1. UNITED NATIONS – Background Information – HOW DOES THE UN WORK?
Instructions: Use the links provided to answer the questions which follow. Type your answers directly
into the space after the questions. Answer all parts of the question in your own words. It will be easy
to see if you have just copied and pasted information.
Due – Tuesday.
Link for the following questions
UN AT A GLANCE
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/index.shtml
1. When was the UN created and by how many member states? /1
The UN was founded in 1945. 51 member states were involved.
2. What were the 3 main goals of the original members of the UN as a group? /3
Three main goals were:
• Maintaining international peace and security
• Developing friendly relations among nations and encouraging social advancement
• Creating better living standards and life.
3. How many member nation-states does the present day UN have? /1
There are 192 member states involved in the UN.
4. List 6 of the “wide range” of world issues that that modern UN works on with its member
states./3
The six “wide range” of world issues are:
• Sustainable development
• Environment and refugee protection
• Disaster relief
• Counter terrorism
• Disarmament and non-proliferation
• Promoting democracy
5. Look in the bullet box on the right side of this page and list the 4 main goals of the modern UN. /
2
The four main goals of the modern UN are:
• To keep peace throughout the world
• Develop friendly relations with all nations
• To help nations work together so that lives of poor people can be made better, hunger ,
illiteracy and disease can be conquered, and that rights and freedoms are recognized.

2. The Secretary General of the UN
http://www.un.org/sg/priority.shtml
6. What is his name and where is he from? Paste a picture of him below. /3
Ban Ki Moon is from the Republic of Korea and he is the Secretary General of the UN.
7. What are four of his resolutions as General Secretary of the UN? /2
Four of the Ban Ki Moon’s resolutions are:
• Lead by example
• Seek excellence with humility
• Set the highest ethical standard
• Be sensitive to the concerns of all Member States, big or small
8. What are the Secretary Generals 8 categories of priorities for action? /4
The eight categories the Secretary General has made for his priority of action are climate
change, disarmament, combating the financial crisis and poverty, global health, peace and
security, women, responsibility to protect, UN reform and accountability.
Structure and Organization – an overview
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/structure/index.shtml
9. Looking at the blue underlined headings on this page, what are the 6 main structural parts of the
UN? /3]
The six main structural parts of the UN are:
• General Assembly
• Security Council
• Economic and Social Council
• Trusteeship Council
• International Court of Justice
• Secretariat

3. General Assembly
http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/background.shtml
10. Under the heading “forum for multilateral negotiation” explain in your own words the 2
main functions of the General Assembly. /2
The two main functions of the General Assembly are to organize a careful discussion or debates
to better policies and represent the body of the United Nations as well as creating the standard
of laws and create processes to make international laws.
11. Summarize the 8 main functions and powers of the General Assembly in your own words (look
at the bullet points). /4
The eight functions and powers of the General Assembly are:
• Figure out ways to maintain international peace and security.
• Converse concerns relating to international peace and security. If security concerns are
being talked about among the Security Council, it is the General Assembly’s job is to
make any recommendations.
• Unless the Security Council is discussing problems with the Charter of changing the
functions of any council/body of the United Nations, the General Assembly questions
the Charter and makes recommendations.
• Begin studies and create suggestions to support international political engagement, the
organization and creation of international policies, the comprehension of human rights
freedoms, and equality, and international alliance in the economic, social, humanitarian,
cultural, educational and health fields.
• Create suggestions for the peaceful settlement of any event that could possible create
hostile relationships among nations
• Take in and comprehend files from the Security Council and other bodies of the United
Nations
• Elect temporary members of the Security Council and the individuals of other United
Nations councils and important aspects and, on the suggestion of the Security Council,
elect the Secretary General.
12. The Search for Consensus – Read the final 2 paragraphs on the General Assembly Page and
explain their gist in your own words. /2
On important issues, such as peace and security, each member state can propose their vote. In
order for the vote to become law, two-thirds of the majority must be in favour. In recent years,
the United Nations have been leaving votes to members of the assembly to reach an easier
consensus. The President can look at the proposed idea, and pass it or decide if all Member
States should vote.

4. Security Council
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council#Members
13. Who are 5 permanent members and the current 10 non-permanent members of the Security
Council?
The five permanent members of the Security Council are France, the Republic of China, the
United States, United Kingdom, and the USSR. The ten non-permanent members are Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Brazil, Columbia, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, and
South Africa.
/5
14. How do the non-permanent members get a position on the Security Council and how long do
their terms last? /2
Non permanent members obtain a term that lasts two years. In order to get a position, regional
groups choose the members and the United Nations General Assembly confirms them. Five
members are replaced every year.
Functions and Powers of the Security Council
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_functions.html
15. In your own words type out the meaning of the 10 functions and powers of the UN Security
Council. /5
The ten functions and powers of the UN Security Council are:
• To uphold international peace and security depending on the ideals and functions of the
United Nations
• To look into any arguments or events which could create international hostility
• To suggest any processes of changing such arguments or the terms of resolution
• To create tactics for the founding and application of a method to standardize artillery
• To decide if a threat has been placed on the peace or act of hostility or belligerence and
to suggest what action should be set into motion
• To suggest Members to set in place economic laws and other authorizations that do not
involve the use of force to thwart or impede aggression
• To acquire military action against the opposition
• The suggest the intake of new nation-states
• The create trust in nations that could benefit peace
• The suggest the proper election of the Secretary General to the General Assembly as
well as elect judges of the Justice Court

5. Economic and Social Council
http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml
16. What is this council responsible for? (4 points) /2
The Economic and Social Council is responsible to coordinate economic and social work and
related work of the 14 UN agencies. They also promote higher standards of living, employment,
economic and social progress. They identify solutions to international economic, social and
health problems, and facilitate international cultural and educational cooperation. The
Economic and Social Council encourage universal respect for human rights and freedoms.
17. What 3 powers does the UN Economic and Social Council have and what percentage of all UN
human and financial resources can it draw upon? /4
Three powers the Economic and Social council have are to initiate studies and reports on social
issues, to assist preparations and organization of major international meetings in economic and
social related fields as well as facilitate coordinated follow ups to those conferences. The
Council’s purview extends to over 70% if the human and financial resources of the entire UN
system.
International Court of Justice
http://www.icj-cij.org/court/index.php?p1=1&PHPSESSID=d163efdf759ec64b3e338656dae4e143
18. Where is it located? /1
The international Court of Justice is located in the Peace Palace of the Netherlands.
19. What is its main functions? /2
The main functions of the International Court of Justice are as follows: to settle, depending on
the international law, legal arguments submitted to it by the Member States and to advise
suggestions on legal
20. How many judges does it have and how long do they serve for? /2
The International Court of Justice is created by 15 judges and they serve for nine years.
Secretariat
21. Who is the head of the Secretariat? What is the main function of the Secretariat? /2
The Secretary General is the head of the Secretariat. The Secretariat is an international staff
that administers programs and laws laid down to them by the organs of the UN.
22. List 4 jobs that members of the Secretariat may perform as duties for the UN? /2
Four jobs that the members of the Secretariat perform are:
• Administering peacekeeping operations and overseeing international disputes
• Survey economic and social trends and organizing studies on human rights and
maintainable development
• They inform the media about the work of the United Nations
• Organize international conferences of international concerns

6. 23. How many staff did the Secretariat have around the world as of 2010? /1
As of June 30th, 2010, the Secretariat has 44 000 staff members
24. What is the gist of the oath that members of the Secretariat take? /1
The oath the members of the Secretariat take they are not to be persuaded or listen to thoughts
from the Government or any other outside influence.
25. Where is the UN’s headquarters? Where are 7 other places in which the UN maintains a
significant presence? /4
The UN’s headquarters is stationed in New York, but presents itself in Addis Ababa, Bangkok,
Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, Santiago, and Vienna.