The United Nations was established in 1945 as a way to reduce international tension and lower the chances of another world war. Its purpose is to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations in economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian issues.

The UN is comprised of six principal organs – the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. It also includes several specialized agencies that have broad, internationally agreed responsibilities in economic, social, educational, and cultural fields.

All 193 Member States are represented in the General Assembly, which is the Organization’s main deliberative and policymaking body. It meets at least once a year in New York City and holds general debates, at which many heads of state speak. Decisions on important questions, such as peace and security and the admission of new Members, require a two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly.

The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is composed of five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – and ten non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The Council must approve any military action that could be taken in response to a threat to peace or security, and it must submit annual and special reports to the Assembly for its consideration. The Council may not take any action that would violate the Charter of the United Nations or the principles of its founding.