The Security Council performs the task of maintaining international peace. It investigates international disputes and recommends ways for their peaceful settlement.
Image Source: atlanticsentinel.com
It can also authorise military action to enforce its resolutions.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Such action is carried out by combined troops contributed by various member nations. As these troops help maintain peace between nations, they are called peacekeeping forces.
The Security Council has 15 members. Five of them, namely, the USA, Russia, Britain, France and China, are permanent members. The 10 nonpermanent members are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years, and cannot be re-elected immediately.
The permanent members enjoy the power of veto. This means that a resolution, even if supported by all the other members, cannot be adopted if any of the permanent members votes against it.