Election of five non-permanent members of the Security Council
Background
In accordance with Article 23 of the Charter, as amended, [By an amendment dated 17 December 1963 (resolution 1991 A (XVIII)), which came into force on 31 August 1965, the General Assembly increased the number of non-permanent members of the Security Council from 6 to 10. The Security Council consists of five permanent members (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America) and 10 non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years. In accordance with rule 142 of the rules of procedure, the General Assembly elects each year five non-permanent members of the Security Council. At its eighteenth session, in 1963, the Assembly decided that the non-permanent members of the Council should be elected according to the following pattern (resolution 1991 A (XVIII)):
- Five from African and Asian States;
- One from Eastern European States;
- Two from Latin American States;
- Two from Western European and other States.
At its sixty-first session, the General Assembly elected five non-permanent members of the Security Council (decision 61/402) [page 4]. At present, the Council is thus composed of the following 15 Member States.
As stipulated in rule 144 of the rules of procedure, a retiring member is not eligible for immediate re-election. In accordance with rule 92 of the rules of procedure, the election is held by secret ballot and there are no nominations. Under rule 83 of the rules of procedure, the non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected by a two-thirds majority. The names of the States that have served as non-permanent members of the Security Council are listed in annex IV.
References for the sixty-first session (agenda item 103 (a))
- Plenary meetings A/61/PV.32-33-34-35-36-37-40-44-49
- Decision 61/402 [page 4]
