PLSC 102 - United Nations & International Institutions

United Nations (UN)

International organization created after World War II to promote cooperation and peace.

UN Charter

Foundational governing document of the United Nations.

Sovereign Equality

Principle that all UN member states are formally equal.

Six (6) UN organs

1. General Assembly (GA)

2. Security Council

3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

4. Secretariat

5. International Court of Justice (ICJ)

6. Trusteeship Council (No longer active)

General Assembly (GA)

Deliberative UN organ consisting of all member states.

Resolution

Primary decision-making instrument of the General Assembly.

Security Council

UN organ responsible for conflict management, diplomacy, and sanctions.

• 15 members, P5 permanent, 10 elected by GA

Permanent Five (P5)

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

• Have veto power over Security Council decisions

Veto Power

Ability of a permanent Security Council member to block action.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

UN organ focused on development and global governance.

Secretariat

Administrative branch of the United Nations.

Secretary-General

Head of the UN Secretariat.

• Acts as the “face” of the UN

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Judicial organ that settles disputes between states.

Contentious Cases

Legal disputes between states heard by the ICJ.

Advisory Proceedings

Legal opinions requested from the ICJ.

Trusteeship Council

Former UN organ that administered trust territories after World War II.

Non-Intervention Principle

Principle that the UN generally avoids intervening in domestic political affairs.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Military alliance established in 1949 for collective security.

Treaty

Binding agreement between nations and sometimes international organizations.

Ratification

Formal approval that makes a treaty legally binding.