Overview
As the world's most prominent international governmental organization (IGO), the United Nations provides
a vast amount of information on international security, economic and social development,
human rights, humanitarian affairs, the environment, and international law. Thousands of UN
publications address global, regional, and national problems. And hundreds of thousands of UN documents constitute important
primary source material for historians of the modern era.
Because the Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a full depository for
the UN, this wealth of information--and the staff to help patrons access it--are readily available to our users.
Structure of the United Nations
Users can more readily access and utilize UN information if they understand the structure of
the organization.
General Assembly
The General Assembly is the main governing body of the UN and is composed of representatives
from all member nations. It establishes policies for the Secretariat, receives reports from the
organization's sub-bodies, approves the organization's budget, and appoints the Security Council's
candidate for Secretary-General. It delegates most matters to its six Main Committees.
Security Council
The Security Council attempts to maintain international peace and security. Any one of its five
permanent members--France, Great Britain, China, Russia, or the United States--can veto a decision
of the Council. Ten other members serve two-year terms. The Council sends peacekeeping
missions to conflict zones with the consent of the governments involved. It may enforce its
decisions with economic sanctions or even military action.
Secretariat
As the largest UN body, the Secretariat supports other UN entities and administers their programs.
Its activities range from conducting studies to administering peacekeeping operations.
Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
coordinates the UN's economic and social programs and works with the Specialized Agencies (see
below) and hundreds of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) whose goals coincide with those of the
United Nations.
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ)--also known as the World Court--is the UN's judicial arm. Its judges are selected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. Only national governments can be parties in cases brought before the ICJ.
Trusteeship Council
The Trusteeship Council was created to hasten the end of colonialism. By 1994, it had fulfilled its
mandate by helping to bring the last of eleven Non-Self Governing Territories to self-government,
and it is no longer obligated to meet regularly.