The Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and plays a crucial role in maintaining international peace and security. It is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term. The functions and powers of the Security Council are outlined in Chapter V of the United Nations Charter.

Maintenance of International Peace and Security
- One of the primary functions of the Security Council is the maintenance of international peace and security. It is responsible for identifying threats to peace, breaches of peace, or acts of aggression, and taking appropriate measures to address them.
- The Security Council has the power to impose sanctions, authorize the use of force, establish peacekeeping operations, and make recommendations to member states for peaceful settlements of disputes.
- Through its resolutions, the Security Council can also impose arms embargoes, establish no-fly zones, and create legal frameworks for international criminal tribunals.

Elective Functions
- In addition to its role in maintaining peace and security, the Security Council has elective functions. This means that it can elect the Secretary-General of the United Nations, appoint judges to the International Court of Justice, and admit new member states to the United Nations.
- The Security Council also has the power to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and the admission of new member states.

Supervisory Functions
- The Security Council has supervisory functions, which include reviewing and evaluating the work of the United Nations peacekeeping missions it establishes.
- It can request reports from member states, international organizations, or other UN bodies to assess the implementation of its resolutions.
- The Security Council can also establish subsidiary bodies, such as committees or panels of experts, to assist in its supervisory functions.

Constituent Functions
- The Security Council has constituent functions, meaning that it can make decisions regarding its own procedures, including the adoption of its rules of procedure and the election of its President.

In conclusion, the Security Council has various functions and powers, including the maintenance of international peace and security, elective functions such as appointing the Secretary-General and admitting new member states, supervisory functions such as reviewing peacekeeping missions, and constituent functions to determine its own procedures. These functions and powers allow the Security Council to effectively carry out its mandate as outlined in the United Nations Charter.