CHAPTER V
THE SECURITY COUNCIL
Composition
Article 23
1. The Security Council shall consist of fifteen Members of the United Nations. The
Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America shall be permanent members
of the Security Council. The General Assembly shall elect ten other Members of the United
Nations to be non-permanent members of the Security Council, due regard being specially
paid, in the first instance to the contribution of Members of the United Nations to the
maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the
Organization, and also to equitable geographical distribution.
2. The non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected for a term of two
years. In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of the
membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen, two of the four additional
members shall be chosen for a term of one year. A retiring member shall not be eligible
for immediate re-election.
3. Each member of the Security Council shall have one representative.
Functions and Powers
Article 24
1. In order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its Members
confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international
peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility
the Security Council acts on their behalf.
2. In discharging these duties the Security Council shall act in accordance with the
Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. The specific powers granted to the Security
Council for the discharge of these duties are laid down in Chapters VI, VII, VIII, and
XII.
3. The Security Council shall submit annual and, when necessary, special reports to the
General Assembly for its consideration.
Article 25
The Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the
Security Council in accordance with the present Charter.
Article 26
In order to promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and
security with the least diversion for armaments of the world's human and economic
resources, the Security Council shall be responsible for formulating, with the assistance
of the Military Staff Committee referred to in Article 47, plans to be submitted to the
Members of the United-Nations for the establishment of a system for the regulation of
armaments.
Voting
Article 27
1. Each member of the Security Council shall have one vote.
2. Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an
affirmative vote of nine members.
3. Decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an
affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members;
provided that, in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party
to a dispute shall abstain from voting.
Procedure
Article 28
1. The Security Council shall be so organized as to be able to function continuously.
Each member of the Security Council shall for this purpose be represented at times at the
seat of the Organization.
2. The Security Council shall hold meetings at which each of its members may, if it so
desires, be represented by a member of the government or by some other specially
designated representative.
3. The Security Council may hold meetings at such places other than the seat of the
Organization as in its judgment will best facilitate its work.
Article 29
The Security Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the
performance of its functions.
Article 30
The Security Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of
selecting its President.
Article 31
Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may
participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security
Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially
affected.
Article 32
Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council or any
state which is not a Member of the United Nations, if it is a party to a dispute under
consideration by the Security Council, shall be invited to participate, without vote, in
the discussion relating to the dispute. The Security Council shall any lay down such
conditions as it deems just for the participation of a state which is not a Member of the
United Nations.
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