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression. The Assembly is empowered to consider the matter immediately with a view to making recommendations to Members for collective measures, including, in the case of a breach of the peace or act of aggression, the use of armed force when necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Sessions. The General Assembly's regular session begins each year on the third Tuesday in September and continues usually until mid-December. At the start of each regular session, the Assembly elects a new President, 21 Vice-Presidents and the Chairman of the Assembly's seven Main Committees. To ensure equitable geographical representation, the presidency of the Assembly rotates each year among five groups of States: African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American, and Western European and other States. In addition to its regular sessions, the Assembly may meet in special sessions at the request of the Security Council, of a majority of Members of the United Nations, or of one Member if the majority of Members concurs. Emergency special sessions may be called within 24 hours of a request by the Security Council on the vote of any nine members of the Council, or by a majority of the United Nations Members, or by one Member if the majority of Members concurs. At the beginning of each regular session, the Assembly holds a general debate, in which Member States express their views on a wide range of matters of international concern. Because of the great number of questions which the Assembly is called upon to consider (146 separate agenda items at the 1986 session of the Assembly, for example), the Assembly allocates most questions to its seven Main Committees: First Committee (disarmament and related international security matters) Special Political Committee Second Committee (economic and financial matters) Third Committee (social, humanitarian and cultural matters) Fourth Committee (decolonization matters) Fifth Committee (administrative and budgetary matters) Sixth Committee (legal matters). There is also a General Committee composed of the President and 21 Vice-Presidents of the Assembly and the chairmen of the seven Main Committees, and a Credentials Committee, appointed by the President at each session. Some questions are considered only in plenary meetings, rather than in one of the Main Committees, and all questions are voted on in plenary meetings, usually towards the end of the regular session, after the committees have completed their consideration of them and submitted draft resolutions to the plenary Assembly. Voting in committees is by simply majority. In plenary meetings, resolutions may be adopted by acclamation, without objection or without a vote, or the vote may be recorded or taken by roll call. While the decisions of the Assembly have no legally binding force for Governments, they carry the weight of world opinion on major international issues, as well as the moral authority of the world community. The work of the United Nations year-round derives largely from the decisions of the General Assembly--that is to say, the will of the majority of the Members as expressed in resolutions adopted by the Assembly. That work is carried out: --by committees and other bodies established by the Assembly to study and report on specific issues, such as disarmament, outer space, peace-keeping, decolonization, human rights and apartheid; --in international conferences called for by the Assembly; and --by the Secretariat of the United Nations--the Secretary- General and his staff of international civil servants. SECURITY COUNCIL. The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Council has 15 members; five permanent members--China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States--10 elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. Each member of the Council has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine votes including the concurring votes of all five permanent members. This is the rule of "great Power unanimity", often referred to as the "veto" power. All five permanent members have exercised the right of veto at one time or another. If a permanent member does not support a decision but does not wish to block it through a veto, it may abstain. Under the Charter, all Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to Governments, the Council alone has the power to take decisions which Member States are obligated under the Charter to carry out. Functions and powers. Under the Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are: --to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations; --to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction; --to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement; --to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments; --to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken; --to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force in order to prevent or stop aggression; --to take military action against an aggressor; --to recommend the admission of new Members and the terms on which States may become parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice; --to exercise the Trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas"; --to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court. The Security Council is so organized as to be able to function continuously, and a representative of each of its members must be present at all times at United Nations Headquarters. The Council may meet elsewhere than at Headquarters if it considers this advisable; in 1972, it held a session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the following year, it met in Panama City, Panama. When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before it, the Council's first action is usually to recommend that the parties try to reach agreement by peaceful means. In some cases, the Council itself undertakes investigation and mediation. It may appoint special representatives or request the Secretary-General to do so or to use his good offices. In some cases, it may set forth principles for a peaceful settlement. When a dispute leads to fighting, the Council's first concern is to bring it to an end as soon as possible. On many occasions since the United Nations was founded, the Council has issued cease- fire directives which have been instrumental in preventing wider hostilities in many parts of the world. It also sends United Nations peace-keeping forces to help reduce tensions in troubled areas, keep opposing forces apart and create conditions of calm in which peaceful settlements may be sought. The Council may decide on enforcement measures, economic sanctions (such as trade embargoes) or collective military action. A Member State against which preventative or enforcement action has been taken by the Security Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. A Member State which has persistently violated the principles contained in the Charter may be expelled from the United Nations by the Assembly on the Council's recommendation. A State is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that that country's interests are specially affected. Both Members of the United Nations and non- members, if they are parties to a dispute being considered by the Council, are invited to take part, without vote, in the Council's discussions; the Council lays down the conditions for participation by a non-Member State. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL. The Economic and Social Council was established by the Charter as the principal organ to co- ordinate the economic and social work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and institutions--known as the "United Nations family" of organizations. The Council has 54 members who serve for three years, 18 being elected each year for a three-year term to replace 18 members whose three-year term has expired. Voting in the Economic and Social Council is by simple majority; each member has one vote. Functions and powers. The functions and powers of the Economic and Social Council are: --to serve as the central forum for the discussion of international and economic and social issues of a global or inter- disciplinary nature and the formulation of policy recommendations on those issues addressed to Member States and to the United Nations system as a whole; --to make or initiate studies and reports and make recommendations on international economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related matters; --to promote respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all; --to call international conferences and prepare draft conventions for submission to the General Assembly on matters falling within its competence; --to negotiate agreements with the specialized agencies defining their relationship with the United Nations; --to co-ordinate the activities of the specialized agencies by means of consultations with and recommendations to them and by means or recommendations to the General Assembly and the Members of the United Nations; --to perform services, approved by the Assembly, for Members of the United Nations and, upon request, for the specialized agencies; --to consult with non-governmental organizations concerned with matters with which the Council deals. Sessions. The Economic and Social Council generally holds two month-long sessions each year, one in New York and the other at Geneva. The year-round work of the Council is carried out in its subsidiary bodies--commissions and committees--which meet at regular intervals and report back to the Council. Subsidiary bodies. The subsidiary machinery of the Council includes: --six functional commissions: Statistical Commission, Population Commission, Commission for Social Development, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Narcotic Drugs; --five regional commissions: Economic Commission for Africa (headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok, Thailand), Economic Commission for Europe (Geneva, Switzerland), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Santiago, Chile) and Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (Baghdad, Iraq); --six standing committees: Committee for Programme and Co- ordination; Committee on Natural Resources, Committee on Non- Governmental Organizations and on Negotiations with Intergovernmental Agencies; Commission on Transnational Corporations, Commission on Human Settlements; --a number of standing expert bodies on such subjects as crime prevention and control, development planning, international co- operation in tax matters, and transport of dangerous goods. Relations with non-governmental organizations. Under the Charter, the Economic and Social Council may consult with non- governmental organizations which are concerned with matters within the Council's competence. The Council recognizes that these organizations should have the opportunity to express their views and that they often possess special experience or technical knowledge of value to the Council in its work. Over 600 non-governmental organizations have consultative status with the Council. They are classified into three categories: category I organizations are those concerned with most of the Council's activities; category II organizations have special competence in special fields of activity of the Council; and organizations on the Roster are those that can make an occasional contribution to the Council, its subsidiary organs or other United Nations bodies. Non-governmental organizations which have been given consultative status may send observers to public meetings of the Council and its subsidiary bodies and may submit written statements relevant to the Council's work. They may also consult with the United Nations Secretariat on matters of mutual concern. TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL. In setting up an International Trusteeship System, the Charter established the Trusteeship Council as one of the main organs or the United Nations and assigned to it the task of supervising the administration of the United Nations and assigned to it the task of supervising the administration of Trust Territories placed under the Trusteeship System. Major goals of the System are to promote the advancement of the inhabitants of Trust Territories and their progressive development towards self- government or independence. The aims of the Trusteeship System have been fulfilled to such an extent that only one of the original 11 Trusteeships remains-- the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (administered by the United States). The others, mostly in Africa and the Pacific, have attained independence, either as separate States or by joining neighbouring independent countries. The Trusteeship Council acts under the authority of the General Assembly or, in the case or a "strategic area", under the authority of the Security Council. Under the Charter, its total number of members is to be equally divided between those members which administer Trust Territories and those which do not, a parity which is not currently maintained. As the number of administering countries has decreased, so has the size of the Council, there are now only five members: the United States (administering State) and the other permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom). Being a strategic area, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands falls within the responsibility of the Security Council. Voting in the Trusteeship Council is by simple majority; each member has one vote. The Council meets in annual sessions, usually in mid-year. It also holds special sessions when required. Functions and powers. The Trusteeship Council is authorized to examine and discuss reports from the Administering Authority on the political, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples of the Trust Territories and, in consultation with the Administering Authority, to examine petitions from and undertake periodic and other special missions to Trust Territories. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE. The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its Statute is an integral part of the United Nations Charter. The Court is open to the parties to its Statute, which automatically includes all Members of the United Nations. A State which is not a Member of the United Nations may become a party to the Statute on the conditions determined in each case by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council. All countries which are parties to the Statute of the Court can be parties to cases before it. Other States can refer cases to it under conditions laid down by the Security Council. In addition, the Security Council may recommend that a legal dispute be referred to the Court. Both the General Assembly and the Security Council can ask the Court for an advisory opinion on any legal question; other organs of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, when authorized by the General Assembly, can ask for advisory opinions on legal questions within the scope of their activities. Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Court covers all questions which States refer to it, and all matters provided for in the United Nations Charter or in treaties or conventions in force. States may bind themselves in advance to accept the jurisdiction of the Court in special cases, either by signing a treaty or convention which provides for referral to the Court or by making special declaration to that effect. Such declarations accepting compulsory jurisdiction may exclude certain classes of cases. In accordance with Article 38 of its Statute, the Court, in deciding disputes submitted to it, applies: --international conventions establishing rule recognized by the contesting States; --international custom as evidence of a general practice accepted as law; --the general principles of law recognized by nations; and --judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations, as a subsidiary means for determining the rules of law. Membership. The Court consists of 15 Judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council, voting independently. They are chosen on the basis of their qualifications, not on the basis of nationality, and care is taken to ensure that the principal legal systems of the world are represented in the Court. No two Judges can be nationals of the same State. The Judges serve for a term of nine years and may be re-elected. They cannot engage in any other occupation during their term of office. The Court normally sits in plenary session, but it may also form smaller units called chambers if the parties so request. Judgements given by chambers are considered as rendered by the full Court. The seat of the Court is at The Hague, Netherlands. SECRETARIAT. The Secretariat services the other 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. Secretary-General. The first Secretary-General of the United Nations was Trygve Lie, of Norway, who served until 1953. Dag Hammarskjold, or Sweden, served from 1953 until his death in a plane crash in Africa in 1961. U Thant, of Burma, served until 1971. He was succeeded by Kurt Waldheim, of Austria, who held the office from 1972 to 1981. The present Secretary-General is Javier Perez de Cuellar, of Peru, who took office on 1 January 1982. As one of his many functions, the Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which, in his opinion, threatens international peace and security, and may use his good offices to help in resolving international disputes. The Secretariat, an international staff of more than 25,000 men and women from over 150 countries, carries out the day-to-day work of the United Nations both at Headquarters in New York and in offices and centres around the world. These international civil servants take an oath not to seek or receive instructions from any Government or outside authority. Under Article 100 of the Charter, each Member State undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their duties. The work of the Secretariat is as varied as the list of problems dealt with by the United Nations. It includes: administering peace-keeping operations; organizing international conferences on problems of world-wide concern; surveying world economic and social trends and problems; preparing studies on such subjects as human rights, disarmament and development; and interpreting speeches, translating documents and supplying the world's communications media with information about the United Nations. Source: "Basic Facts About the United Nations," Department of Public Information, United Nations, New York, N.Y., 1987. </body> </article> </text>