sgs mod five quiz
How many member states does the UN Security Council have?
CORRECT ANSWER: 15 EXPLANATION: There are five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the US, and the UK. Ten non-permanent members of the UN Security Council are elected on two year terms.
How are the members of the Security Council appointed?
Five countries have permanent seats; the others are elected by the General Assembly explanation: There are five permanent members and ten non-permanent member that are elected by the General Assembly. The non-permanent member countries are are elected by region: three from Africa, two from Asia-Pacific, two from Latin America, one from Eastern Europe, and two from the Western Europe and Others group. Being elected to the Security Council is a merit, so candidates are often in hard competition.
Which of the following countries is not a permanent member of the Security Council?
India EXPLANATION: The UN Charter states that "The Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America shall be permanent members of the Security Council". These five were the main military powers that were the winners of World War II and co-founders of the United Nations.
During which of the following periods did the Security Council adopt most resolutions to establish peacekeeping operations?
YOUR ANSWER: 1980-1989 CORRECT ANSWER: 1990-1999 EXPLANATION: In the 1990's there was a lot of optimism about the UN's peacekeeping powers. The end of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union (and transition of the permanent seat to Russia) diminished the use of vetoes in the Security Council vetoes and made it possible for the UN to intervene in conflicts that previously would have been blocked by opposing national interests.
How are decisions made in the Security Council?
YOUR ANSWER: Two-thirds majority, each member state has an equal vote CORRECT ANSWER: Nine affirmative votes out of fifteen are required, including affirmative votes from all permanent members EXPLANATION: The so called "veto power", thus, is not a separate power to block decisions after they are made, but a requirement that all five permanent members must vote in favor of a resolution for it to pass. The veto has been questioned many times, but ultimately each of the five permanent Security Council members has so far been unwilling to support reform proposals.
Which permanent member of the UN Security Council has used its veto power least frequently?
YOUR ANSWER: USA CORRECT ANSWER: China EXPLANATION: The Republic of China, Security Council member until 1971, used the veto only once. The People's Republic of China, which took over China's seat in the Security Council, gradually used its veto slightly more, but still less than the other permanent members. The most frequent users of the veto have been Russia/USSR and the USA, partly as a result of blocking each other's interests during the Cold War.
What is the United Nations Security Council?
principal organ of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security EXPLANATION: The Security Council is a principal organ of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It can take action against conflicts and suggest solutions and is the only UN organ whose decisions are binding for member states. The Security Council may create subsidiary organs to which they delegate responsibilities for certain policy areas. There are several such subsidiary organs under the Security Council.
