How many sovereign member states constitute the United Nations Security Council at any one time, divided between permanent veto-wielding members and elected non-permanent members?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. 15 members (5 permanent, 10 non-permanent)

  1. Step 1: Under Chapter V of the UN Charter, the Security Council bears primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
  2. Step 2: The Council consists of exactly 15 members: five permanent members holding veto power (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the USA) and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
Answer
15 members (5 permanent, 10 non-permanent)
Why not the others: '10 members (5 permanent, 5 non-permanent)' Before the 1965 UN Charter amendment, the Security Council comprised 11 total members (5 permanent, 6 non-permanent); '20 members (10 permanent, 10 non-permanent)' There are only 5 permanent members (P5); 20 members is the composition of the G20 forum; '54 members (rotating proportionally by continent)' 54 members is the constitutional size of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), not the Security Council.

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