[Nethra K Putti]

MAJOR UN ORGANS ARE :

- General Assembly
- Security Council
- Economic & Social Council
- Trusteeship Council
- International Court of Justice
- Secretariat.

Explanation of the above :
1. General Assembly :

- Proceedings : it elects its president annually & meets at least once a year on teh initiative of either the UN Secretary-General or the majority of the member states. the proceedings divided into 4 divisions:

1. formulation of international public opinion
2. pacific settlement of international disputes
3. discussion & clarification of international law & basic human rights
4. transfer of issue from the Security Council to the General Assembly.

- Composition : it consists of all members of United Nations, each state having more than 5 representatives & a single vote.

• in this body there is no difference at all between a big power & small power;
• all members have the right to equal oppertunity to participate in discussions, & equal voting power.
• decisions on substansive matter are taken by simple majority of 2/3 rd votes, depending upon the importance of the question.
• there is no veto, which is a special privilage of the permanent members of the Security Council in that Council only.

- Functions : the assembly is an advisory & recommendatory body; its resolutions have no binding effect. its jurisdiction covers a very wide range of matters -- 'any question / any matter within the scope of the present charter or relating to the powers & functions of any organ provided for in the present charter'.

• the assembly can consider the general principles of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace & security as well as specific questions relating to the maintenance of peace & security.
• it can deal with a wide range of matters in the field of economic, social & cultural cooperation.
• it can also look into the adminstration of territories which are not self-governed, with human rights & self-determination.
• it has authority in respect of the composition of the United Nations bodies.
• it admits new members to the United Nations on recommendation of the security council .
• it electes the non-permanent members of security council.
• it joins the security council in electing judges to the International Court of Justice.

2. Security Council :

- Composition : Article 23 & 32 relate to the Security Council. the charter provided that the security council would consist of 11 members of United Nations -- 5 permanent members. these 5 permanent members are : China, France, the Soviet Union, Britain & United States & 6 non-permanent members, elected by the general assembly for 2-years terms, wihtout eligibility for immediate re-election.

- by an amendment of the charter, which became effective on & from Aug 31,1965, teh number of non-permanent members was raised to 10.
- there was no communist china when the UN was born. subsequently in 1949, the entire mainland of china came under the communist government, & the previous Kuomintang government shifted to the island of Formosa (Taiwan).
- the permanent seat in the security council asigned to china was occupied by the Kuomintang government, & the communist government had no place in the United Nations. the anomalous arragements has now been changed, & the permanent seat assigned to china has occupied by the Peking government.

3. Economic & Social Council :

- Members : the council has 54 members, elected by General Assembly for 3-years terms. it meets throughout the year & holds a major session in July, during which a special meeting of ministers discusions major economic, social & humanitarian issues.

- Subsidiaries : the council's subsidiary bodies meets regularly & report back to it. the Commission on Human Rights. other bodies focus on such issues as, social development, the status of women, crime prevention, narcotic drugs & environmental protection.

4. Trusteeship Council :

- Purpose & Members : the trusteeship council was established to provide international supervision for 11 trust territories administered by 7 members states & ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the territories for self-government or independence.

- Completion of Task : by 1994 , all trust territories had aimed self-governmenta, either as seperate states or by joining neighbouring independent countries. the last to do so was teh Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands-Palau-which was administered by the United States & become the 185th Member State.

5. International Court of Justice :

- Also known as the World Court, it is the judicial organ of the UN.
- comprising 15 judges elected jointly by the general assembly & security council.
- it settles disputes between countries.
- though participation by states in a proceeding is voluntary, if a state agrees to participate, it is obligated to comply wiht court's decision.

6. Secretariat :

- the secretariat carries out the substantive & admnistrative work of the United Nations as directed by the major UN organs.
- at its head is the Secretary-General, who provides overall adminsitrative guidence. he is appointed by teh General Assembly on the recommandation of the Security Council for a 5 year term.
- its work is carried out from the UN Headquarters in New York, as well as UN offices in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi & other locations.