ity Council has 15 members. Five nations--the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States--have permanent seats. (Russia's seat was held by the Soviet Union until its break-up in 1991.) Of the other ten, five are elected each year by the General Assembly for two-year terms; five retire each year. Each member has one vote. On all routine (procedural) matters, approval requires nine "yes" votes. On all other matters, the nine "yes" votes must include the votes of all five permanent members. Thus, each of the Big Five has a veto power. Any one of them can block even the discussion of an action that it disapproves. A party to a dispute, however, must abstain from voting. Any state, even if it is not a member of the United Nations, may bring a dispute to which it is a party to the notice of the Security Council. If the Council finds there is a real threat to peace, or an actual act of aggression, it may call upon the members of the United Nations to cut communications with the countries concerned or break off trade relations (economic sanctions). If these methods prove inadequate, the charter states that the Council may take military action against the offending nation by air, sea, and land forces of the United Nations. Every member of the United Nations is pledged by Article 43 to supply the Council with armed forces on its call. These forces are to be directed by a Military Staff Committee, consisting of the chiefs of staff (or their representatives) of the five permanent members. ...
