How the UN Security Council is composed and votes
Background
The Security Council has five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.
It also has ten non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
Procedural matters need nine affirmative votes.
All other matters need nine votes including the concurring votes of the permanent members, which is the basis of the veto.
A permanent member may abstain, and the resolution is still adopted if it gets nine favourable votes.
Permanent members:
5
Non-permanent members:
10
Term of non-permanent members:
two years
Votes needed:
nine
Why it matters for exams: Council composition and the veto rule are staple questions on world institutions.
Kerala PSCUPSC