Chatty 003 HotSpots & Intermediate VocabBox & Glossary & Vocabulary Double-Check: What is the United Nations?

tension: mental or emotional strain or stress

United Nations: an international organization of independent states, with its headquarters in New York City, that was formed in 1945 to promote peace and international coopertation and security

establish: create or set up an organization on a permanent basis

description: a statement or account that tells about characteristic features

government: the executive policy-making body of a state or political unit; generally it is the Prime Minister with all the Ministers [Secretaries] and State Secretaries

prevent: keep from happening esp by precautionary action

international: concerning or involving two or more nations or nationalities

Constitution: the fundamental political principles on which a state or an organization of states are governed

Charter: a fundamental document issued by a society or an organization on which operation is based

San Francisco: a port in West California, situated around the Golden Gate

50 nations: in 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter

maintain peace: continue or retain peaceful relations

settling disputes: determine legal problems by agreement of the parties without resort to court action

aggression: an attack or harmful action, esp an unprovoked attack by one country against another

armed attack: launch a physical assault against another country with weapons

friendly relations: showing or expressing goodwill, liking, and trust

equal rights: freedom from discrimination based on sex, age, race, marital status, language, dialect, or political views

choice of government: the legal / constitutional possibility to vote for parties, through the parties for Prime Minister, and through Prime Minister for Government

international cooperation: joint operation or action between different countries or nationalities

economic problems: problems relating to economics or finance

social problems: problems relating to human society or any of its subdivisions

cultural problems: problems relating to culture or civilization

humanitarian problems: problems relating to ethical or theological issues, or to mankind

attain aims: reach objectives, goals, or aims

General Assembly: the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations

policy-making body: a group of people formulating the principles for executive bodies that act upon them; Congress is a policy-making body and Parliament is a policy-influencing body

Security Council: a permanent organ of the United Nations established to maintain world peace

permanent seats: the Security Council has 15 members and 5 members [seats] are permanent [they do not change]. These are China, France, Great Britain, the United States, and Russia.

special voting privileges: the five permanent members of the Security Council have special voting privileges; they can veto any decision or proposal

Economic and Social Council: [ECOSOC] is responsible for promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress; identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems; facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation; and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms

promote the welfare of peoples: help other peoples in their economic and financial development

human rights: the rights of individuals to liberty, justice, and equal treatment

fundamental freedoms: personal liberty, as from slavery, bondage, and serfdom

Trusteeship Council: one of the principal organs of the United Nations; it was established to help ensure that non-self-governing territories were administered in the best interests of the inhabitants and of international peace and security

supervise: direct or oversee the performance or operation

welfare of dependent peoples: the economic or financial development of nations or nationalities that cannot exercise self-government

self-government: the government of a country or nation by its own people

International Court of Justice: (known colloquially as the World Court) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations

legal disputes: argument or quarrel that is sorted out with the help of law and law courts

Secretariat: one of the principal organs of the United Nations and it is headed by the United Nations Secretary General, assisted by a staff of international civil servants worldwide. It provides studies, information, and facilities needed by United Nations bodies for their meetings

administrative and office staff: a staff of international civil servants worldwide

Secretary-General: the chief administrative official of the United Nations

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