Appalachian State University
  International Relations Association
 
Host of Model United Nations and Model Security Council events for more than 28 years!
 
 
Members, UN Security Council, 2005
 
The Council has 15 members-- five permanent members and 10 elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms:
 
 
Country
Term of Membership
Dec 31, 2005
Dec 31, 2006
Benin
Dec 31, 2005
Brazil
Dec 31, 2005
China 
Permanent
Dec 31, 2006
France 
Permanent
Dec 31, 2006
Dec 31, 2006
Dec 31, 2005
Russian Federation 
Permanent
Dec 31, 2005
Tanzania
Dec 31, 2006
Permanent
Permanent
 
Click on a country to go to its United Nations web site or
send email to its permanent mission (for those that do not have a web site)
The following countries began their two-year membership term on 1 January 2005:
 
Argentina Japan
Denmark Tanzania
Greece

Each Council member has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine of the 15 members. Decisions onsubstantive matters require nine votes, including the concurring votes of all five permanent members. This is the rule of "great Power unanimity", often referred to as the "veto" power.