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Charter of the United Nations (1945) Research Guide

Overview of the Charter of the United Nations

The Charter of the United Nations has the following parts:

Preamble

Chapter I : Purposes and Principles

Articles 1-2

Chapter II : Membership

Articles 3-6

Chapter III : Organs

Articles 7-8

Chapter IV : The General Assembly

Articles 9-22

Chapter V : The Security Council

Articles 23-32

Chapter VI  : Pacific Settlement of Disputes

Articles 33-38

Chapter VII : Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression

Articles 39-51

Chapter VIII : Regional Arrangements

Articles 52-54

Chapter IX : International Economic and Social Cooperation

Articles 55-60

Chapter X : The Economic and Social Council

Articles 61-72

Chapter XI : Declaration Regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories

Articles 73-74

Chapter XII : International Trusteeship System

Articles 75-85

Chapter XIII : The Trusteeship Council

Articles 86-91

Chapter XIV  : The International Court of Justice

Articles 92-96

Chapter XV : The Secretariat

Articles 97-101

Chapter XVI : Miscellaneous Provisions

Articles 102-105

Chapter XVII : Transitional Security Arrangements

Articles 106-107

Chapter XVIII : Amendments

Articles 108-109

Chapter XIX : Ratification and Signature

Articles 110-111

Statute of the International Court of Justice

Chapter I : Articles 2 - 33 : Organization of the Court

Chapter II : Articles 34 - 38 : Competence of the Court

Chapter III : Articles 39 - 64 : Procedure

Chapter IV : Articles 65 - 68 : Advisory Opinions

Chapter V : Articles 69 & 70 : Amendment

Amendments

Signing the Preamble of the UN Charter at a 2020 ceremony

UN Photo 7872909 is a black and white image of a page with UN Member State names followed by blank space for signature and the hand of a person holding a pen which casts a dramatic shadow on the page. The signatory's arm is shown with a white shirt cuff under the sleeve of a dark suit. Many, but not all, spaces have been filled with signatures. The photo was taken in 2020 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Charter in 1945.

Text of the Preamble of the Charter of the United Nations

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and

to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and

to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS.

Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.