Global Studies Exam Year 12 Term 4

What is the primary responsibility of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?

Maintaining international peace and security.

How many members are in the United Nations Security Council?

Fifteen members: five permanent and ten non-permanent members.

Who are the five permanent members of the UNSC?

The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China.

What power do the permanent members of the UNSC possess?

The power of veto, allowing any one of them to block a resolution.

What actions can the UNSC authorize?

Peacekeeping missions, sanctions, and military action in response to threats to international peace.

Are UNSC resolutions legally binding on UN member states?

Yes, they are legally binding.

What is the main function of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)?

To serve as the main deliberative and representative body of the UN.

How many member states comprise the UNGA?

193 member states.

What is the voting power of member states in the UNGA?

Each member state has one vote, regardless of size or power.

What type of resolutions does the UNGA pass?

Resolutions that are not legally binding but carry moral and political weight.

What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

A permanent international tribunal established to prosecute individuals for serious international crimes.

What types of crimes does the ICC prosecute?

Genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.

When was the ICC established?

In 2002 under the Rome Statute.

What is the jurisdiction of the ICC?

Over crimes committed on the territory of states that have ratified the Rome Statute or by their nationals.

What distinguishes the ICC from the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

The ICC prosecutes individuals, while the ICJ settles disputes between states.

What is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations?

The International Court of Justice (ICJ).

What types of cases does the ICJ handle?

Legal disputes between states and advisory opinions on legal questions.

What is required for the ICJ to have jurisdiction?

Consent from states through treaties, agreements, or declarations.

What is the process of litigation before the ICJ?

Filing a written application, submitting pleadings, oral hearings, and delivering a binding judgment.

What can the ICJ order to prevent irreparable harm during litigation?

Provisional measures.

What is a recent example of ICJ litigation?

Ukraine v. Russia (2022), where Ukraine accused Russia of genocide claims as a pretext for invasion.

What happens if a state refuses to comply with an ICJ ruling?

Compliance depends on the state's willingness, but the UN Security Council can be involved.

What significant action did the ICC take in 2023 regarding Vladimir Putin?

Issued an arrest warrant for unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.

What investigation was the ICC considering in 2024 involving Israeli officials?

Alleged war crimes in Gaza.

What is the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime?

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

When was the NPT opened for signature and when did it enter into force?

Opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970.

What are the three main pillars of the NPT?

Non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Which countries are recognized as nuclear-weapon states under the NPT?

The U.S., Russia, U.K., France, and China.

What is the purpose of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in relation to the NPT?

To verify compliance through inspections.

What was the main goal of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)?

To reduce and limit strategic offensive arms, specifically long-range nuclear weapons.

When was the first START treaty signed and when did it come into force?

Signed in 1991 and came into force in 1994.

What is the limit on deployed strategic warheads set by the New START treaty?

1,550 deployed strategic warheads.

What does the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) ban?

Development, testing, production, possession, use, and threat of use of nuclear weapons.

When did the TPNW enter into force?

In 2021.

What is a significant limitation of the TPNW?

None of the nine nuclear-armed states have joined it.

What does the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT) prohibit?

Nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater, allowing only underground testing.

When was the Limited Test Ban Treaty signed?

In 1963.

What was the purpose of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)?

To ban all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes.

Why has the CTBT not yet entered into force?

Several key states have not ratified it.

What is the role of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)?

To maintain a global verification system capable of detecting nuclear tests.

What was the significance of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty?

It required the elimination of all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

When was the INF Treaty signed?

In 1987.

What led to the collapse of the INF Treaty in 2019?

The United States withdrew, citing Russian violations and concerns over China's missile capabilities.

What do these nuclear treaties collectively illustrate about international law and security?

They reflect humanity's ongoing struggle to manage and eliminate the world's most destructive weapons.