Jahangirnagar University

Course Code: 205

Course Name: International Institutions

An Assignment on: 1.Power and functions of security council

Submitted To:

Roni Basak

Assistant Professor

Department of International Relations

Jahangirnagar University

Submitted By:

Tamima Afrin

Class Roll: 1016 B.S.S [Hon’s] 2nd year

Session:2017-2018

Submission date:13.08.2021

Department of International Relations

Jahangirnagar University Savar,Dhaka

 1. Power and functions of security council

Introductions:
“In order to ensure and effective action by the UN its members confer on the security council
primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security”. Article 24 (1) of
the UN Charter

The United Nations is an international organization. It is made up of different sovereign states of

the world. After the First World War, the League of Nations was formed with the goal of world
peace and security. When the League of Nations failed, the world experienced another terrible
war. That was the Second World War. The horrors of World War II and the catastrophes caused
by it have inspired world leaders to take steps to ensure peace and security. As a result, the
United Nations was established on 24 October 1945, standing on the ruins of World War 2 to
prevent and another such conflict. It has six principal organs the Security Council is the most
effective and deliberate organ of them. The security council is charged with maintaining peace
and security among countries. It is the only body of the UN with the authority to issue binding
resolutions to member states. Security Council is called the main driving force of the United
Nations. The Council is working round the clock as an executive body for the maintenance of
international peace and security.

Structure of the United Nations:

The activities of the United Nations are governed by the six major organs of the world as
described in Article 7 of Chapter 3 of the Charter of the United Nations.

There are 5 organs:

1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council
4. Trusteeship Council
5. International Court of Justice
6. The Secretariat

Security Council:
The most important body of the United Nations is the Security Council. This council is called the
nervous system of the United Nations. According to Article 24 (1) of the UN Charter, the
primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security is vested in the Security Council. All
UN member states are bound to abide by its decisions.
Formation: Article 23 of the UN Charter describes the formation of the Security Council.
According to Article 23 (3) of the Charter, the Security Council consists of two types of
members.
1. Permanent member
2. non-permanent member
The security council is made of 15 members states, consisting of five permanent members and
10 non-permanent members.

Permanent Membership: Article 23 (1) of the Charter states that the following
countries shall be deemed to be permanent members of the Security Council, namely: -

1. China
2. France
3. Russia
4. The UK
5. USA

Temporary member: The 10 temporary members are elected by a yes vote of five
permanent members and a yes vote of at least 4 of the existing temporary members. The
temporary members are elected by the General Assembly by a two-thirds vote for two years.
Outgoing members cannot be re-elected. Each month, the President of the Security Council is
elected from among the members in alphabetical order by the English name of the State.

1. Asia and Africa - 5 members

2. From Eastern Europe -. 1 member

3. Western Europe and others - 2 members

4. Latin America and the Caribbean - 2 members

Powers and functions of the Security Council:

The General Assembly seeks the consent of the Security Council before any action is taken. If
the Security Council does not consent or exercises its veto power, it cannot act. The powers and
functions of the Security Council are discussed below: Under the UN charter article 6, 7, 8, 9,
12, 17, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30,40-54 the powers and functions of the security council are given:
1. Responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and
security:Article 24 gives the security council the primary responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace and security. In article 39 said that the security council
will be a peaceful resolution of the dispute. Professor Langsam said that "the Security
Council
was entrusted with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and
security."

2. Electoral Functions: Another important responsibility of the Security Council is its

electoral powers. The Security Council and the General Assembly independently elect
judges of the International Court of Justice. The decision-making power is vested in the
Security Council.

3. Peaceful Dispute Resolution: Article 33(2) states that the Security Council calls
on the conflicting states to resolve their disputes amicably through dialogue, mediation, etc.

4. Investigation and taking legal action: In the event of a situation that interrupts
international peace and security, the Security Council inquire into the matter.

5. The power of intimidation, breach of peace, and resistance to

aggression: According to the 39 and 50 of the charter, the security council takes
adequate action if a country threatens a war, breach of peace, and aggression.

6. Take regional measures: The Security Council has been given the power to form a
regional system under sections 52-54. However, member states may want to form regional
settlements or agencies if necessary. But its objectives, goals, and function must be fulfilled
in harmony with the United Nations

7. Trusteeship Council: The security council can't show up in all areas. For this, the
based representatives are chosen for the duties. The security council is responsible for all
activities.

8. Ability to receive members: The five permanent members of the security council
can receive new members at any time if desired. This is the special power of the security
 council.
Members excluding power-The security council can exclude any member. In this case, they
need the vote of the 9 temporary members of the Council.

9. Election power: In the Recommendation of the security council, the General Assembly
elected the Secretary-General of the United Nations and also elected the judge of the
International Court.
10. Armament and disarmament power: The duty of arms control and
disarmament is basically binding on the permanent members of the security council. This is
why a Commission has been formed. Whose name is "Commission for conventional
armament'
Caretaking power- If a country is expelled, the security council again can make this country
a member of the United Nation. In this case, the security council acts as a caretaker.

11. Able to armed charter: The security council can easily correct any mistakes of the
charter. The Permanent member can amend the charter with 9 votes of the other members.

12. Able to enforce force: According to article no 44 of the Charter, if any state is not a
member of the United Nations but the Security Council has the power to assist the country
in the military field.

13. Take actions against peace breakers: The security council can block the
economic, diplomatic, and communication system against peace-breakers. If necessary, they
can declare war against the peace breakers.

14. Provides report: The security council submits its report to the General Assembly on
many important issues. It can be any time of the year for special needs.

15. Special session convenes: The security council can request the General Secretary
to the special or emergency station of the council.

16. Council subordinate bodies formation: The council has been formed
subordinate bodies for efficiency to perform duties.
17. Veto power-The United Nations Security Council "veto power" refers to the power of
the permanent members of the UN Security Council (United States, United Kingdom,
Russia, France, and China) to veto any substantive resolution. They can object to any new
project.

Criticism:
The expectations that member states have placed on the Security Council for international peace
and security have not been met. The structure of the Security Council has its Systemic
weaknesses.
I. Systemic weakness: The systemic weakness in the security council appears to be
excessive. The structure of the Security Council is based on the notion of superpower or
state But the Security Council failed to do so.

II. Veto power: Critics claim that the "veto" power of the security council should have
vanished. Veto power is due to the most undemocratic charter of the United Nation. To
make the security council more effective the number of permanent members of the UN
Security Council should be increased, permanent members' self-interest should be reduced.

III. Dominates the national interest: The objective of the UN is not materialized.
Large countries are more worried about the national interest.

IV. Preventing conflict prevention: By applying the veto, the security council
prevents the settlement of disputes.

V. Members of 1st and 2nd class: The temporary members of the Security Council
think of themselves as 2nd class and permanent members think of themselves as 1st class.

VI. Absence of democratic system: Democracy believes in the participation of all

but democracy is absent in the Security Council.

VII. Increase in ideological conflict: The ideological conflict in the Security Council
is increasing day by day.

VIII. Obstacles to the implementation of the UN objectives: The purpose

 of the UN was to establish world peace. But the permanent members of the Security Council
often obstruct the implementation of that objective through veto power.

Commenting on the Security Council, Nicholas said, "Of all the organs of the UN, there has
been no greater discrepancy between promise and performance than the Security Council."

Comment:
Although the hopes and aspirations of the authors of the Charter have not been fully realized, its
role in maintaining peace and security in today's troubled world is crucial. World peace and
security will remain intact if the members of the Security Council move forward to resolve
various
international issues without abusing their veto power, without engaging in mutual interests and
conflicts.

Conclusion:
Despite all these criticisms of the Security Council, it is one of the organs of the United Nations.
All the responsibilities of the United Nations are vested in the Security Council. That is why the
Security Council is called “the heart” of the United Nations.

References:

Nations Encyclopedia
Peacekeeping.un.org
Langsam, The world since 1919,
page.709 Iewik.org dfat.gov.au