UNSC
at Work
Powers
Chapter
Seven of the UN
Charter confers the Security Council with broad powers
to decide what measures are to be taken in situations involving
“threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, or acts of
aggression”.
Under
Article 40 of the UN Charter, the UNSC is empowered to take initial
steps to keep the situation from escalating.
Under
Article 41, the UNSC may decide what measures, not involving the
use of armed force, are to be employed to give effect to its decisions.
The measures may include complete or partial interruption of economic
relations, transportation, communication and the severance of
diplomatic relations.
Should
the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article
41 have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air,
sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore
international peace and security under Article 42.
Security
Council decisions taken under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter
are binding on all members of the United Nations.
Voting
procedures
The
UNSC has five permanent members. A permanent member has a special
power that the ten non-permanent members do not have. The special
power is called “veto”. Each permanent member can
use its veto power to block the UNSC from considering any substantive
matter (i.e. a resolution calling for UNSC action on Burma)
Only
a current UNSC
member can place a resolution before the UNSC. The
consideration of a resolution calling for action under Articles
40, 41 or 42 is a substantive matter that would require at least
nine affirmative votes and no veto. An abstention is not considered
an affirmative or negative vote. An abstention by a permanent
member is not considered a veto.
Decisions
on procedural matters (i.e. placing Burma on the UNSC agenda)
require at least nine affirmative votes. Veto powers cannot be
exercised with regard to procedural matters.
Previous
efforts by the US to adopt a resolution on Burma at the UNSC have
been hindered because Russia and China indicated that they would
use their veto power to block the resolution.
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RELEVANT
UN CHARTER ARTICLES |
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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."
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Article 39:
"The Security Council shall determine the existence of
any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression
and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures shall
be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42, to maintain or
restore international peace and security."
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Article 40:
"In order to prevent an aggravation of the situation,
the Security Council may, before making the recommendations or
deciding upon the measures provided for in Article 39, call upon
the parties concerned to comply with such provisional measures
as it deems necessary or desirable. Such provisional measures
shall be without prejudice to the rights, claims, or position
of the parties concerned. The Security Council shall duly take
account of failure to comply with such provisional measures."
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Article 41:
"The Security Council may decide what measures not involving
the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its
decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the United Nations
to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial
interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal,
telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the
severance of diplomatic relations."
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Article 42:
"Should the Security Council consider that measures provided
for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate,
it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be
necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security.
Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations
by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations."
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