UN Security Council: tasks, members and voting

01How is the UN Security Council composed?

Under Article 23 of the Charter, the Council consists of 15 members of the United Nations. Five of them are permanent members, ten are non-permanent and are elected by the General Assembly.

The Charter itself names the permanent members. In the 1945 wording these are the Republic of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. This page makes no statement about who holds the seats today and does not list the members currently elected.

The non-permanent members serve for two years and cannot be re-elected immediately. The text of Article 23 mentions the earlier number of eleven members, which was later raised to 15. How the Council mandates UN missions is described on the page Blue Helmets.

02What is the task of the Council?

Under Article 24 of the Charter, the members of the United Nations confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

In Article 25, the members agree to accept and carry out decisions of the Council in accordance with the Charter. This page describes Chapters VI and VII.

Which wars and conflicts exist at present is a separate question and is covered on the page Current wars worldwide. Here only the framework is described, not individual decisions or states.

03How does the Council vote?

Each member of the Council has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters need nine affirmative votes. Decisions on all other matters also need nine votes, including the concurring votes of the permanent members.

A party to a dispute must abstain from voting on decisions under Chapter VI. This is laid down in Article 27 of the Charter.

UN members not represented on the Council can take part in the discussion without a vote if their interests are especially affected. The Council itself adopts its rules of procedure and elects its president.

04What does Chapter VI of the UN Charter regulate?

Chapter VI deals with the peaceful settlement of disputes. The parties to a dispute should first seek a solution themselves: by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional bodies or other peaceful means of their own choice (Article 33).

The Council can investigate any dispute and any situation that might lead to international friction (Article 34). If the parties fail to find a solution, they refer the dispute to the Council. The Council then decides whether to recommend a procedure under Article 36 or terms of settlement (Article 37).

05What does Chapter VII of the UN Charter regulate?

Chapter VII concerns threats to the peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression. Under Article 39, the Council determines whether such a situation exists and makes recommendations or decides on measures under Articles 41 and 42. Provisional measures are possible under Article 40 and leave the rights and positions of the parties unaffected.

Article 41 names measures without armed force: complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of transport and communication links, and the severance of diplomatic relations. If these are not enough, the Council can decide on action by air, sea or land forces under Article 42.

Under Article 43, members make armed forces available to the Council under special agreements. Article 51 secures the right of self-defence until the Council has taken the measures necessary. Which UN missions the Council has mandated is described on the page Blue Helmets. On nuclear questions, see the page Nuclear weapons worldwide.