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Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
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According to the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It encourages parties to a dispute to reach agreement peacefully, by facilitating negotiation or supporting an established truce with authorised peacekeeping operations. If necessary, the Security Council can also enforce its decisions. It can impose economic sanctions or order an arms embargo, and can authorise collective military action to see that its decisions are implemented. The Council can be convened at any time.
There are 15 Council members, five of which are permanent members, with the remaining ten comprising non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The five permanent members of the Council are China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The ten non-permanent members are elected on the following basis: five members from African and Asian states, one from Eastern Europe, two from the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and two from Western European and Other states (including New Zealand). Member States continue to discuss changes in Council membership and working methods to reflect today’s political and economic realities. New Zealand has served on the Security Council three times in the past, and intends to next stand for the term 2015-16.
Decisions of the Council require nine yes votes. Except in votes on procedural questions, a decision cannot be taken if there is a no vote, or veto, by a permanent member. All Member States are obligated to carry out the Council’s decisions.
