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Functions and Powers of the United Nations Security Council

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It's your world.</a></span> <div> <form id="searchfrm" name="gs" method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20121121205813/http://search.un.org/search"> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="utf8"/> <input type="hidden" name="site" value="un_org"/> <input type="hidden" name="output" value="xml_no_dtd"/> <input type="hidden" name="client" value="UN_Website_en"/> <input type="hidden" name="num" value="10"/> <input name="lr" type="hidden" value="lang_en"/> <input type="hidden" name="proxystylesheet" id="proxystylesheet" value="UN_Website_en"/> <input type="hidden" name="oe" value="utf8"/> <label for="search">UN Search</label> <input class="textbox" type="text" name="q" id="search" size="22" onfocus="this.value='';" value="Search UN Website"/> <input class="button" type="submit" name="Submit" value="Go"/> </form> </div> </div> <div id="languages"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="LangBar" --> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20121121205813js_/http://www.un.org/common/scripts/jquery/jquery-1.6.4.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20121121205813js_/http://www.un.org/common/nav/js/lang_bar.js"></script> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --></div> <div id="topbanner"> <h1 id="hiddentitle"><span></span>United Nations Security Council</h1> </div> <div id="horizontalnav"> <!--Horizontal Nav for Security Council--> <ul> <li id="home"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/">HOME</a></li> <li id="about"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/">ABOUT</a></li> <li id="president"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/presidency/">PRESIDENCY</a></li> <li id="members"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/members/">MEMBERS</a></li> <li id="programme"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/programme/">PROGRAMME OF WORK</a> </li> <li id="subsidiary"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/subsidiary/">SUBSIDIARY ORGANS</a></li> <li id="documents"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/documents/">DOCUMENTS</a></li> <li id="meetings"><a class="middle" href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/meetings/">MEETINGS</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainnav"> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="MainNavigation" --> <ul> <li id="background"><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/" class="menushow">What is the Security Council?</a></li> <li id="faq"><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/faq.shtml">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li> <li id="functions"><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/functions.shtml">Functions and Powers</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/rules/" class="menushow">Foundation and Procedures</a> <ul> <li id="rules"><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/rules/">Provisional Rules of Procedure</a></li> <li id="methods"><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/methods/">Working Methods Handbook</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/repertoire/">Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/">United Nations Charter</a></li> </ul> <li id="structure"><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/structure.shtml" class="menushow">Structure</a></li> </ul> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> </div> <div id="content"> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="Content" --> <h2>Functions and Powers</h2> <p>Under the <a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/">United Nations Charter</a>, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:</p> <ul> <li>to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations; </li> <li>to investigate any dispute or situation which mightlead to international friction; </li> <li>to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement; </li> <li>to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments; </li> <li>to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken; </li> <li>to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression; </li> <li>to take military action against an aggressor; </li> <li>to recommend the admission of new Members; </li> <li>to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in &quot;strategic areas&quot;; </li> <li>to recommend to the <a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/ga/">General Assembly</a> the appointment of the <a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/sg/">Secretary-General</a> and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121121205813/http://www.icj-cij.org/">International Court of Justice</a>.</li> </ul> <p>For more information, consult the list of <a href="methods/selectcharter.shtml">selected articles of the UN Charter related to the Security Council</a>.</p> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> </div> <div id="bottomnav"> <!--Bottom Navigation for Security Council--> <div id="basicfacts"> <p>QUICK LINKS</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/documents/resolutions/">Resolutions</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/search/voting.asp">Voting</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/structure.shtml">Structure</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/functions.shtml">Functions and Powers</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/newsroom.shtml">Newsroom</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="keydocs"> <p>KEY DOCUMENTS</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/">United Nations Charter</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/repertoire/">Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/rules/">Provisional Rules of Procedure</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/methods/">Working Methods Handbook</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="quicklinks"> <p>RELATED SITES</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/sg/">Secretary-General</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/">UN Peacekeeping</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/undpa/">Department of Political Affairs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/undpa/main/issues/security_council_affairs">Security Council Affairs Division</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/ga/">General Assembly</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="resources"> <p>RESOURCES</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/sitemap.shtml">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/methods/glossary.shtml">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/documents/search.shtml">Documents Search</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/sc/about/faq.shtml">FAQ - Security Council</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/scsess.htm">FAQ - Documentation</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/copyright/">Copyright </a> |</li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/terms/">Terms of Use </a> |</li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/privacy/">Privacy Notice </a> | </li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/siteindex/">Site Index </a> |</li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/fraudalert/">Fraud Alert </a> |</li> <li><a href="/web/20121121205813/http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/help/">Help </a> </li> </ul> </div> <!--end of main --> </div> <div id="wsscredit"> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="wsscredit" --> <!-- --> <!-- InstanceEndEditable --> </div> </body> <!-- InstanceEnd --></html> <!-- FILE ARCHIVED ON 20:58:13 Nov 21, 2012 AND RETRIEVED FROM THE INTERNET ARCHIVE ON 09:36:51 Feb 28, 2025. 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