Which UN organ has primary responsibility for international peace and security?
A Security Council
B General Assembly
C Economic and Social Council
D Secretariat
Answer: Security Council. Article 24 of the UN Charter assigns the Security Council primary responsibility for peace and security.
How many members are on the Security Council?
A 10
B 15
C 12
D 20
Answer: 15. The Council has 15 members: five permanent and ten elected members.
How many permanent members does the Security Council have?
A Four
B Six
C Five
D Ten
Answer: Five. The Security Council has five permanent members.
Which country is a permanent member of the Security Council?
A Germany
B Japan
C India
D China
Answer: China. China is one of the five permanent Security Council members.
How long is the term of an elected non-permanent Council member?
A Two years
B One year
C Three years
D Five years
Answer: Two years. The General Assembly elects the ten non-permanent Council members for two-year terms.
Which UN organ elects the non-permanent Security Council members?
A International Court of Justice
B General Assembly
C Secretary-General
D ECOSOC
Answer: General Assembly. The General Assembly elects the Council’s ten non-permanent members.
How many non-permanent members serve on the Council?
A Five
B Eight
C Ten
D Fifteen
Answer: Ten. Ten elected seats complement the Council’s five permanent seats.
Which group of countries holds permanent seats?
A Brazil, China, India, Japan, and Germany
B France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Canada
C Argentina, Brazil, India, South Africa, and Japan
D China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States
Answer: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The five permanent members are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US.
What is the veto power of a permanent member?
A A negative vote can block a substantive draft resolution
B It can cancel a General Assembly session
C It allows a country to leave the UN
D It automatically approves all sanctions
Answer: A negative vote can block a substantive draft resolution. A negative vote by any one of the five permanent members can block a substantive Council resolution.
Does a permanent member have a veto on procedural questions?
A Yes, on every question
B No
C Only the Secretary-General can veto
D Only elected members can veto
Answer: No. The veto does not apply to procedural decisions; Article 27 sets a separate voting rule for them.
How many affirmative votes are required for a Security Council decision under Article 27?
A Five
B Ten
C Nine
D Twelve
Answer: Nine. Article 27 requires nine affirmative votes for Council decisions, with the additional rule for substantive matters.
What special condition applies to a substantive Council decision?
A All 15 members must vote in favour
B The General Assembly must approve it first
C It needs a unanimous vote from elected members only
D It must receive nine affirmative votes without a negative vote from a permanent member
Answer: It must receive nine affirmative votes without a negative vote from a permanent member. A substantive decision needs nine affirmative votes and no veto by a permanent member.
Which UN Charter chapter deals with peaceful settlement of disputes?
A Chapter VI
B Chapter II
C Chapter IV
D Chapter X
Answer: Chapter VI. Chapter VI covers the pacific settlement of disputes.
Which UN Charter chapter covers action regarding threats to peace and aggression?
A Chapter III
B Chapter VII
C Chapter V
D Chapter IX
Answer: Chapter VII. Chapter VII sets out Council action concerning threats to peace, breaches of peace, and aggression.
What do UN members undertake to do under Article 25?
A Follow every General Assembly speech as law
B Submit national budgets to ECOSOC
C Accept and carry out Security Council decisions
D Transfer all foreign policy to the Council
Answer: Accept and carry out Security Council decisions. Article 25 says UN members agree to accept and carry out Security Council decisions.
Which Charter article describes the Security Council’s primary responsibility?
A Article 2
B Article 10
C Article 51
D Article 24
Answer: Article 24. Article 24 places primary responsibility for international peace and security on the Council.
What is one method the Security Council may use to address a dispute?
A Recommend procedures or methods of adjustment
B Set a country’s school curriculum
C Issue private bank loans
D Elect national legislators
Answer: Recommend procedures or methods of adjustment. The Council can recommend appropriate procedures or methods for resolving disputes peacefully.
Which type of non-military measure may the Council call on members to apply?
A A General Assembly election
B Economic sanctions
C A global currency change
D An international census
Answer: Economic sanctions. Under Article 41, the Council may call for measures not involving armed force, including economic sanctions.
Who recommends a candidate for UN Secretary-General appointment?
A World Bank
B International Court of Justice
C Security Council
D UNESCO
Answer: Security Council. The Council recommends a candidate; the General Assembly then appoints the Secretary-General.
Which organ elects ICJ judges together with the General Assembly?
A ECOSOC
B Secretariat
C Human Rights Council
D Security Council
Answer: Security Council. The General Assembly and Security Council elect the ICJ judges independently but concurrently.
Can the Security Council establish subsidiary organs for its work?
A Yes
B No, only the General Assembly can
C Only with approval from NATO
D Only during wartime
Answer: Yes. Article 29 lets the Council establish subsidiary organs as necessary for its functions.
How often does the Security Council presidency rotate?
A Every two years
B Monthly
C Every five years
D Once per UN session
Answer: Monthly. The Council presidency rotates monthly among its members.
How many affirmative votes are needed on a procedural Council decision?
A Five
B Six
C Nine
D Fifteen
Answer: Nine. A procedural decision requires nine affirmative votes under Article 27.
Where is the Security Council headquartered as part of the UN?
A The Hague
B Paris
C Rome
D New York City
Answer: New York City. The Council meets at UN Headquarters in New York City.
Which city is the seat of the International Court of Justice, a body whose judges the Council helps elect?
A The Hague
B New York City
C Geneva
D Brussels
Answer: The Hague. The ICJ is based in The Hague; its judges are elected by the Assembly and Council.