Identify incorrect statement regarding the elections of the non-permanent members to the Security Council:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The question asks you to identify the **incorrect statement** regarding the elections of the non-permanent members to the Security Council. Therefore, Option 4 is the correct answer because it contains a factual error in the regional distribution of the ten non-permanent seats. The official distribution, formalized following the expansion of the Council, is designed to ensure equitable geographical representation.

The correct breakdown of the ten non-permanent seats is: **Five** seats for African and Asian States; **One** seat for Eastern European States; **Two** seats for Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC); and **Two** seats for Western European and Other States (WEOG). Option 4 incorrectly allocates four seats to African and Asian States and three seats to Western European and other States, which deviates from the established geographical distribution key. Understanding this distribution is key to analyzing the fairness and representativeness of the Security Council's composition, ensuring a balance among the diverse regions of the world.

The incorrect option is 1:
This statement claims that "The Security Council of the UN constitute fifteen members and every one has the right to vote." This is a factually correct description of the Council's size and the basic voting rights of its members, which is why it is not the answer to the question asking for the *incorrect* statement. The Council consists of fifteen members: five permanent members (P5) and ten non-permanent members. All fifteen members have a vote on procedural matters. However, for substantive matters, the five permanent members hold veto power, meaning a substantive resolution requires nine affirmative votes, including the concurring votes of all five permanent members (P5). While everyone has the *right to vote*, the P5 members' votes carry exceptional weight due to the veto.

The incorrect option is 2:
This statement asserts that "Each year the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members for a two-year term." This statement is factually correct, adhering to the standard procedure outlined in the UN Charter, and is therefore not the answer to the question. The ten non-permanent seats are phased, with five members rotating off the Council each year. This rotation means that each non-permanent member serves a two-year term, ensuring continuous renewal and allowing a wider range of member states to participate in the Council’s work over time. The election process takes place annually in the General Assembly, requiring a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.

The incorrect option is 3:
This statement claims that "In accordance with the General Assembly resolution 1991 (XVIII) of 17 December 1963, the 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis." This is a historically and legally correct statement. Resolution 1991 (XVIII) amended the Charter to increase the number of non-permanent members from six to ten, following its ratification in 1965. Crucially, this resolution established the principle of equitable geographical distribution for the non-permanent seats, which remains the foundation for their election today. Therefore, this statement is accurate and is not the incorrect statement the question seeks.