Bullet-point summary of the UN Charter and related key essentials for Judicial Services Preliminary Exams
## 📌 League of Nations
* Established by **Treaty of Versailles, 1919**.
* Organs: Assembly, Council, Secretariat, Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ).
* Objectives: International peace & cooperation.
* **Failure Reasons**:
* U.S. never joined, unanimity rule, failed disarmament, withdrawals (Germany 1933, Japan 1931, Italy 1936), failure to prevent aggressions (Japan–Manchuria 1931, Italy–Abyssinia 1936, Russia–Finland 1939).
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## 📌 Evolution of the UN
* **Atlantic Charter, 1941**: Roosevelt & Churchill – condemned aggression, self-determination, peace.
* **Dumbarton Oaks, 1944**: Blueprint of UN; Security Council with Big Five.
* **San Francisco Conference, 1945**: 50 States; adopted UN Charter & Statute of ICJ; Charter signed 26 June 1945, effective 24 Oct. (celebrated as **UN Day**).
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## 📌 UN Charter – Key Provisions
### Preamble
* Goals: Save generations from war, reaffirm human rights, maintain justice & international law, promote social progress.
* Methods: Tolerance, peaceful settlement, collective action, economic & social cooperation.
### Purposes (Art. 1)
1. Maintain peace & security.
2. Develop friendly relations among nations.
3. Achieve international cooperation.
4. Centre for harmonizing nations’ actions.
### Principles (Art. 2)
* Sovereign equality of States.
* Fulfil obligations in good faith.
* Settle disputes peacefully.
* No force against territorial integrity.
* Assist UN; no aid to aggressor States.
* Non-members must respect UN measures.
* **No intervention in domestic jurisdiction** (Art. 2(7)), except under **Chapter VII (enforcement)**.
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## 📌 Membership
* **Original Members**: 52 (San Francisco participants + UN Declaration signatories).
* **Admission (Art. 4)**: Open to peace-loving States willing to fulfil obligations; requires Security Council recommendation + 2/3 General Assembly vote.
* **Suspension/Expulsion**: By GA on SC recommendation.
* **Withdrawal**: No express provision, but implied.
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## 📌 General Assembly
* Universal membership; one vote per State.
* **Decisions**: 2/3 majority for important questions (admission, expulsion, budget); simple majority otherwise.
* **Powers**: Discussion, recommendations, budget approval, elections (judges of ICJ, non-permanent SC members, Sec-Gen), supervision of ECOSOC/Trusteeship.
* **Extra Charter Powers**: "Uniting for Peace" Resolution, 1950 (Korean War, Suez, Hungary, Congo).
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## 📌 Security Council
* **Composition**: 15 members (5 permanent – US, UK, USSR/Russia, China, France + 10 elected for 2 years).
* **Voting**:
* Procedural – 9 votes.
* Substantive – 9 votes incl. all 5 permanent members (Veto power).
* **Double Veto**: First on classification (procedural/substantive), then on merits.
* **Functions**: Primary responsibility for peace & security; sanctions (Art. 41), use of force (Art. 42).
* **Collective Security**: e.g. Korean Conflict (1950–53).
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## 📌 ECOSOC
* 54 members, elected by GA (3-year term).
* Functions: Studies, recommendations, draft conventions, technical assistance, coordination of Specialized Agencies (ILO, WHO, UNESCO, etc.).
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## 📌 Trusteeship Council
* Managed trust territories (ex-colonies/mandates).
* Objectives: Promote political, social, economic development & independence.
* Now defunct (all territories independent).
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## 📌 International Court of Justice (ICJ)
* Principal judicial organ, Statute part of UN Charter.
* 15 judges (elected for 9 years; no two from same State).
* **Jurisdiction**:
* Contentious cases (States as parties).
* Compulsory jurisdiction (optional clause – treaty, law, breach of obligation, reparations).
* Advisory opinions (GA, SC, specialized agencies).
* Applies: Treaties, customs, general principles, judicial precedents, juristic writings, equity.
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## 📌 Secretariat
* Head: Secretary-General (appointed by GA on SC recommendation).
* Tenure: 5 years (convention).
* Functions: Administrative, reporting, bringing threats to SC (Art. 99), mediator role, representative of UN.
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## 📌 Amendments to Charter
* Requires 2/3 GA + ratification incl. Big Five.
* Major amendments:
* 1963 – SC expanded from 11 to 15, ECOSOC from 18 to 27.
* 1971 – ECOSOC expanded to 54.
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## 📌 Specialized Agencies
* Linked to UN via ECOSOC (Arts. 57–58).
* **ILO**: Labour rights, conventions (8-hour workday, equal pay).
* **WHO**: Health, disease eradication, international standards.
* **UNESCO**: Education, science, culture, copyright convention.
* **Others**: FAO, IMF, IBRD (World Bank), ICAO, ITU, UPU, WMO, etc.
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