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36 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the 6 principle organs of the UN as per the Charter?
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1. General Assembly
2. Security Council 3. Economic and Social Council 4. Trusteeship Council 5. Secretariat 6. International Court of Justice |
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General Assembly
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Central organ; centrality achieved through practice and assertion, not charter.
Arena for general debate for UN. All member states are represented. |
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How often does the General Assembly meet?
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It has a 3 month session each year, beginning on the 3rd Tuesday in September.
Special sessions can be called: 1947 Palestine 1978 Disarmament 1998 Drug problems |
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Where is the bulk of the General Assembly's work done?
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In the 7 main committees.
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What are the 7 main committees of the General Assembly?
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1. Political and Security Committee
2. Special Political Committee 3. Economic and Financial Committee 4. Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee 5. Trusteeship committee 6. Administrative and Budgetary Committee 7. Legal Committee Every UN member is entitled to be represented in each committee. |
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What is the most important function of the General Assembly?
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To discuss and recommend. Art 10 grants an almost unlimited mandate and range of subjects.
There are 2 limitations. |
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What are the two limitations on the General Assembly?
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1. It may discuss but NOT recommend action for issues ("dispute or situation") being handled by the Security Council
2. Its authority is limited to recommendations that are not binding. Enforcement/observance of resolutions depends on the individual states. |
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What is the 2nd major function of the General Assembly?
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To supervise, coordinate UN organs and review UN activities.
Review reports from the Secretary General, the Security Council, Economic and Social Council, etc. |
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What is the 3rd major function of the General Assembly?
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To decide financial matters.
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What is the 4th major function of the General Assembly?
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To elect non-permanent members of the Security Council and all members of the Economic and Social Council.
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Who selects judges for the International Court of Justice?
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It is a joint responsibility of the General Assembly and the Security Council.
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How are applicants admitted as members or expelled/suspended from the UN?
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2/3 vote in the General Assembly and approval of the Security Council.
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What is the last major responsibility of the General Assembly?
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To amend and revise the Charter. It needs 2/3 majority and all Security Council members.
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What is the Security Council?
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Collection of the most powerful states in the UN. The "muscle" and economic leaders needed to have appropriate power.
Security Council is primarily responsible for maintaining peace and security. All votes must be unanimous on substantive matters. |
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What was the effect of the Cold War on the Security Council?
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Russia's use of the veto doomed collaboration and made the security council ineffective.
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When was the Charter first amended and why?
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1965, the Security Council was enlarged from 11 to 15.
The 10 non-permanent seats were allotted. |
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How were the 10 non-permanent seats on the Security Council allotted?
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5 to Africa and Asia
2 for Latin America 2 for Western Europe 1 for Eastern Europe |
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What is the primary function of the Security Council?
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Maintain peace and security.
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What can the Security Council put on its agenda?
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Any dispute, threat to peace, or act of aggression, giving due consideration to domestic jurisdiction.
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Are Security Council decisions binding?
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Yes, but they are difficult to enforce.
All members agree that Security Council is binding when they agree to the Charter. |
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What is one of the main obstacles in the Security Council?
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Reaching an agreement on a firm and effective course of action.
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What is the secondary function of the Security Council?
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Participation in the election process (Shares with the General Assembly).
Security Council must recommend admission before the General Assembly can admit a new member state. |
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What is "substantive?"
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Something that involved major or practical importance. In the UN, a Substantive Matter is a matter having to do with the topic being discussed.
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Are admission of states and selection of the Secretary General substantive issues?
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Yes, therefore they are subject to the veto.
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What is the only situation where a unanimous vote isn't necessary for the Security Council (no veto)?
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Selection of judges for the International Court of Justice.
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What is the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)?
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One of the six principle organs. It deals with general welfare of people.
It has 54 members. Members are elected by the General Assembly for 3 year terms. 1/3 of the terms expire every year. |
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More than 3/4 of the UN budget is spent on what?
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Support of economic and social programs.
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What are the 3 general functions of the Economic and Social Council?
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1. Deliberation and recommendation
2. Research and reports 3. Coordination |
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What is the Trusteeship Council?
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Inactive since 1994.
It provided supervision of non-self-governing people living in designated trust territories. |
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Who administered trust territories?
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Different specific states, but the General Assembly's Trusteeship Council supervised the trusteeship and the administration.
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What is the Secretariat?
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A body of international civil servants headed by the Secretary General.
Full-time employees who serve the interests of the UN... the remain neutral. |
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How is the Secretary General appointed?
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By 2/3 vote of the General Assembly and unanimous approval of the Security Council.
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What are the major functions of the Secretary-General as per the Charter?
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1. Chief administrative officer of the UN
2. Act as secretary to all major delegate bodies of UN 3. Perform functions assigned by the Gen Assembly 4. Make an annual report to the General Assembly 5. Appoint the Secretariat staff |
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What is the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?
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HQ in the Hague.
All members of the UN are ICJ members. 15 judges elected by GA and SC. No two from the same country. Judges have 9 year terms. No reelection limit. |
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When can states appoint additional judges?
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When no judge is on the ICJ from the states in question. These additional judges have full voting rights.
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Who may bring cases before the Court?
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Only states. The UN at large cannot do it.
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