United Nations and U.N. Charter Flashcards

United Nations Overview

• Established to prevent major conflicts and to promote global peace and security.
• Addresses collective issues such as climate change and humanitarian crises.

UN Charter Preamble

• Reflects the organization's idealism and a higher moral code.
• Supersedes national laws in certain circumstances, as noted during Nuremberg Trials.

UN Charter Chapter I (Purposes and Principles)

• Outlines the fundamental purposes and principles of the UN.
• Emphasizes sovereign equality of all member states (Article 2,1).
• Prohibits the use of force (Article 2,4) with an exception for self-defense in armed attacks (Article 51).
• Limits UN intervention in domestic affairs unless extreme circumstances arise (Article 2,7).

UN Charter Chapter II (Membership)

• Allows the expulsion of members who violate Charter principles.
• Expulsion requires a recommendation from the Security Council to the General Assembly (Article 6).

UN Charter Chapter IV (The General Assembly)

• Article 10 allows the General Assembly to make recommendations to the Security Council.
• Article 11 provides authority to discuss general principles and make recommendations.
• Article 12 addresses the General Assembly's functions related to the Security Council.

UN Charter Chapter V (The Security Council)

• Article 24 designates the Security Council with primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security.
• Article 25 mandates UN members to comply with Security Council decisions.

General Assembly

• Passes recommendations through resolutions that are not binding on member states.

Security Council

• Issues binding resolutions that must be upheld by member states.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

• Acts as the principal judicial body of the UN.
• Resolutions from the ICJ are difficult to enforce across member states.

Chapter VII (Action Regarding Threats to Peace)

• Article 39 empowers the Security Council to identify threats or acts of aggression.
• Article 41 allows for non-military sanctions, such as economic and trade restrictions.
• Article 42 enables the Security Council to order military action under extreme circumstances for peacekeeping.
• Article 43 obligates UN members to provide military support when requested.

Chapter XIV (International Court of Justice)

• Article 92 identifies the ICJ as the main judicial entity of the UN.
• Article 93 requires compliance with ICJ decisions from member states involved in cases.
• Article 96 allows the ICJ to provide legal advice to the Security Council and General Assembly upon request.