United States Mission to the United Nations
Encyclopedia
The United States Mission to the United Nations is the formal title of the United States
delegation to the United Nations
(UN).
Each nation at the UN has a similar delegation, although only a few are members of the UN Security Council. The United States Mission joined in the original founding of the UN, among 51 member states, under the United Nations Charter
in 1945.
, is the leader of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known by the exact title:
The position is also known as simply the U.S. Permanent Representative, or "Perm Rep", to the United Nations.
The U.S. Permanent Representative, currently Susan Rice, is charged with representing the United States on the U.N. Security Council and during almost all plenary meetings of the General Assembly
, except in the rare situation in which a more senior officer of the United States (such as the U.S. Secretary of State
or the President of the United States
) is present. Like all United States ambassadors
, he or she must be nominated by the U.S. President
and confirmed
by the Senate
.
Many prominent U.S. politicians and diplomats have held the post, including Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
, Adlai Stevenson, George H. W. Bush
, Daniel Patrick Moynihan
, Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick
, Richard Holbrooke
, Dr. Madeleine Albright
, Bill Richardson
, and John Danforth
.
It was a cabinet-level
position under the Clinton administration and is under the Obama administration as well. It was not a cabinet-level position under the George W. Bush administration (from 2001 to 2009).
The other leadership roles are also known as UN ambassadors, but with specific titles as related to which offices of the UN they handle.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
delegation to the United Nations
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...
(UN).
Each nation at the UN has a similar delegation, although only a few are members of the UN Security Council. The United States Mission joined in the original founding of the UN, among 51 member states, under 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 1945.
Leadership
There are several major leadership roles in the U.S. Mission. The primary role, United States Ambassador to the United NationsUnited States Ambassador to the United Nations
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador...
, is the leader of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known by the exact title:
- "Permanent Representative of the United States of AmericaUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to the United NationsUnited NationsThe 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...
, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United NationsUnited Nations Security CouncilThe 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...
".
The position is also known as simply the U.S. Permanent Representative, or "Perm Rep", to the United Nations.
The U.S. Permanent Representative, currently Susan Rice, is charged with representing the United States on the U.N. Security Council and during almost all plenary meetings of the 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...
, except in the rare situation in which a more senior officer of the United States (such as the U.S. Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
or the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
) is present. Like all United States ambassadors
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
, he or she must be nominated by the U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Many prominent U.S. politicians and diplomats have held the post, including Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. was a Republican United States Senator from Massachusetts and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, South Vietnam, West Germany, and the Holy See . He was the Republican nominee for Vice President in the 1960 Presidential election.-Early life:Lodge was born in Nahant,...
, Adlai Stevenson, George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
, Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
, Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Jeane Jordan Kirkpatrick was an American ambassador and an ardent anticommunist. After serving as Ronald Reagan's foreign policy adviser in his 1980 campaign and later in his Cabinet, the longtime Democrat-turned-Republican was nominated as the U.S...
, Richard Holbrooke
Richard Holbrooke
Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....
, Dr. Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Korbelová Albright is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0...
, Bill Richardson
Bill Richardson (politician)
William Blaine "Bill" Richardson III is an American politician, who served as the 30th Governor of New Mexico from 2003 to 2011. Before being elected governor, Richardson served in the Clinton administration as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary. Richardson has also served...
, and John Danforth
John Danforth
John Claggett "Jack" Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican United States Senator from Missouri. He is an ordained Episcopal priest. Danforth is married to Sally D. Danforth and has five adult children.-Education and early career:Danforth was born...
.
It was a cabinet-level
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
position under the Clinton administration and is under the Obama administration as well. It was not a cabinet-level position under the George W. Bush administration (from 2001 to 2009).
The other leadership roles are also known as UN ambassadors, but with specific titles as related to which offices of the UN they handle.
See also
- United Nations member statesUnited Nations member statesThere are 193 United Nations member states, and each of them is a member of the United Nations General Assembly.The criteria for admission of new members are set out in the United Nations Charter, Chapter II, Article 4, as follows:...
- United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations
- French Mission to the United Nations
- Mexico Mission to the United Nations (Misión Permanente de México ante la ONU)
- Diplomatic Security ServiceDiplomatic Security ServiceThe U.S. Diplomatic Security Service is the federal law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State. The majority of its Special Agents are members of the Foreign Service and federal law enforcement agents at the same time, making them unique...
- Senior Foreign ServiceSenior Foreign ServiceThe Senior Foreign Service comprises the top four ranks of the United States Foreign Service. These ranks were created by the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and Executive Order 12293 in order to provide the Foreign Service with senior grades equivalent to general- and flag ranks in the military and...
External links
- "Welcome to the United States Mission to the United Nations" (official website), USUN.state.gov, March 2011, retrieved 2011-03-06.