The United Nations has six principal organs, but there are no specific principles of the United Nations. The six principal organs are:
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The General Assembly: The only body in which all UN members are represented, the General Assembly exercises deliberative, supervisory, financial, and elective functions relating to any matter within the scope of the UN Charter. Its primary role, however, is to discuss issues and make recommendations, though it has no power to enforce its resolutions or to compel state action.
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The Security Council: The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 members, including five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.
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The Economic and Social Council: The Economic and Social Council is responsible for promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. It has 54 members, elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms.
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The Trusteeship Council: The Trusteeship Council was established to oversee the administration of trust territories and ensure that their inhabitants were prepared for self-government. It suspended its operations in 1994 after the last trust territory, Palau, became independent.
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The International Court of Justice: The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by the General Assembly, the Security Council, or other UN organs and specialized agencies.
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The Secretariat: The Secretariat carries out the day-to-day work of the United Nations. It is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for a five-year term. The Secretariat has around 44,000 staff members from 193 countries.
