Charter of the United Nations (1945)
The worlds constitution of peace, binding 193 states in collective security.
Overview
Signed in San Francisco June 26, 1945 and in force October 24, the UN Charter created the United Nations with the Security Council of five permanent veto powers, General Assembly, International Court of Justice, and secretariat. Article 2 prohibits the use of force except self defense or Council authorization, a constitutionalization of world politics no prior instrument achieved. It is a treaty with constitutional character for the international order, functioning as its supreme norm source alongside the companion Universal Declaration. Its amendment record is minimal, with 1965 and 1973 expansions, and debates about council reform persist.
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