Background and creation
In the century prior to the UN's creation, several international treaty organizations and conferences had … See more

Permanent members
The Security Council's five permanent members, below, have the power to veto any substantive resolution; this allows a permanent member … See more

Article 29 of the Charter provides that the Security Council can establish subsidiary bodies in order to perform its functions. This authority is … See more

In examining the first sixty years of the Security Council's existence, British historian Paul Kennedy concludes that "glaring failures had not only accompanied the UN's many achievements, they overshadowed them", identifying as particular failures … See more

The UN's role in international collective security is defined by the UN Charter, which authorizes the Security Council to investigate any situation threatening international peace; … See more

Unlike the General Assembly, the Security Council is not bound to sessions. Each Security Council member must have a representative available at UN Headquarters at all … See more

After approval by the Security Council, the UN may send peacekeepers to regions where armed conflict has recently ceased or paused to … See more