The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after World War II by 51 countries committed to maintaining world peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. Its Charter stipulates that all members must respect the principles of sovereign equality of all states and must not use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
The Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is composed of five permanent members — China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — and ten non-permanent members elected to two-year terms by the General Assembly. The five permanent members have a veto power, which they may exercise in the event of a dispute. The United States, the Russian Federation and China have used their veto power on several occasions to block UN decisions they disagree with.
The General Assembly is the highest organ of the United Nations. It convenes at regular annual sessions, and in special sessions convoked by the Secretary-General upon the request of the Security Council or a majority of the Members of the United Nations. It adopts its own rules of procedure. It receives and considers the annual reports of the Security Council, including its account of measures it has taken to maintain international peace and security; and it performs such other functions as may be prescribed by the Charter or by the General Assembly.
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