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Security Council

Definition

The Security Council is one of the six main organs of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members, with five permanent ones that have veto power.

Analogy

Think of the Security Council as a group of school hall monitors. They're in charge of keeping peace in the school (world), and some monitors (the permanent members) have more authority than others.

Related terms

Veto Power: This refers to the right given to permanent members of the UN Security Council to reject any resolution. It's like a hall monitor having the final say on whether or not a rule gets implemented.

Peacekeeping Operations: These are military operations undertaken with the consent of all major parties involved in a dispute, aimed at resolving conflicts and promoting peace. Imagine it as sending extra hall monitors to break up a fight between students.

United Nations Charter: This is essentially the rule book for how member states should behave internationally - kind of like a student handbook but for countries.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.