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 created by 51 member states in June 26 1945 in San Francisco
2. What were the 3 main goals of the original members of the UN as a group? /3
The three main goals of the original members of the UN are maintaining international peace and
security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, and better living
standards and human rights.
3. How many member nation-states does the present day UN have? /1
Current day the UN has 192 member states.
4. List 6 of the “wide range” of world issues that that modern UN works on with its member
states./3 Six of the wide range issues that modern UN is involved in would be
· Peacekeeping
· Peace Building
· Humanitarian Assistance
· Disaster relief
· Counter Terrorism
· Gender Equality.
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 goals of the Modern UN are
· To keep peace throughout the world
· To develop friendly relations among nations
· To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease
and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms
· To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.

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
The Secretary General of the UN is Ban Ki-Moon who is from South Korea.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21202212@N02/2103862142/
7. What are four of his resoultions as General secretary of the UN? /2
Four of his resolutions are
Four of his resolutions are
● Lead by example
● Seek Excellence with humility
● Set the highest ethical standard
● Pursue Dialog and engagement.
8. What are the Secretary Generals 8 categories of priorities for action? /4
These Categories 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]
· General Assembly
· Security Council
· Economic and Social Council
· Trusteeship Council
· International Court of Justice

3. · Secretariat
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 general assembly enables all 192 member states to
speak equally to all other nations and also to discuss and establish the standards for all member
states to follow and to establish international law
11. Summarize the 8 main functions and powers of the General Assembly in your own words (look at
the bullet points). /4
● Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining
international peace and security, including disarmament;
● Discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or
situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, make recommendations on it;
● Discuss, with the same exception, and make recommendations on any questions within the
scope of the Charter or affecting the powers and functions of any organ of the United Nations
● Initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political cooperation, the
development and codification of international law, the realization of human rights and
fundamental freedoms, and international collaboration in the economic, social, humanitarian,
cultural, educational and health fields
● Make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that might impair friendly
relations among nations
● Receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other United Nations organs
● Consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish the financial assessments of
Member States
● Elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United
Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, appoint 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

4. Ever Member state gets one vote on an issue and that issue becomes resolved when two thirds
of the member states agree on one solution. Now recently the president has been given powers to
resolve an issue without a vote.
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 Russia, China, France, U.K., and the U.S.A.
/5
14. How do the non-permanent members get a position on the Security Council and how long do their
terms last? /2 The non-permanent members have two year terms and they are voted in by regional
groups and confirmed by the UN
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 UN security council is pretty much the world police. The look to maintain international peace and
security through investigation, intimidation, involvement and military action.
Economic and Social Council
http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml
16. What is this council responsible for? (4 points) /2
this council is responsible for
● promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and
social progress
● identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems
● facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation
● encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental
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

5. ● powers to make or initiate studies and reports on these issues
● It also has the power to assist the preparations and organization of major international
conferences in the economic and social and related fields
● With its broad mandate the Council's purview extends to over 70 per cent of 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 seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands).
19. What is its main functions? /2
The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by
States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations
organs and specialized agencies.
20. How many judges does it have and how long do they serve for? /2
The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United
Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
Secretariat
21. Who is the head of the Secretariat? What is the main function of the Secretariat? /2
Ban Ki-Moon (secretary general) is in charge of the Secretariat who carries out most of the same
functions as the United nations itself but do not take any orders from any nation or flag other than from
the UN.
22. List 4 jobs that members of the Secretariat may perform as duties for the UN? /2
● administering peacekeeping operations
● mediating international disputes
● surveying economic and social trends
● problems to preparing studies on human rights and sustainable development.
23. How many staff did the Secretariat have around the world as of 2010? /1
44 000
24. What is the gist of the oath that members of the Secretariat take? /1
To be awesome and not take orders from any nation, flag, country or anyone other than from the UN
itself.

6. 25. Where is the UN’s headquarters? Where are 7 other places in which the UN maintains a significant
presence? /4
The headquarters is in New York and has significant presence in Addis Ababa, Bangkok,
Beirut, Geneva, Nairobi, Santiago and Vienna