Morning Star Textbook Solutions: United Nations (Principal Organs – Composition and Functions) | History and Civics Class 10 ICSE PDF Download

Very Short Questions

Q1: When was the United Nations formed? On which date the ‘UN Day’ is celebrated?
Ans: The United Nations was formed on 24th October 1945, and ‘UN Day’ is celebrated on 24th October.

Q2: Which Articles of the UN Charter deal with the power and functions of the General Assembly?
Ans: The powers and functions of the General Assembly are outlined in Articles 10-17 of the UN Charter.

Q3: Which organ of the United Nations approves the budget?
Ans: The General Assembly approves the budget of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, as well as determines the financial contributions of member states.

Q4: Which organ is treated as the executive of the United Nations Organisation?
Ans: The Security Council is considered the executive of the United Nations Organisation.

Q5: Where does the Security Council have its headquarters?
Ans: The headquarters of the Security Council is located in New York, USA.

Q6: When does the session of the Security Council take place?
Ans: The Security Council holds its sessions once a month but may also meet more frequently as needed.

Q7: Which is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations?
Ans: The principal judicial organ of the United Nations is the International Court of Justice.

Q8: What are the qualifications for election as a Judge in the International Court of Justice?
Ans: A person must have high moral character, possess top legal qualifications, and demonstrate recognized competence in international law to be elected as a Judge in the International Court of Justice.

Q9: What special privileges do the Judges enjoy?
Ans: Judges enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities while performing their duties in the Court.

Q10: Mention the nature of the functions; the International Court of Justice performs.
Ans: The International Court of Justice performs Voluntary Jurisdiction, Compulsory Jurisdiction, and Advisory Jurisdiction.

Q11: What is Voluntary Jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice?
Ans: Voluntary jurisdiction means that states voluntarily refer cases to the Court by mutual agreement to seek its jurisdiction.

Q12: Is the International Court of Justice open to individuals?
Ans: No, only member states of the United Nations and various UN organs and agencies can benefit from the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction.

Q13: Who appoints the Secretary General of the United Nations?
Ans: The Secretary-General of the United Nations is appointed by the General Assembly for a term of 5 years, based on the recommendation of the Security Council.

Short Questions – I

Q1: Which functions of the General Assembly tends to fulfill the ideals of UN Charter apart from maintenance of peace?
Ans: The General Assembly promotes international cooperation, encourages the development of international law, and works for the realization of human rights and freedoms without any discrimination.

Q2: When does the session of General Assembly take place?
Ans: The regular session of the General Assembly begins on the third Tuesday of September each year and continues until mid-December in New York. Special or emergency sessions can be called at the request of the Security Council or a majority of the members.

Q3: How many members are there in the General Assembly? How do they reach to a decision?
Ans: There are 193 members in the General Assembly. Each member has one vote, and decisions are made by simple majority, except for important questions, which require a two-thirds majority.

Q4: Are the recommendations of the ‘Uniting for Peace Resolution’ session of the General Assembly obligatory?
Ans: No, the recommendations are not obligatory, but they carry the support of world opinion and moral authority from the international community.

Q5: What is meant by ‘important questions’ while voting in the General Assembly?
Ans: ‘Important questions’ are those related to maintaining peace, electing non-permanent members of the Security Council, admitting new members, expelling members, and budgetary matters, which require a two-thirds majority.

Q6: Mention two most important functions of the General Assembly.
Ans: 
(i) The General Assembly can discuss and make recommendations on any issue within the scope of the UN Charter.
(ii) It helps in maintaining international peace and security by calling the Security Council’s attention to urgent issues.

Q7: Name some of the functions of the General Assembly connected with UN appointments.
Ans: The General Assembly elects non-permanent members of the Security Council, members of the Economic and Social Council, and the Trusteeship Council. It also elects Judges of the International Court of Justice and appoints the Secretary-General.

Q8: What do you understand by General Assembly?
Ans: The General Assembly is the main deliberative body of the UN, composed of all member states, each with one vote. It can discuss all matters within the scope of the UN Charter and make decisions on important issues.

Q9: What do you understand by ‘Uniting for Peace Resolution’?
Ans: The 'Uniting for Peace Resolution' was adopted on 3rd November 1950. It allows the General Assembly to take action when the Security Council fails to act due to a lack of unanimity among its permanent members.

Q10: What time is required for calling an ‘Uniting for Peace Resolution’ session?
Ans: A ‘Uniting for Peace Resolution’ session can be called within 24 hours if the Security Council is blocked by the veto power of its permanent members.

Q11: How is the Security Council formed?
Ans: The Security Council consists of five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK, and the USA, and ten non-permanent members elected for two years by the General Assembly.

Q12: What do you understand by ‘Power to Veto’? Name the permanent member countries of the Security Council.
Ans: The ‘Power to Veto’ means that a permanent member of the Security Council can block any decision. The permanent members are China, France, USA, UK, and Russia.

Q13: On what basis are the ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly?
Ans: The ten non-permanent members are elected based on geographical distribution: five from Asia and Africa, two from Latin America, two from Western Europe, and one from Eastern Europe.

Q14: How are decisions arrived at in the Security Council?
Ans: Each member has one vote, and decisions on procedural matters require the affirmative vote of nine members, including all five permanent members. For other matters, a majority of nine members, including all permanent members, is needed.

Q15: What do you think is the more powerful organ of the United Nations Organisation the General Assembly or the Security Council?
Ans: The Security Council is considered more powerful for internal matters of the UN, as it has the authority to take action, including military intervention, to maintain international peace, whereas the General Assembly is more legislative in nature.

Q16: What do you know about the composition of the International Court of Justice?
Ans: The International Court of Justice consists of 15 Judges elected for a 9-year term by the General Assembly and Security Council. No two judges can be from the same country, and the Court’s President and Vice-President are elected for a three-year term.

Q17: How is a decision taken in the International Court of Justice?
Ans: The minimum quorum for a decision is nine judges. Decisions are made by a majority vote, and in case of a tie, the President casts the deciding vote. Judges from the parties involved in the dispute cannot participate in the decision.

Q18: What do you understand by International Court of Justice’s Advisory Jurisdiction?
Ans: The International Court of Justice can provide advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by any UN organ or agency. These opinions are not binding.

Q19: What is the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice?
Ans: The International Court of Justice has compulsory jurisdiction over matters arising under the UN Charter and international treaties. States may also declare that they recognize the Court’s jurisdiction on certain issues under the optional clause.

Q20: What are the guiding principles for the International Court of Justice?
Ans: The Court bases its decisions on international law, and in some cases, it uses general principles of justice and fairness when the involved parties agree on the matter.

Q21: Is the Judgment of the International Court of Justice final? What recourse does it have for non compliance?
Ans: Yes, the Judgment of the Court is final and binding. If a party fails to comply with the judgment, the other party can refer the matter to the Security Council for enforcement.

Q22: What is Secretariat? Who does it have as its head?
Ans: The Secretariat is the administrative body of the United Nations, headed by the Secretary-General. It has a staff of over 1,400 people from all member countries and is based in New York.

Q23: What is the Economic and Social Council? How is it formed?
Ans: The Economic and Social Council coordinates the economic and social functions of the UN and its specialized agencies. It consists of 54 members elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms.

Q24: What is the Trusteeship Council? How is it formed?
Ans: The Trusteeship Council supervises the administration of trust territories. It consists of the five permanent members of the Security Council (USA, UK, USSR, France, China) and its headquarters is in New York.

Q25: Give in brief about the functions of the Economic social council.
Ans: The Economic and Social Council coordinates efforts in economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian issues to promote peace and development through international cooperation.

Q26: Which works are distributed to the Trusteeship Council and the Secretarial.
Ans: 
(i) The Trusteeship Council oversees the administration of trust territories.
(ii) The Secretariat handles the administrative tasks of the UN, with a staff of over 1,400 members.

Short Questions – II

Q1: What are the various major organs of the United Nations Organisation?
Ans: The major organs of the United Nations, according to Article 7 of the Charter, are:
(i) The General Assembly.
(ii) The Security Council.
(iii) The Economic and Social Council.
(iv) The Trusteeship Council.
(v) The International Court of Justice.
(vi) The Secretariat.

Q2: Can the General Assembly be treated as the controlling major organ of the U.N.O.?
Ans: The General Assembly is the main deliberative body of the UN. It addresses policy matters, elects non-permanent members of the Security Council, and approves the budget. It can be seen as the legislative organ of the UN.

Q3: Under what conditions does the General Assembly act where the Security Council may fail?
Ans: 

• The General Assembly can take action under the 'Uniting for Peace' resolution that was passed in November 1950.
• If the Permanent Members of the Security Council cannot agree on a matter and there is a risk to international peace, the Assembly has the power to recommend actions.
• These recommendations may include collective action, which could involve using armed force to help restore peace and security worldwide.

Q4: What is the composition of the Security Council.
Ans: The Security Council consists of 15 members: 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, USA) and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.

Q5: What functions of the Security Council make it, the most important organ as far as internal matters of the UN are concerned?
Ans: The Security Council is crucial for maintaining peace, recommending new members, and dealing with trust territories. It also has the power to recommend the appointment of the Secretary-General and Judges of the International Court of Justice.

Q6: Explain the composition of the International Court of Justice.
Ans: Composition of the International Court of Justice:
(i) The International Court of Justice consists of 15 Judges for nine year term.
(ii) The Judges are elected both by the General Assembly and the Security Council.
(iii) Each Judge should be from a different country. If 2 people from one country are nominated, the elder one is selected.
(iv) They elect their President and Vice-President for a three year term. The decisions of the Court are made by majority of the judges present.

Q7: Discuss about the role of the International Court of Justice.
Ans:

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) handles disputes that are brought to it by countries that agree to do so willingly. This is known as voluntary jurisdiction. 
• The Court also has compulsory jurisdiction, which means it is responsible for upholding and enforcing international treaties, agreements, and obligations between countries. All issues related to the UN Charter fall under the Court's authority. 
• The advisory jurisdiction allows the Court to provide non-binding legal opinions on questions that are posed by any part of the United Nations or its agencies. 

Q8: What type of matters are referred to the International Court of Justice?
Ans: 

• Matters involving legal issues and the interpretation of International Law are handled by the International Court of Justice. 
• The Court addresses disputes between parties related to international conventions, customs, and practices that are recognized as law. 
• It also considers general principles of law that are accepted by nations around the world. 
• The Court looks at the decisions and teachings of prominent legal scholars from different countries. 
• The Court decides how much reparation a party must provide for breaking an international agreement. 
• It resolves conflicts related to the interpretation of International Law. 

Long Questions

Q1: What is the composition of the General Assembly? How does it hold the deliberations?
Ans: The General Assembly is the only organ of the UN where all member countries are represented, with each state having one vote. Each member country may send up to five representatives, but only one vote is given per country. Decisions on important questions like budget approval and admission of new members require a two-thirds majority, while other decisions are made by a simple majority. The General Assembly holds its deliberations through regular sessions, starting on the third Tuesday of September each year and lasting until mid-December. Special sessions can also be called by the Secretary-General or by a majority of the members.

Q2: Mention the major functions of the General Assembly.
Ans: The General Assembly has several functions, including:
(i) Discussing any matter within the scope of the UN Charter or relating to the functions of other UN organs.
(ii) Making recommendations on matters related to international peace and security.
(iii) Initiating studies on international cooperation and modifying international laws.
(iv) Promoting the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
(v) Receiving and considering reports from the Security Council and other organs, and considering the UN budget.
(vi) Electing non-permanent members of the Security Council, members of the Economic and Social Council, and the Trusteeship Council.
(vii) Appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council.

Q3: Discuss the role of Security Council in maintaining peace.
Ans: The functions of the Security Council related to maintaining world peace:
(i) At the time of war: The Security Council may call for cease fire to stop aggression or for cutting off communication links with the aggressor nation or severing diplomatic relations with it.
(ii) Investigatory role: They may investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction. They can also recommends methods for adjusting such disputes.
(iii) Military action: Security Council may resort to military action. Such action may include operations by air, sea or land forces supplied by Member-Nations.
(iv) Admission of new members: New-members are admitted by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

Q4: How does the Security Council enforce its recommendations?
Ans: 

• Imposition of sanctions through UN Member States against the aggressor. 
• The ‘Unanimity Rule’, commonly known as Veto. If any Permanent Member votes ‘No’, the resolution cannot move forward, even if all other members agree. This Veto actually strengthens the Security Council by stopping parties in conflict from taking advantage of the situation on an international level. A good example of this is the Kashmir issue.
• Armed intervention, which the UN carried out in Iraq, can happen if there is a majority decision.
•  Forcing the conflicting parties to come to the negotiating table using various other methods. 

Q5: Mention three functions of the International Court of Justice.
Ans: 

• Voluntary Jurisdiction: This type of jurisdiction includes all cases that the parties involved agree to bring to the Court by mutual consent. If one party initiates a case, the other party can still choose to participate. If the second party decides to defend itself in that case, the Court sees this as an agreement to proceed.
• Evolving Procedures for Peaceful Settlement of Disputes: At any point during a dispute, the Court has the ability to suggest suitable procedures or methods for resolving the issue. It can also provide recommendations for how the parties might settle their differences. 
• Advisory Opinion: The International Court of Justice can offer advisory opinions on matters related to international law whenever the General Assembly or the Security Council requests such advice.

Picture Based Questions

Q1: Study the picture shown and answer the questions that follow:
(i) Identify the organization associated with the given emblem.(ii) Where is the headquarters of this organization located? Name the principal organs of this organization.
Ans: 
(i) The organization associated with the above emblem is the United Nations Organizations.
(ii) The headquarter of this organization is located in New York city. The six principal organs of U. N. are:
The General Assembly, The Secerity Council, The International Court of Justice, The Economic and Social Council Trusteeship Council and The Secretariat.