United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1991
Encyclopedia
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1991 was a resolution
adopted by the UN
General Assembly
on 17 December 1963. The resolution made provisions for amending the United Nations Charter
in order to increase membership of the Security Council
to fifteen member states and membership of the Economic and Social Council
to twenty-seven member states. As per Article 108 of the UN Charter, the agreed amendments to the Charter took effect after the resolution was ratified by two-thirds of the UN member states' legislatures, including those of all five permanent members of the Security Council.
The General Assembly
,
Considering that the present composition of the Security Council
is inequitable and unbalanced,
Recognizing that the increase in the membership of the United Nations makes it necessary to enlarge the membership of the Security Council, this providing for a more adequate geographical representation of non-permanent members and making it a more effective organ for carrying out its functions under the Charter of the United Nations,
Bearing in mind the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on arrangements for a conference for the purpose of reviewing the Charter,
1. Decides to adopt, in accordance with Article 108
of the Charter of the United Nations, the following amendments to the Charter
and to submit them for ratification by the States Members of the United Nations:
In Article 23
, paragraph 1, the word “eleven” in the first sentence shall be replaced by the word “fifteen”, and the word “six” in the third sentence by the word “ten”;
In Article 23, paragraph 2, the second sentence shall then be reworded as follows:
In Article 27
, paragraph 2, the word “seven” shall be replaced by the word “nine”;
In Article 27, paragraph 3, the word “seven” shall be replaced by the word “nine”;
2. Calls upon all Member States to ratify the above amendments, in accordance with their respective constitutional processes, by 1 September 1965;
3. Further decides that the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected according to the following pattern:
Five from African and Asian States; One from Eastern European States; Two from Latin American States; Two from Western European and other States.
B
The General Assembly,
Recognizing that the increase in the membership of the United Nations makes it necessary to enlarge the membership of the Economic and Social Council
, with a view to providing for a more adequate geographical representation therein and making it a more effective organ for carrying out its functions under Chapters IX
and X
of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 974 B and C (XXXVI) of 22 July 1963,
Bearing in mind the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on arrangements for a conference for the purpose of reviewing the Charter,
1. Decides to adopt, in accordance with Article 108 of the Charter of the United Nations, the following amendment to the Charter and to submit it for ratification by the States Members of the United Nations:
2. Calls upon all Member States to ratify the above amendment, in accordance with their respective constitutional processes, by 1 September 1965;
3. Further decides that, without prejudice to the present distribution of seats in the Economic and Social Council, the nine additional members shall be elected according to the following pattern:
Seven from African and Asian States; One from Latin American States; One from Western European and other States.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution
A United Nations General Assembly Resolution is voted on by all member states of the United Nations in the General Assembly.General Assembly resolutions usually require a simple majority to pass...
adopted by the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
on 17 December 1963. The resolution made provisions for amending the United Nations Charter
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
in order to increase membership of the Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
to fifteen member states and membership of the Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
to twenty-seven member states. As per Article 108 of the UN Charter, the agreed amendments to the Charter took effect after the resolution was ratified by two-thirds of the UN member states' legislatures, including those of all five permanent members of the Security Council.
Text
AThe General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
,
Considering that the present composition of the Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
is inequitable and unbalanced,
Recognizing that the increase in the membership of the United Nations makes it necessary to enlarge the membership of the Security Council, this providing for a more adequate geographical representation of non-permanent members and making it a more effective organ for carrying out its functions under the Charter of the United Nations,
Bearing in mind the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on arrangements for a conference for the purpose of reviewing the Charter,
1. Decides to adopt, in accordance with Article 108
Chapter XVII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter XVII of the United Nations Charter deals with transitional security arrangements related to World War II, which was drawing to a close at the time of the Charter's promulgation. In an exception to the Charter's peace and security provisions, it allows member nations to continue attacking...
of the Charter of the United Nations, the following amendments to the Charter
Amendments to the United Nations Charter
Amendments to the United Nations Charter can be made by a procedure set out in Chapter XVIII of the UN Charter. The UN Charter has been amended five times since 1945....
and to submit them for ratification by the States Members of the United Nations:
In Article 23
Chapter V of the United Nations Charter
Chapter V of the United Nations Charter contains provisions establishing the United Nations Security Council.Article 23 establishes the composition of the Security Council, with five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly...
, paragraph 1, the word “eleven” in the first sentence shall be replaced by the word “fifteen”, and the word “six” in the third sentence by the word “ten”;
In Article 23, paragraph 2, the second sentence shall then be reworded as follows:
-
- “In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of the membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen, two of the members shall be chosen for a term of one year”;
In Article 27
Chapter V of the United Nations Charter
Chapter V of the United Nations Charter contains provisions establishing the United Nations Security Council.Article 23 establishes the composition of the Security Council, with five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly...
, paragraph 2, the word “seven” shall be replaced by the word “nine”;
In Article 27, paragraph 3, the word “seven” shall be replaced by the word “nine”;
2. Calls upon all Member States to ratify the above amendments, in accordance with their respective constitutional processes, by 1 September 1965;
3. Further decides that the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected according to the following pattern:
Five from African and Asian States; One from Eastern European States; Two from Latin American States; Two from Western European and other States.
B
The General Assembly,
Recognizing that the increase in the membership of the United Nations makes it necessary to enlarge the membership of the Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
, with a view to providing for a more adequate geographical representation therein and making it a more effective organ for carrying out its functions under Chapters IX
Chapter IX of the United Nations Charter
Chapter IX of the United Nations Charter deals with international economic and social cooperation. Article 55 reflects the philosophy of the UN that efforts should be made to impact the root causes of war:...
and X
Chapter X of the United Nations Charter
Chapter X of the United Nations Charter deals with the UN Economic and Social Council. Originally, Article 61 provided that ECOSOC would consist of 18 members, but in 1965 the Charter was amended to expand ECOSOC to 27 members, before being amended to include 54 in 1971...
of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 974 B and C (XXXVI) of 22 July 1963,
Bearing in mind the conclusions and recommendations of the Committee on arrangements for a conference for the purpose of reviewing the Charter,
1. Decides to adopt, in accordance with Article 108 of the Charter of the United Nations, the following amendment to the Charter and to submit it for ratification by the States Members of the United Nations:
- “Article 61
- “1. The Economic and Social Council shall consist of twenty-seven Members of the United Nations elected by the General Assembly.
- “2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, nine members of the Economic and Social Council shall be elected each year for a term of three years. A retiring member shall be eligible for immediate re-election.
- “3. At the first election after the increase in the membership of the Economic and Social Council from eighteen to twenty-seven members, in addition to the members elected in place of the six members whose term of office expires at the end of that year, nine additional members shall be elected. Of these nine additional members, the term of office of three members so elected shall expire at the end of one year, and of three other members at the end of two years, in accordance with arrangements made by the General Assembly.
- “4. Each member of the Economic and Social Council shall have one representative.”;
2. Calls upon all Member States to ratify the above amendment, in accordance with their respective constitutional processes, by 1 September 1965;
3. Further decides that, without prejudice to the present distribution of seats in the Economic and Social Council, the nine additional members shall be elected according to the following pattern:
Seven from African and Asian States; One from Latin American States; One from Western European and other States.