UNITED NATIONS SECURITY

COUNCIL
 Composition
• The Security Council shall consists of 15
members of UN
• Permanent members= China, France, Russia,
United Kingdom, & USA
• Non-permanent members= 10 other members
to be elected by the General Assembly
 Functions
• to maintain international peace & security in accordance w/ the principles
and purposes of UN
• to investigate any dispute 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.
• to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures
involving the use of force to prevent aggression.
• to take military action against the aggressor.
• to recommend admission of New Members.
• to exercise trusteeship functions of UN in strategic areas
• to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of Secretary-
General to elect the judges of ICJ
 Voting
• Yalta Formula – each member shall have 1
vote
• Procedural matters = the votes of at least 9
out of 15 members is required
• Substantive matters = the vote of at least 9
out of 15 members is required w/ the
concurring votes of ALL 5 permanent
members. (Veto power/Great Power
Unanimity rule)
 Preventive action
• intended to stop armed conflicts before they
escalate to widespread violence
• Preventive measures: conflict early warning,
fact-finding, confidence building measures,
early deployment, humanitarian assistance, &
demilitarized zones.
 First Preventive Action of UN
• UN peacekeeping mission in Macedonia
/United Nations Preventive Deployment
Force (UNPREDEP) from 1995 to 1999