UNITED NATIONS STRUCTURE
1.GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly is the discussion body of the United Nation and consists of all members of the UN. While each member-nation can send five delegates and six alternates to the Assembly, each nation has only one vote. A two-thirds of majority is needed to pass resolution on important questions such as recommendation on peace and security new members, electing members to the councils, budget considerations, and so forth. Other questions are decided by a simple majority vote. No nation in the General Assembly has a veto power.
The Assembly meets regularly once a year (beginning on the third Tuesday of September) and also holds special or emergency sessions whenever necessary. As the "town meeting" of the world, the General Assembly can discuss any issue in any area except those issues on the Security Council agenda. When, however the Security Council is drop the issue from its agenda. The General Assembly can then deal with the unable to reach a decision on political action, under the "Uniting for
Peace" resolution, on a simple majority vote, the Security Council can problem and make its recommendations.
The Assembly receives and makes recommendations on reports from the Economic and Social Council and Trusteeship Council. In this capacity, the General Assembly can begin studies on, and offer plans for, international cooperation in politics, law, economics, social welfare, education, health and human rights. On the, recommendation of the Security Council, the General and the General Assembly elect the judges of the International Court of Assembly elects the Secretary-General. Voting separately the Security Council Justice. The Assembly votes on new members approved by the Security Council and members of the Trusteeship Council. It can also expel or suspend member countries. The Assembly also elects the non-permanent members of the Economic and Social Council.
2. SECURITY COUNCIL
The Security-Council has the basic responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security. It is also responsible for the functions of the UN in trust territories classed as "strategic areas". Although originally -made up of the members, the strength of the Council by an anlend1nent to the Charter, has been raised to 15 members, five of which are permanent: the United States. Britain China, France and the Russia. Its ten non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly by two-thirds majority for a two-year term. Retiring members -are not eligible for immediate re election. The presidency of the Security Council is alternated on a monthly basis by its member-states (in English alphabetical order).
Each member of the Security Council has one vote. In voting on substantive rather than procedure and assures, all permanent members must vote "yes" if the measures is to pass, A single negative vote (veto) by a permanent member automatically prevents the proposal from being passed. "Substantive" measures are those which require action by member-states, thus involving political decisions; *'procedural" measures pertain to decisions on the internal functioning of the Council's work. The ten non-permanent members of the Security Council do not have the veto power. Members of the Council must always be represented at UN headquarters since the Council can be called into session at any time in a matter of hours.
When a complaint is brought before the Security Council, the Council usually recommends negotiation or mediation as a means of setting the dispute. If this falls and fighting breaks out, the Security Council has the power to-take collective action in recommending diplomatic and/or economic sanctions. Armed forces, supplied by member-nations, may be the Security Council also recommends (to the general Assembly) new nations for called to repel the aggressor or act as a buffer until the issue is settled. it elects judges to the International Court of Justice, membership and names its candidate for Secretary-General. With the General Assembly.
3. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), reporting to the General Assembly, works on economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems. It is made up of representatives of 54 member-states (elected by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly). Any country, not a member of ECOSOC, involved in a problem under discussion is invited to participate without the right to vote.
At least two regular sessions of ECOSOC are held each year one at UN are called, if needed. Each member of ECOSOC has one vote and resolutions are passed headquarters in New York and the other in Geneva, Switzerland. Special meetings by a majority vote.
ECOSOC has established five Regional Economic Commissions.
These are ECE (Economic Commission for Europe — Geneva);
ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific — Bangkok); ECLA
(Economic Commission for Latin America Santiago
Chile); ECA (Economic Commission for Africa
Addis Ababa); ECWA (Economic Commission for Western Asia Baghdad).
These Commissions have been established to enable the nations of the major regions of the world to cooperate on common problems and also to produce economic information.
Additional functional commissions deal with such matters as statistics, population, human rights, economics and employment, status of women, transportation and communication and control of narcotic drug traffic. The Council helps coordinate the activities of the inter-governmental specialized agencies.
4. TRUSTEESHIP COUNCIL
The Trusteeship Council prepares people for self-government or independence. Membership consists of permanent members of the Security Council plus those nations which administer trust territories, and the needed additional members to maintain an equal balance between administering and non-administering nations. The latter are elected by the General Assembly. The Trusteeship Council supervises the administration of various territories governed by nations designated by the UN as trustees. The administrative power and the council see to it that social, economic and educational progress is made and that the territories are prepared for effective self-government the trusteeship Council receives reports from missions, administering authorities and individuals. Any person with a complaint, in a trust territory, may make suggestions for improvement. The Council however, does not determine or enforce a country’s laws. Regular meetings of the Trusteeship Council are held twice a year. Each member has one vote and decisions are made by a simple majority.
5. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
The International court of Justice, established by the UN Charter, legal problems. All members of United Nations come under the rules of this Court though they are not required to bring cases before it. The Court is made up of 15 judges, chosen without regard to nationality -who are elected by the
General Assembly and the Security Council. No two judges may represent the same country but judges can when their nine-year term expires be elected.
Case may be referred to the Court by member nations involved in a dispute, in case the Court's decision is binding upon them. Advisory opinions may be requested by the UN itself, in which case the Court's opinion must be accepted by a two-thirds majority vote, questions are decided by a majority vote of the judges present, Where votes are equal, the President of the Court casts the deciding vote.
The President and Vice-President of the Court are elected for three years and may, when their term expires, before-elected. The Court is permanently in session at the flagged, in Holland, but may hold its meetings elsewhere, if necessary.
6. SECRETARIAT
The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary-General. He is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council, for a term of five years and is the Chief administrative officer of the United Nations. He Secretary-General may bring any matter before the Security Council which he also has the political responsibility to carry out the aims of the Charter. The considers a threat to international peace. He presides/as Secretary-General, these organs and submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the work of or authorizes a deputy to do so, over all meetings of the General Assembly and other major UN organs. He must also carry out all functions entrusted to him by the UN.
Offices of the Secretary-General consists of the Executive Office; Under Secretary for General Assembly Affairs; Undersecretaries for Special Political Affairs and Legal Affairs; Offices of the Controller of Personnel. The Secretariat is organized into administrative units, each of which is headed by an Under-Secretary. These include the following: Department of Political and Security Council Affairs; Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Department of Trusteeship and information from Office of General Services of UN Office at Geneva.
Non-Self-Governing Territories: Office of Public Information; Office of Conference Services;