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The U.N.

History

The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was first used in the "Declaration by United Nations" of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers.

Previous Events

States first established internationalorganizations to cooperate on specific matters. The International Telecommunication Union was founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, and the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874. Both are now United Nations specialized agencies.
In 1899, the International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifyingrules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902.
The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the First World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote internationalcooperation and to achieve peace and security." The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.
In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up theUnited Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later andbecame one of the original 51 Member States.
The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.

Principal Organs of the U.N.

There are six principal organs of the UnitedNations: a General Assembly, a Security Council, an Economic and Social Council, a Trusteeship Council, an International Court of Justice and a Secretariat.
The General Assembly
Established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the UN. It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of internationalissues covered by the Charter
The General Assembly consists of all the 192 Members of the United Nations. Each country has one vote.  Some Member States in arrear of payment may be granted the right to vote. The Assembly meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year, and thereafter as required.
Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security,admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority. Decisions on other questions are by simple majority.
Functions and powers of the General Assembly
* Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament;
* Discuss any question relating to international peace and securityand, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, make recommendations on it;
* Discuss, with the same exception, and make recommendations on any questions within the scope of the Charter or affecting the powers and functions of any organ of the United Nations;
* Initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political...