The United Nations

The United Nations

The United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization made up of 193 countries that aims to achieve equal rights and peace for all people through international cooperation. It holds the world’s nations accountable for their actions and works with them to solve economic, social, cultural and humanitarian crises. The UN is not a world government, but due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, it can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century, such as peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equity, governance, food production and more.

Multiple Choice

On which issues does the UN take action?

• peace and security

• health emergencies

• climate change

• all of the above

Why was the UN created?

At the end of World War II, the Allied powers had an idea for an international peace organization that would help prevent future conflict. This idea led to the creation of the UN.

The goal of the United Nations is to create a better world by eliminating the problems that have affected humanity

for centuries.

Multiple Choice

The UN was created to

• turn the US, UK, Soviet Union, and China into superpowers.

• prevent the US from entering World War II.

• prevent future international conflicts after World War II.

• give total control to the Allied powers after World War II.

Problems/Issues affecting People

When a country that is a member of the United Nations has an issue that they feel cannot be solved by their country alone, they bring this issue to the United Nations to request assistance. Issues or problems may fall into many categories.

A. Environment B. Health C. Education D. Security E. Human Rights

Multiple Choice

A disease called Tuberculosis has become a very big problem in Southeast Asia. This is a problem related to...

• Education

• Security

• Human Rights

• Health

Multiple Choice

Some groups say that in Venezuela, the government is trying to make people be quiet if they do not agree with the Venezuelan government. This would be an issue relating to...

• Security

• Human Rights

• Environment

• Education

Multiple Choice

In Afghanistan, women and girls are often not in school. This is considered a(n) ______________ issue.

• Security

• Environment

• Education

• Human Rights

Multiple Choice

A huge amount of oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. This would be described as an issue of the...

• Environment

• Education

• Human Rights

• Security

Multiple Choice

Recently, the United Kingdom (England) and France have had difficulties with terrorist threats. This would be a problem with...

• Education

• Health

• Human Rights

• Security

The UN has six main branches:

1. The General Assembly

The General Assembly discusses international issues, proposes solutions and votes on what action to take. It is made up of one representative from each UN country, who each gets one vote.

The UN has six main branches:

2. The Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council makes suggestions to the General Assembly about economic, social, health-related and environmental issues. It is responsible for carrying out some of the General Assembly’s decisions.

The UN has six main branches:

3. The Security Council

The Security Council is the UN’s most powerful branch. It is responsible for keeping “international peace and security.” It helps settle disputes between countries with sanctions, negotiations and/or peacekeeping troops, which are military personnel provided by member countries that try to enforce peace.

The UN has six main branches:

4. The International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice settles legal disputes between member countries. The court’s rulings cannot be challenged.

The UN has six main branches:

5. The Trusteeship Council

The Trusteeship Council prepares developing territories for nationhood. The Trusteeship Council only meets when the Security Council deems it necessary. It hasn’t met since 1994.

The UN has six main branches:

6. The Secretariat

The Secretariat researches, organizes and carries out UN decisions. The Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat and acts as the representative for the UN. The Secretary-General serves five-year, renewable terms.

Multiple Choice

Which branch of the UN is responsible for keeping international peace and security?

• the International Court of Justice

• 
  the Security Council

• 
  the Secretariat

• 
  the General Assembly

The UN has 5 main missions:

The first is maintaining international peace and security. The UN does this by working to prevent conflict, helping parties in conflict make peace, peacekeeping and creating the conditions to allow peace to flourish. The others are promoting sustainable development, protecting human rights, upholding international law and delivering humanitarian aid.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not one of the UN’s main missions?

• 
  maintaining international peace

• delivering humanitarian aid

• 
  giving power to European nations

• 
  promoting sustainable development

The Big Five

The Security Council is the most powerful branch of the UN and is made up of 15 members. The Big Five (the US, the UK, China, Russia and France) are permanent members. The remaining UN countries rotate to fill the other 10 Security Council seats. They serve two-year terms determined by geographical location.

The Big Five

Some people criticize the structure of the Security Council, arguing that the Big Five countries have more power than other member countries because they always take part in setting the Security Council’s agenda, and they are the only members on the Security Council with veto power. Veto power means that if one of the Big Five members objects to a Security Council proposal, the proposal cannot move forward. Others think that the Big Five steer the UN toward actions that benefit their specific interests and do not accurately reflect the world’s diverse politics and beliefs.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are criticisms of the Big Five?

• 
  They have more power than other member countries because it is always a part of the Security Council.

• They are the only members on the Security Council with veto power.

• 
  They steer the UN toward actions that benefit their specific interests

• 
  All of the above

Let's Review!

I hope you have been paying attention!

Multiple Choice

The United Nations was created after what war?

• World War I

• World War II

• The Cold War

• The Vietnam War

Multiple Choice

The United Nations was created to ________.

• 
  allow countries to meet and talk about world issues

• allow countries to fight each other on a small scale

• 
  act as an international government

• promote nationalism

Multiple Choice

The United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China and France are known as the ________ countries.

• Super Five

• Founding Five

• Powerful Five

• Big Five

Multiple Choice

What is the main complaint some have about the Big Five countries?

• They have too much power.

• They have too little power.

• They don’t get to vote in UN decisions.

• They left the UN to make their own organization.

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