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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between UN Security Council and UN General Assembly?

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The United Nations (UN) has two main bodies: the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. They differ in their composition, functions, and decision-making powers.

UN Security Council:

  • The Security Council has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
  • It has 15 members, with five permanent members (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and United States) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
  • Decisions taken by the Security Council are legally binding, as stated in Article 25 of the UN Charter.
  • All member states are obligated under the UN Charter to carry out the Security Council's decisions.

UN General Assembly:

  • The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the UN.
  • It is composed of representatives from all member states, with each state having one vote.
  • The General Assembly discusses various topics related to international peace and security, but its decisions are not legally binding.

In summary, the main differences between the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly are:

  1. The Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, while the General Assembly is the main deliberative organ discussing various topics related to international peace and security.
  2. The Security Council has 15 members, including 5 permanent members, while the General Assembly has representatives from all member states.
  3. Decisions taken by the Security Council are legally binding, whereas those taken by the General Assembly are not.
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  • What is the Difference Between UN Security Council and UN General Assembly?
  • Comparative Table: UN Security Council vs UN General Assembly

    • Comparative Table: UN Security Council vs UN General Assembly

    Here is a table comparing the differences between the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly:

    Feature UN Security Council UN General Assembly
    Composition 15 members, each with one vote Representatives from all 192 member states, each with one vote
    Main Function Primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security Main deliberative organ of the UN, discussing and debating various issues
    Decision-making Decisions are formal expressions of the will of the Council, and Member States are obligated to comply Recommendations are passed with a two-thirds majority, but they are not binding on Member States
    Enforcement Can impose economic sanctions or order an arms embargo, and in rare cases, authorize the use of military force to carry out its decisions Cannot impose sanctions or authorize military force, but can make recommendations on various matters
    leaders Five permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, US) and 10 non-permanent members elected for 2-year terms All Member States represented, with no permanent members

    Both the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly are important organs of the United Nations, working towards the same aim of preventing wars and promoting international cooperation. However, they have distinct roles, functions, and decision-making processes.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.