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Research Guides

United Nations Research

Introduction to the Security Council

From Basic Facts About the United Nations:

The Security Council has primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. Chapters V-VII, Articles 23-54, of the UN Charter concern the Security Council.

The Council has 15 members: five permanent - China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States - and 10 members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

Each member has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least 9 of the 15 members. Decisions on substantive matters require nine votes and the absence of a negative vote by any of the five permanent members. Permanent members may also choose to abstain on a vote. The Council does not meet sessionally, but rather, it meets whenever the need arises for action.

Under Article 25 of the Charter all members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. The Council alone has the power to take decisions which member states are obligated under the Charter to implement.

The basic format for the document symbols of the Security Council documents is:

S/year/sequential number: Example: S/2012/33

From 1946 to 1993, the format was S/sequential number: Example: S/24111.

The Security Council Official Records (SCOR) consist of:

Meeting records;

Supplements, including:

  • checklist of documents
  • selected documents (last issued for the 53rd year (1988))

Special supplements

  • Reports of other organs or subsidiary bodies requested by the Security Council (last issued for the 47th year (1992))

Resolutions, decisions, and presidential statements

Sources for Security Council Practice

Online Sources for Locating Security Council Documents, Resolutions, and Debates