U.N Security Council Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

U.N Security Council Reform - Essay Example 5). The resolutions passed by the Council call upon each member to sign them, however, not everyone has become parties to these instruments (United States 14). The usefulness of the Council has been continually questioned especially at the current world situation. The Council was founded in 1945 (Teixeira 13). It is one of the principal organs of the United Nations that includes the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat (United Nations 2004 6). Permanent membership assures the continuity of procedures and affairs while the non-permanent members get familiarize with the issues (Teixeira 13). The Council has 15 members with 5 of them having permanent status (World Almanac 2006 860), which are: the United States of America, United Kingdom, Russian Federation, France, and China (Philip’s 759; United Nations 2004 8). With the disintegration of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) which was a member of the United Nations and the Security Council since October 1945, its membership was continued by the Russian Federation (with 11 countries) by Pres. Boris Yeltsin through a letter on December 24, 1991 addressed to the Secretary-General (United Nations 1998 9). The members having temporary status are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years (World Almanac 2006 860; United Nations 2004 8). Of the ten non-permanent members, five of them expires every 31st of December. For instance, the membership of Angola, Chile, Germany, Pakistan and Spain expired on December 31, 2004; Algeria, Benin, Brazil, Philippines, and Romania expired on December 31, 2005 (World Almanac 2005 854); and Argentina, Denmark, Greece, Japan and Tanzania expired on December 31, 2006 (World Almanac 2006 860). The UN Charter charged it with the prime duty of keeping international peace and security (World Almanac 2006 860; United Nations 2004 8) and may