What is United Nations Security Council (UNSC)?

About United Nations Security Council (UNSC):

• It is one of the five principal organizations of the United Nations (UN).
• It has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• Under the Charter of the UN, all Member States are obligated to comply with UNSC decisions.

• The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to peace or an act of aggression. 
• It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. 
• In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorising the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.
• Powers:
  • Establishment of peacekeeping operations
  • Establishment of international sanctions
  • Authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions
• Members: It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote.
  • 5 permanent members known as P5, including the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia and the United States.
  • The P5’s privileged status has its roots in the United Nations’ founding in the aftermath of World War II.
  • They have veto powerover decisions of the UNSC.
• 10 non-permanent members: Each year the 193-member General Assembly elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term at the UNSC.
• The nonpermanent members are generally chosen to achieve equitable representation among geographic regions, with five members coming from Africa or Asia, one from Eastern Europe, two from Latin America, and two from Western Europe or other areas. 
• The Security Council has a permanent headquarters at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.