UN Security Council reform

The Security Council has fifteen members. China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are permanent members; the General Assembly elects ten other members for two-year terms. Substantive decisions require nine votes and the concurrence of the permanent members, which is the legal basis of the veto. Article 27 already requires a party to a dispute to abstain on certain decisions under Chapter VI and Article 52, but that limitation does not cover all Council action.