THE UNITED NATIONS

SOME BASICS

SOME ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS

PURPOSE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

(ICJ)SECURITY COUNCIL

SECRETARIAT DILEMMAS

PURPOSE OF THE U.N.1) REAFFIRM FAITH IN HUMAN RIGHTS2) CREATE CONDITIONS FOR INT’L LAW

TO BE RESPECTED3) PROMOTE BETTER STANDARDS OF

LIFE4) PRACTICE TOLERANCE5) MAINTAIN INT’L PEACE & SECURITY6) USE FORCE AS A LAST RESORT7) 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