International Organizations and the UN Structure

Vocabulary flashcards covering key international relations concepts, UN organs, and ICJ functions based on the lecture transcript.

Secretariat

A dedicated administrative body of an international organization that manages daily functions to ensure stability and continuity.

Plenary Sessions

Regular meetings held by international organizations annually or every few years where member states discuss issues, coordinate policies, and update agendas.

Liberalism

An international relations perspective suggesting that states share common interests, such as peace and economic growth, which are best achieved through collaboration and institutional frameworks.

General Assembly

The largest of the UN's six main organs, which first convened in January 1946 in London.

Fidel Castro

Delivered the longest timed speech in General Assembly history on 09/26/1960, clocking in at 269 minutes.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

A principal organ of the United Nations established in 1946, seated at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, with English and French as its official languages.

Permanent Court of International Justice

The predecessor to the ICJ that handled around 60 cases before being dissolved after World War II and succeeded by the ICJ on 04/18/1946.

Contentious Cases

Legal disputes submitted to the ICJ between sovereign states that have freely consented to refer their case to the court.

Advisory Proceedings

Proceedings in which the ICJ responds to legal questions submitted to it by the General Assembly, the Security Council, or other UN organs and agencies.

Judge ad hoc

A judge of any nationality chosen by a state party involved in a specific ICJ case if the court does not currently include a judge of that state's nationality.

Registrar

An official elected by the ICJ for a renewable term of seven years who acts as the head of the court's registry and performs judicial, diplomatic, and administrative functions.

Registry

The ICJ's administrative secretariat, headed by the registrar, whose staff members are recruited from all over the world.