What term describes the special voting privilege granted exclusively to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, allowing any single one of them to block the adoption of a substantive resolution?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Veto power

  1. Step 1: Agreed upon at the 1945 Yalta Conference between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin, the principle of 'Great Power unanimity' was embedded in Article 27 of the Charter.
  2. Step 2: The veto allows any of the permanent five (P5) members to cast a negative vote to defeat any substantive draft resolution, regardless of how many other affirmative votes are cast.
Answer
Veto power
Why not the others: 'Filibuster' A filibuster is a parliamentary delay tactic in the US Senate to prolong debate and obstruct a vote, not a UN Charter rule; 'Executive prerogative' Executive prerogative refers to constitutional authority exercised by national heads of state without legislative approval; 'Abstention privilege' An abstention occurs when a member declines to vote; in the Security Council, a permanent member's voluntary abstention does not block a resolution.

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