Security Council and its Members

Security Council and its Members

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is so organized as to be able to function continuously, and a representative of each of its members must be present at all times at United Nations Headquarters. On 31 January 1992, the first ever Summit Meeting of the Council was convened at Headquarters, attended by Heads of State and Government of 13 of its 15 members and by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the remaining two. The Council may meet elsewhere than at Headquarters; in 1972, it held a session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the following year in Panama City, Panama

The Council has 15 members-- five permanent members and 10 elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms:

Members	Membership Term Ends
France	Permanent Member
Gabon	31 December 1999
Gambia	31 December 1999
Japan	31 December 1998
Kenya	31 December 1998
Portugal	31 December 1998
Russian Federation	Permanent Member
Slovenia	31 December 1999
Sweden	31 December 1998
United Kingdom	Permanent Member
United States	Permanent Member
Bahrain	31 December 1999
Brazil	31 December 1999
China	Permanent Member
Costa Rica	31 December 1998

Functions and Powers

to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;
to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
to formulate plans for the establishment of a threat to peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
to take military action against an aggressor;
to recommend the admission of new Members and the terms on which States may become parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice;
to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas":
to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court.