Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 members: five permanent members -China, France, the Russian Federation*, the United Kingdom and the United States, and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two year terms.
Each Council member has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine of the 15 members. Decisions on substantive matters require 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. If a permanent member does not agree with a decision, it can cast a negative vote, and this act has power of veto. All five permanent members have exercised the right of veto at one time or another. The first veto was cast in February 1946 by the Soviet Union. If a permanent member does not support a decision but does not wish to block it through a veto, it may abstain. 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; in 1972, it held a session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the following year, it met in Panama City, Panama.
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 can make recommendations to Governments, the Council alone has the power to take decisions which Member States are obligated under the Charter to carry out.
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 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.
When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before the Security Council, its 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. 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, the Council has issued cease-fire directives which have been instrumental in preventing wider hostilities. It also sends United Nations peacekeeping forces to help reduce tensions in troubled areas, keep opposing forces apart and create conditions in which peaceful settlements may be sought. Under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Council may decide on enforcement measures, including economic sanctions (such as trade embargoes) or collective military action.
A Member State against which preventive 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 on the recommendation of the Security Council. A Member State which has persistently violated the principles of the Charter may be expelled from the United Nations by the Assembly on the Council's recommendation.
A State which is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that country's interests. 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 a vote, in the Council's discussions; the Council sets the conditions for participation by a non-member State.
*The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was an original Member of the United Nations. In a letter dated December 24, 1991, Boris Yeltsin, the President of the Russian Federation, informed the Secretary-General that the membership of the Soviet Union in the Security Council and all other United Nations organs was being continued by the Russian Federation with the support of the 11 member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
On January 31, 1992, the Security Council met for the first time in its history at the level of Heads of State, indicating the importance of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to address the maintenance of international peace and security in the post-Cold War world. From the meeting arose the ideas for Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's, An Agenda for Peace.
From Basic Facts About the United Nations. Published by United Nations Department of Public Information. Copyright 1995, United Nations.
