The Security Council meets year round in New York. However, on occasions it is known that meetings take place at other locations. The Security Council is made up of representatives from 15 member nations. Five of these 15 member nations are permanent member nations of the Security Council. The other ten are elected member nations that serve two-year terms. The five permanent member nations are China, France, the Russian Federation (formerly the USSR), the United States, and the United Kingdom. Procedural votes in the Security Council require the approval of a simple majority of the members. Substantive decisions require the approval of nine member nations. This includes the concurring votes of the five permanent member nations. The presidency of the Security Council changes every month. It is based on the English alphabetical listing of the 15 member nations. The General Assembly is in charge of electing five new members who will later replace the five nations whose terms expire on December 31 every year.
The Security Council has three basic mechanisms for expressing its opinion. The first mechanism is a press release that has the effect of transmitting the work of the Council to the media. The second mechanism is the President's statement. It is issued at a separate meeting with the current President where the President can state his/her opinion on the situation before the Security Council. The third and most dominant mechanism is the Security Council resolution. The resolutions are brought upon all the United Nations member nations. If all members agree, it is carried out. However, if the member nations do not agree, the Security Council can ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion or it can recommend the suspension of a nation's privileges.
SECURITY COUNCIL'S FUNCTIONS & POWERS.
To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations.
