THE UNITED NATIONS SOME BASICS

SOME ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS PURPOSEGENERAL ASSEMBLY INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ) SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARIATDILEMMAS

PURPOSE OF THE U.N. 1) REAFFIRM FAITH IN HUMAN RIGHTS 2) CREATE CONDITIONS FOR INT ’ L LAW TO BE RESPECTED 3) PROMOTE BETTER STANDARDS OF LIFE 4) PRACTICE TOLERANCE 5) MAINTAIN INT ’ L PEACE & SECURITY 6) USE FORCE AS A LAST RESORT 7) PROMOTE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT FOR ALL

GENERAL ASSEMBLY  CONSIDER & MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON BASIC PRINCIPLES  DISCUSS ANY ISSUE RELATING TO THE U.N. CHARTER (ex: SECURITY)  APPROVE THE BUDGET  APPROVE NON-PERMANENT MEMBERS OF MAIN ORGANS & JUDGES OF ICJ

GENERAL ASSEMBLY CON ’ T  EVERYONE ’ S A MEMBER!!!!!!  CURRENTLY 192 MEMBERS (INCLUDING EAST TIMOR & SWITZERLAND; MONTENEGRO)  CAN ’ T FORCE DECISIONS ON A MEMBER; RATHER DECISIONS SERVE AS A MEASURE OF PUBLIC OPINION

DILEMMAS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY  INCREASE AUTHORITY?  MORE STRUCTURED AGENDA?  SHOULD PALAU HAVE SAME SAY AS THE UNITED STATES? –If not, how should the structure work?

SECURITY COUNCIL  PROBABLY THE MOST VISIBLE AND CONTROVERSIAL DUE TO SUBJECT MATTER  15 MEMBERS; 5 PERMANENT & 10 ROTATING –UNITED STATES; RUSSIA; FRANCE; GREAT BRITAIN & CHINA –5 POWERS FROM END OF WWII

MORE SECURITY COUNCIL  DECISIONS ARE BY MAJORITY UNLESS VETO IS CAST  5 PERMANENT MEMBERS HAVE VETO  DEALS WITH ISSUES OF PEACE AND SECURITY  ONLY GROUP ABLE TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF FORCE WITH U.N. LABEL

DILEMMAS: SECURITY COUNCIL + SHOULD THERE BE PERMANENT MEMBERS? + SHOULD THEY HAVE A FIXED BUDGET? + SHOULD THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP BE EXPANDED? + DOES THERE NEED TO BE A GREATER EMPHASIS ON ENFORCEMENT?

INT ’ L COURT OF JUSTICE  THIS IS THE PRIMARY INTERNATIONAL COURT  A.K.A. “ THE WORLD COURT ”  15 JUSTICES, ELECTED BY G.A.  STATE NEED NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS (US doesn’t)  IF PARTICIPATE; MUST ABIDE BY DECISION (why don’t we?)

SECRETARIAT  “CHIEF EXECUTIVE” OF U.N.  SERVE AS FIGURE HEAD & VISIONARY  HAS STAFF OF 8,900 PEOPLE FROM 170 COUNTRIES

MORE SECRETARIAT…  FUNDING THE U.N. IS DONE THROUGH “ ASSESSMENTS ”  BASED ON ABILITY TO PAY (PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM)  15 COUNTRIES FUND APPROX. 85% OF THE CURRENT BUDGET –Is this a good system of funding?

WHY SAVE THE U.N.? 1) IT STILL PROVIDES A WAY FOR EVERY STATE IN THE WORLD TO INTERACT 2) HELPS MAINTAIN THE ANARCHICAL INT ’ L LAW SYSTEM 3) ABLE TO BE A MEDIUM FOR U.S. LEADERSHIP (IF WE ARE WILLING) 4) COMMON GOALS: PEACE; NO POVERTY; SPREAD DEMOCRACY; HUMAN RIGHTS; “ GOOD ” GOVERNANCE