The United Nations ICSE Class 8: Aims, Principal Organs and Agencies

What The United Nations is about

Weightage: CISCE publishes no question paper, marking scheme or chapter weightage for Class VIII History and Civics: your school sets and marks the exam. The United Nations sits in the Civics: United Nations section of the CISCE Curriculum for Upper Primary Classes (VI-VIII).Source: CISCE Curriculum for Upper Primary Classes (VI-VIII), RDCD 2016

Key concepts

Aims (purposes) of the United Nations

Article 1 of the UN Charter lays down its purposes:
1. To maintain international peace and security, by taking collective measures to prevent and remove threats to peace and by settling disputes by peaceful means.
2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.
3. To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character, and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
4. To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in attaining these common ends.

Worked example

(3 marks) State three aims of the United Nations.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. To maintain international peace and security - 1 mark.
2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on equal rights and self-determination - 1 mark.
3. To achieve international cooperation in economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and promote human rights - 1 mark.

Answer: The UN aims (1) to maintain international peace and security; (2) to develop friendly relations among nations based on equal rights and self-determination of peoples; and (3) to achieve international cooperation in solving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and to promote human rights for all.

Principles of the United Nations

Article 2 of the Charter states the principles on which the UN and its members act:
1. Sovereign equality: all member states are equal.
2. Members must fulfil in good faith the obligations they have accepted under the Charter.
3. Members must settle their international disputes by peaceful means.
4. Members must not use, or threaten to use, force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
5. Members must give the UN every assistance in any action it takes under the Charter and must not help a state against which the UN is taking action.
6. The UN shall ensure that non-member states also act according to these principles as far as necessary for peace.
7. The UN shall not intervene in matters that are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state (except for enforcement measures to maintain peace).

Worked example

(2 marks) State two principles of the United Nations.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Sovereign equality of all members - 1 mark.
2. Settlement of disputes by peaceful means / no use or threat of force / non-interference in domestic matters - 1 mark.

Answer: (1) All member states are sovereign and equal. (2) Members must settle their disputes by peaceful means and must not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or independence of any state.

The principal organs (in brief)

The UN has six principal organs:
1. General Assembly: the main deliberative body, where all members are represented (studied in detail below).
2. Security Council: primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security (in detail below).
3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): 54 members elected by the General Assembly; coordinates the UN's economic, social and humanitarian work and the specialised agencies.
4. Trusteeship Council: set up to supervise territories placed under UN trusteeship and help them towards self-government. With the independence of Palau, the last trust territory, it suspended its operations in 1994.
5. International Court of Justice: the principal judicial organ, at The Hague (in detail below).
6. Secretariat: carries out the day-to-day work of the UN; headed by the Secretary-General, the chief administrative officer, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.
Five of the six organs are based at UN Headquarters in New York; the International Court of Justice is at The Hague in the Netherlands.

Worked example

(3 marks) Name the six principal organs of the United Nations.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. General Assembly and Security Council - 1 mark.
2. Economic and Social Council and Trusteeship Council - 1 mark.
3. International Court of Justice and Secretariat - 1 mark.

Answer: The six principal organs are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat.

The General Assembly: composition and functions

Composition:

• All member states of the UN are members (193 at present).
• Each member may send up to five representatives but has only one vote (Article 18).
• Decisions on important questions, such as peace and security recommendations, admission of new members, election of non-permanent members of the Security Council and budget matters, need a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. Other questions need a simple majority.
• It meets in a regular session every year, beginning in September, and can hold special sessions. It elects a President for each session.

Functions:
1. Deliberative: discusses any question within the scope of the Charter and makes recommendations to members or to the Security Council. It is often called the 'world parliament'.
2. Financial: considers and approves the UN budget and decides how much each member contributes (Article 17).
3. Electoral: elects the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of ECOSOC; together with the Security Council, elects the judges of the International Court of Justice.
4. Admission and appointment: on the recommendation of the Security Council, admits new members and appoints the Secretary-General.
5. Supervisory: receives and considers reports from the Security Council and other organs.
6. Peace: can make recommendations on peace and security when the Security Council is unable to act.
7. Amendment: proposals to amend the Charter need a two-thirds vote of the Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of members, including all permanent members of the Security Council.

Worked example

(4 marks) Describe the composition of the General Assembly and state three of its functions.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. All member states, each with one vote; important decisions by two-thirds majority - 1 mark.
2. Discusses any question within the Charter and makes recommendations - 1 mark.
3. Approves the budget and decides members' contributions - 1 mark.
4. Elects non-permanent members of the Security Council and ECOSOC members; with the SC elects ICJ judges / admits members - 1 mark.

Answer: All UN members belong to the General Assembly, each having one vote; important questions need a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. It discusses any matter within the Charter and makes recommendations; it approves the UN budget and fixes members' contributions; and it elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council and, with the Council, the judges of the International Court of Justice.

The Security Council: composition and functions

Composition (Article 23):

• 15 members.
• Five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• Ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms; five are elected each year, and a retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election. Seats are distributed among the world's regions. India has served as a non-permanent member several times.
• The presidency of the Council rotates every month.

Voting (Article 27):

• Procedural matters: affirmative vote of any nine members.
• All other (substantive) matters: nine votes, including the concurring votes of all five permanent members. A negative vote by any permanent member blocks the decision: this is called the veto. By long practice, abstention by a permanent member is not treated as a veto.

Functions:
1. Primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security (Article 24); members agree to carry out its decisions (Article 25).
2. Investigates any dispute or situation that might lead to international friction and recommends methods of settlement.
3. Determines whether there is a threat to peace or an act of aggression and decides what action to take.
4. Can call on members to apply economic sanctions or cut off relations (Article 41), and can take military action (Article 42).
5. Sets up UN peacekeeping operations.
6. Recommends the admission of new members and the appointment of the Secretary-General; together with the General Assembly, elects the judges of the ICJ.

Worked example

(3 marks) What is the veto power? Which countries have it?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Substantive decisions of the Security Council need the concurring votes of all five permanent members - 1 mark.
2. A negative vote by any one of them blocks the decision - 1 mark.
3. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - 1 mark.

Answer: The veto is the power of each permanent member of the Security Council to block a decision on any substantive matter by casting a negative vote, since such decisions require the concurring votes of all five permanent members. The five are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The International Court of Justice; UNESCO, UNICEF and WHO

International Court of Justice (ICJ):

• Seat: the Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands.
• Composition: 15 judges, elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council voting separately (a candidate needs an absolute majority in both). No two judges may be of the same nationality. They serve nine-year terms and may be re-elected; one-third of the Court is elected every three years. The Court elects its President and Vice-President for three years.
• Functions: (1) Contentious cases: settles legal disputes submitted to it by states (only states can be parties), according to international law; (2) Advisory opinions: gives opinions on legal questions referred by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other authorised UN organs and agencies. Its judgments are final and binding on the parties, without appeal; if a party does not comply, the other may approach the Security Council.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation; Paris) - functions:

• Promotes education for all and literacy.
• Encourages cooperation in science and the free flow of ideas.
• Protects cultural and natural heritage through the World Heritage list.
• Builds peace through education, science, culture and communication.

UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund; New York) - functions:

• Works for the health and nutrition of children and mothers, including immunisation.
• Supports clean water, sanitation and education, especially for girls.
• Protects children from violence, exploitation and abuse.
• Provides emergency relief to children in disasters and conflicts.

WHO (World Health Organisation; Geneva) - functions:

• Directs and coordinates international health work.
• Helps countries fight diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and polio; led the campaign that eradicated smallpox (declared in 1980).
• Sets international health standards and guidelines, and promotes research.
• Responds to health emergencies and epidemics and shares health information.

Worked example

(4 marks) Describe the composition and two functions of the International Court of Justice.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and Security Council voting separately; no two of the same nationality - 1 mark.
2. Nine-year terms; one-third elected every three years; seat at The Hague - 1 mark.
3. Function: decides legal disputes between states - 1 mark.
4. Function: gives advisory opinions to the GA, SC and authorised bodies - 1 mark.

Answer: The ICJ, at The Hague, has 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council voting separately; no two may be from the same country, and they serve nine-year terms, with one-third elected every three years. It decides legal disputes submitted by states according to international law, and gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred by the General Assembly, the Security Council and other authorised bodies.

The United Nations in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• The United Nations: Aims, Organs, ICJ and Agencies (UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO)

The United Nations: key facts

Founding

Charter signed San Francisco 26 June 1945; in force 24 October 1945 (UN Day); 51 founding members including India

193 members at present; HQ New York.

General Assembly

All members, one vote each; important questions: two-thirds of members present and voting

Annual session from September.

Security Council

Members	15
Permanent	5 (China, France, Russia, UK, USA)
Non-permanent	10 (2-year terms)
Substantive decisions	9 votes including all 5 permanent members

Veto.

ICJ

15 judges; 9-year terms; elected by GA and SC separately; The Hague

One-third elected every three years.

Agencies

UNESCO: Paris; UNICEF: New York; WHO: Geneva

Functions only.

How the school exam asks The United Nations

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember The United Nations

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• Six organs: G-S-E-T-I-S

  'Good Students Eat Toast In School': General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC, Trusteeship Council, ICJ, Secretariat.

  Use it when: Naming the principal organs.

• Permanent five: C-F-R-U-U

  China, France, Russia, UK, USA - 'Can France Run Under Umbrellas?'

  Use it when: Permanent members.

• 15-15-9

  Security Council: 15 members; ICJ: 15 judges with 9-year terms; SC decisions need 9 votes.

  Use it when: Numbers.

The United Nations: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Case-study practice (Section B style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In a school exam set on the board pattern this is a 7-mark question split into 3 + 2 + 2 marks.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Where students lose marks in The United Nations

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Mixing up aims and principles

  Both are lists in the Charter.

  ✓Do this: Aims (Article 1) = goals such as peace and cooperation. Principles (Article 2) = rules such as sovereign equality and peaceful settlement.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

• ✗Mistake: Writing that the General Assembly elects all ICJ judges alone

  Forgetting the Security Council's role.

  ✓Do this: ICJ judges are elected by the General Assembly and Security Council voting separately.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Treating abstention by a permanent member as a veto

  Misreading 'concurring votes'.

  ✓Do this: By established practice, only a negative vote by a permanent member is a veto.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Writing long histories of UNESCO, UNICEF and WHO

  Students add founding stories.

  ✓Do this: The curriculum asks for functions only: give the full name and two or three functions.

  Usually costs: Time.

Practice questions on The United Nations

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level

   Which of the following is NOT a permanent member of the Security Council?
   (a) France
   (b) China
   (c) Germany
   (d) Russia

   Hint

   Five: China, France, Russia, UK, USA.

   Answer

   (c) Germany.

2. Q2 · 1 mark · MCQHarder exam level

   The term of a judge of the International Court of Justice is:
   (a) 3 years
   (b) 5 years
   (c) 6 years
   (d) 9 years

   Hint

   One-third every three years.

   Answer

   (d) 9 years.

3. Q3 · 2 marks · Very short answerExam level

   Where are the headquarters of UNESCO and WHO?

   Hint

   Two European cities.

   Answer

   UNESCO: Paris; WHO: Geneva.

4. Q4 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder exam level

   Who appoints the Secretary-General of the UN?

   Hint

   Two organs involved.

   Answer

   The General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council.

5. Q5 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level

   Why did the Trusteeship Council suspend its work in 1994?

   Hint

   Palau.

   Answer

   Because all trust territories had become self-governing or independent; Palau, the last one, became independent in 1994, so the Council had no territories left to supervise.

6. Q6 · 2 marks · Very short answerExam level

   State two functions of UNESCO.

   Hint

   Education and heritage.

   Answer

   It promotes education for all and literacy, and protects cultural and natural heritage through the World Heritage list (also encourages scientific cooperation).

7. Q7 · 2 marks · Very short answerExam level

   State two functions of UNICEF.

   Hint

   Children's welfare.

   Answer

   It works for children's health and nutrition, including immunisation, and provides emergency relief and protection to children in disasters and conflicts.

8. Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

   Mention three functions of the World Health Organisation.

   Hint

   Diseases, standards, emergencies.

   Answer

   It directs and coordinates international health work; helps countries fight diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and polio (it led the eradication of smallpox); and sets international health standards and responds to epidemics and health emergencies.

9. Q9 · 2 marks · Very short answerHOTS / competency

   Why are some questions in the General Assembly decided by a two-thirds majority?

   Hint

   Importance and wide support.

   Answer

   Important questions such as admitting new members, electing Security Council members and budget matters affect all members, so a two-thirds majority ensures that decisions have wide support and not just a narrow majority.

10. Q10 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

    How is the principle of non-interference in domestic matters sometimes in tension with the aim of protecting human rights?

    Hint

    Article 2 and Article 1.

    Answer

    The Charter promises not to interfere in matters essentially within a state's domestic jurisdiction, but it also aims to promote human rights for all. When a government seriously violates its own people's rights, the UN must balance respect for that state's sovereignty against the duty to protect people, and members often disagree on what action is justified.

11. Q11 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level

    Name the city where the UN Charter was signed and give the date.

    Hint

    USA, 1945.

    Answer

    San Francisco, 26 June 1945.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.When did the UN Charter come into force?Show answer

   24 October 1945.

2. 2.How many members does the UN have at present?Show answer

   193.

3. 3.How many members does the Security Council have?Show answer

   15 (5 permanent, 10 non-permanent).

4. 4.Where is the International Court of Justice?Show answer

   The Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands.

5. 5.How many judges does the ICJ have?Show answer

   15.

6. 6.Which UN agency works mainly for children?Show answer

   UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund).

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐UN: Charter signed San Francisco 26 June 1945; in force 24 October 1945 (UN Day); 51 founders including India; 193 members; HQ New York.
• ☐Aims: peace and security; friendly relations, equal rights, self-determination; cooperation and human rights; centre for harmonising action.
• ☐Principles: sovereign equality, good faith, peaceful settlement, no use or threat of force, assist the UN, non-members to follow, no interference in domestic matters.
• ☐Organs: GA, SC, ECOSOC (54), Trusteeship Council (suspended 1994), ICJ, Secretariat (Secretary-General appointed by GA on SC recommendation).
• ☐GA: all members, one vote, two-thirds on important questions; discusses, budget, elections, admission. SC: 15 (5 permanent with veto, 10 for two years); 9 votes; sanctions, military action, peacekeeping.
• ☐ICJ: 15 judges, nine-year terms, elected by GA and SC; disputes between states and advisory opinions. UNESCO (Paris): education, science, culture, heritage. UNICEF (New York): children's health, nutrition, protection. WHO (Geneva): disease control, standards, emergencies.

The United Nations: frequently asked questions