United Nations question?

Question

What does it mean to be each of the following...?

Member

Participant of the Security Council

Permanent member of the Security Council

Answer 1

For Members, they are to fulfill the following (Chapter 1 of the UN Charter)

- All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.

- All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.

- All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

- All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.

For Participant of the Security Council, I think you are referring to the non-permanent members. (Under Chapter 5 of the UN Charter) although any country can be a participant under Article 31 & 32, Chapter 5).

- Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected.

- Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council or any state which is not a Member of the United Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration by the Security Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute. The Security Council shall lay down such conditions as it deems just for the participation of a state which is not a Member of the United Nations.

- The General Assembly shall elect ten other Members of the United Nations to be non-permanent members of the Security Council, due regard being specially paid, in the first instance to the contribution of Members of the United Nations to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the Organization, and also to equitable geographical distribution.

- The non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected for a term of two years. In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of the membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen, two of the four additional members shall be chosen for a term of one year. A retiring member shall not be eligible for immediate re-election.

- Each member of the Security Council shall have one representative.

I have to add here, that sometimes a participant can be an expert on certain matters discussed at the Security Council, that includes NGOs and academics such as historians and so on.  Their role is actually to highlight some information or knowledge critical to the process of drafting a resolution and voting.

For Permanent Members of Security Council, it's easier. (Under Chapter 5)

The Security Council has 5 permanent members - China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States. They all have one vote each.  Any one of them  can block any proposal brought before the Council by casting a negative vote.

The Security Council has a collective mission:

Under the Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:

    * to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;

    * to investigate any dispute or situation which mightlead to international friction;

    * to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;

    * to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;

    * to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;

    * to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;

    * to take military action against an aggressor;

    * to recommend the admission of new Members;

    * to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";

    * to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

So all the Permanent Members are SUPPOSED to do this. But in reality, too little is done too late most times.

Here are some links you can check further for more information.  Good luck.

Answer 2

A member is a member nation of the U.N.

A participant member of the Security Council is a member nation that has been selected by the other members to serve on the Security Council for a particular leangth of time.

The Permement Member of the Security Council are the U.S., U.K, France, Russia (formally USSR) and Communist China.  Until the early 70's China (Taiwan) was the Chinese representative.  They aren't even a member of the U.N. now.

Permament members are never replaced and have veto powers.