Preliminary note: the glossary has been compiled for information purposes only and the de-scriptions contained therein are not official definitions.
The programme of work adopted by the Security Council at the start of each meeting. Unlike most UN organs, the Council does not adopt an "agenda" listing multiple items which it intends to consider.
It is my great pleasure to present this 2021 edition of the “Handbook on the Working Methods of the Security Council” (more commonly known as the “Green Book” to many in the United Nations community).
Any meeting of the Security Council held in pursuance of the Statute of the International Court of Justice for the purpose of the election of members of the Court shall continue until as many candidates as are required for all the seats to be filled have obtained in one or more ballots an absolute majority of votes.
Any State which desires to become a Member of the United Nations shall submit an application to the Secretary-General. This application shall contain a declaration made in a formal instrument that it accepts the obligations contained in the Charter.
Unless it decides otherwise, the Security Council shall meet in public. Any recommendation to the General Assembly regarding the appointment of the Secretary-General shall be discussed and decided at a private meeting.
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish shall be both the official and the working languages of the Security Council.
Speeches made in any of the six languages of the Security Council shall be interpreted into the other five languages.
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Voting in the Security Council shall be in accordance with the relevant Articles of the Charter and of the Statute of the International Court of Justice.
The Secretary-General shall act in that capacity in all meetings of the Security Council. The Secretary-General may authorize a deputy to act in his place at meetings of the Security Council.
The Secretary-General, or his deputy acting on his behalf, may make either oral or written statements to the Security Council concerning any question under consideration by it.
