United Nations Structure and History

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key facts, organs, documents, dates, and terminology related to the United Nations.

Blue Helmets

The popular name given to United Nations peacekeeping troops.

Motion to close the speakers list

A procedural motion that is explicitly classified as debatable.

United Nations Charter

The foundational document that sets out the main aims of the UN and the rights and obligations of each member state.

United Nations' Day

The official day of observance for the United Nations, celebrated annually on 24 October.

Trygve Lie

The first Secretary-General of the United Nations.

1946 Flag Adoption

The year in which the flag of the United Nations was officially adopted.

UNAIDS

An acronym representing the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The UN body that settles legal disputes between member states; it sits in The Hague, Netherlands.

1945 Founding of the UN

The year in which the United Nations was officially founded.

United Nations Headquarters

The primary administrative headquarters of the UN, located in New York City, USA.

Official Languages of the UN

The total number of official languages recognized by the United Nations, which is 6.

Main Purposes of the UN

Maintaining international peace and security, promoting economic and social development, and upholding human rights (regulating international trade is NOT a main purpose).

UN Security Council Membership

The total composition of the UN Security Council, consisting of 15 member states.

Permanent Members of the UN Security Council

The five nations that hold permanent seats and veto power: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States.

World Health Organization (WHO)

A specialized agency of the United Nations that deals with global health issues.

Current UN Member States

The number of member states currently belonging to the United Nations, totaling 193.

Secretary-General

The chief administrative officer of the United Nations.

Paris Agreement

The landmark international agreement signed in 2015 under the UN to address climate change.

UNICEF

An acronym standing for United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

The UN body primarily responsible for coordinating the work of its specialized agencies.

Article 51 of the UN Charter

The section of the UN Charter whose primary purpose is to recognize the right to self-defense.