The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the only place where all 193 nations on the planet have an equal voice. It elects members of the Security Council, appoints the Secretary-General and approves the UN budget. Unlike the Security Council, every country gets one vote — and no one has a veto. Member States also choose a new president each year to lead the body for a one-year term. And while its resolutions may be non-binding, they carry real political and moral weight because they reflect the will of the entire international community.

Interested in following the General Assembly? Meetings of UNGA and the Security Council are aired live on UN TV.

The Security Council is the UN’s premier decision-making body, charged by the UN Charter with “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.” It has 15 members: five permanent (the “P5” include the U.S., U.K., France, China and Russia) and ten elected to two-year terms by the General Assembly. The Council presidency rotates monthly, with the presiding member managing workflow, chairing meetings and setting the agenda.

For any resolution to pass, it must earn nine affirmative votes and avoid a negative vote from any permanent member — giving the P5 unilateral veto power over substantive decisions. Since its creation, the Council has been the central forum for addressing global security challenges, from authorizing more than 70 peacekeeping missions to advancing nuclear nonproliferation.

In 2025, the U.S. worked through the UN Security Council to achieve historic progress in advancing sanctions against Iran, passing the resolution for an end to the war in Gaza and creating the framework for an intervention in Haiti.

Learn about the Security Council veto.

Headquartered in New York, the UN Secretariat is a 35,000-person civil service – including more than 6,000 Americans – responsible for the UN’s day-to-day operations and for implementing mandates from the General Assembly and Security Council. Its annual budget is around $3.7 billion, roughly the size of New Hampshire’s state budget.

The Secretariat’s work spans mediating disputes, supporting Security Council sanctions, coordinating disaster relief, promoting economic development and facilitating meetings among Member States.

The Secretariat is led by the Secretary-General, appointed to five-year terms by the Security Council and confirmed by the General Assembly. While there is no formal term limit, Secretaries-General traditionally serve no more than two. Current Secretary-General, António Guterres, has served since January 1, 2017. The election process for his replacement kicked off in November 2025.

Learn how the UN elects its leader.

With 54 elected members and more than 1,600 accredited NGOs informing its work (including hundreds of U.S.-based organizations), ECOSOC is one of the UN’s most representative platforms. Its mission is to drive coordination across the UN system, push forward the world’s boldest ambitions and bring governments, experts and partners to the same table.

The Trusteeship Council was created to oversee colonial territories as they transitioned to self-governance. It suspended its work in 1994 when the last trust territory, Palau, gained independence. Though dormant, it still exists as a formal UN organ and could be reactivated if Member States assign it a new role.

Officially eliminating the Council would require revision of the UN Charter.

What it does: Coordinates global efforts to improve food security and sustainable agriculture.

Why Americans should care: FAO protects a $176 billion U.S. agricultural export economy by helping keep global food markets stable and predictable. The organization monitors emerging crop pests and diseases around the world, often spotting threats long before they reach American farms. And by setting trusted international food safety standards, it ensures that imports are reliable and U.S. commodities remain competitive in markets from Asia to Africa.

Learn about FAO.

What it does: Sets the rules and technical standards that make international air travel safe, efficient and environmentally responsible.

Why Americans should care: ICAO ensures that every international flight taken by an American meets consistent safety standards, prevents other countries from undercutting U.S. airlines with weaker regulations and supports the $1.8 trillion U.S. aviation and aerospace sector.

Learn about ICAO.

What it does: Invests in smallholder farmers and rural development in low-income countries.

Why Americans should care: IFAD reduces global instability linked to hunger and poverty — crises the U.S. often ends up paying for. By boosting rural incomes abroad, it strengthens global markets for U.S. food exports and lowers pressure on U.S. humanitarian spending.

What it does: Sets global labor standards and promotes safe, fair and equitable working conditions.

Why Americans should care: ILO standards help ensure U.S. workers and businesses don’t compete against forced labor, child labor or unsafe conditions abroad. This protects American jobs, U.S.-based supply chains and corporate reputations.

What it does: Helps stabilize the global financial system and supports countries facing economic crisis.

Why Americans should care: IMF action helps prevent financial shocks overseas from hitting U.S. markets, protects American exports from sudden currency swings and contributes to global economic stability, which is a major factor in U.S. inflation and interest rates.

What is does: Regulates global shipping, including safety, pollution standards and operating rules.

Why Americans should care: IMO sets the rules for the ships that carry up to 95% of goods moving in and out of the U.S., supporting tens of millions of American jobs. Its safety and environmental standards protect U.S. ports and coastal communities and ensure American shipping companies compete on a level playing field. It also works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, EPA, State Department and NOAA to keep America’s maritime economy secure.

Learn about IMO.

What it does: Sets global standards for telecommunications, internet connectivity and satellite orbits.

Why Americans should care: ITU makes sure your cellphone works abroad, safeguards the satellite orbits U.S. companies and national security rely on and ensures American firms have a strong voice in shaping rules for 5G, broadband and emerging technologies.

Learn about ITU.

What it does: Supports industrial development, clean technologies and sustainable manufacturing.

Why Americans should care: UNIDO expands opportunities for U.S. exporters by helping emerging economies develop modern industry. It drives demand for U.S. technology and engineering expertise and promotes global environmental standards that level the playing field for American manufacturers.

What it does: Promotes sustainable, safe tourism worldwide.

Why Americans should care: Tourism supports millions of U.S. jobs, from airlines to hotels. UNWTO works on traveler safety, strengthens international travel flows and helps communities worldwide rebuild tourism revenues after global shocks — all of which benefit the U.S. economy.

What it does: Sets the rules for international mail and parcel delivery.

Why Americans should care: UPU is why Americans can send and receive mail anywhere in the world with predictable pricing. Its standards support U.S. small businesses that depend on global e-commerce and protect the reliability of international shipping.

Learn about UPU.

What it does: Coordinates global public health and strengthens countries’ ability to manage health threats.

Why Americans should care: WHO detects outbreaks before they reach our shores, strengthens preparedness in U.S. communities and sets the global health rules that airlines, ports and hospitals rely on — saving American lives and billions in potential losses. With operations in 194 countries and research partnerships with more than 70 U.S. institutions, WHO is the world’s only global public health agency. And for every dollar the U.S. contributes, nearly half comes back to the American economy through procurement contracts.

Learn about WHO.

What it does: Ensures countries share weather, climate and atmospheric data in real time.

Why Americans should care: WMO provides the backbone of every NOAA forecast, including hurricane tracking, storm warnings and wildfire monitoring. Its global data-sharing keeps Americans safer and helps communities plan for extreme weather.

What it does: Protects intellectual property across borders and harmonizes global IP rules.

Why Americans should care: WIPO safeguards U.S. inventions, creative works and trademarks in foreign markets — protecting billions of dollars in American IP. It also helps U.S. small businesses secure global patents and navigate international disputes.

What it does: Provides financing and technical expertise to reduce poverty and build stable economies.

Why Americans should care: Stable economies overseas mean fewer conflicts the U.S. must respond to, more reliable trade partners and expanded markets for U.S. goods and services. World Bank projects also create opportunities for U.S. companies in infrastructure, energy and technology.