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1 [1] (May 29, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/untednns0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informinig the legislative debate since 1914 S Updated May 29, 2025 United Nations Issues: Overview of the United Nations System The United Nations (UN) system comprises interconnected entities including the United Nations, specialized agencies, peacekeeping operations, funds and programs, and other entities. Congress has generally supported the UN system, and often uses UN mechanisms to further U.S. foreign policy objectives. At the same time, some Members have been critical of the organization, arguing that UN actions or decisions do not align with U.S. policy priorities, or that it is not operating as effectively as possible. Most recently, the second Trump Administration called for a review of U.S. participation in and funding of all international organizations (IOs), including UN bodies. It also proposed pausing most assessed and all voluntary contributions to the United Nations and other IOs in its FY2026 budget request. UN entities have different mandates, structures, leadership, and funding mechanisms. Each body is funded through assessed and voluntary contributions from UN members (or a combination of both). Assessed contributions are required dues, the payment of which is a legal obligation accepted by a country when it becomes a member. Voluntary contributions finance special funds, programs, and offices. The United Nations Established in the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations is an intergovernmental organization composed of 193 member states. The UN Charter, a treaty to which the United States is a party, is the founding document of the United Nations. Article 1 of the Charter states that the purposes of the organization are to maintain international peace and security; develop friendly relations among nations; solve economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian problems; and promote human rights. Key parts of the UN system include the following: * The 193-member General Assembly (UNGA) is the organization's primary decisionmaking body. It approves the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets and supports the work of its committees and subsidiary organs, such as the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). * The 15-member Security Council (UNSC) is mandated with maintaining international peace and security. It includes 5 permanent members with veto power (United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom) and 10 nonpermanent members, who are elected by the Assembly for two-year terms. * The Secretariat is the UN administrative body located at UN Headquarters in New York City. It is led by the Secretary-General (UNSG), who serves as chief administrative officer. The SG is appointed by UNGA on the recommendation of the SC. The UNSG serves a five-year term, with the possibility for a second term. The UN system also includes the UN Economic and Social Council, a 54-member body that addresses economic, social, and environmental issues, and the International Court of Justice, the principal UN judicial body. (For more information, see CRS Report R47715, The United Nations System: Frequently Asked Questions.) The United Nations is funded through the UN regular budget ($3.72 billion for UN FY2025). The United States' assessed contribution is 22% of the regular budget (an estimated $707.05 million in U.S. FY2024). Other top contributors include China (20%) and Japan (6.9%). UN members approve assessment levels every three years based on a formula taking into account gross national income and other economic data. The United States often accumulates arrears to the regular budget due to differences between the U.S. and UN fiscal years (which affects the timing of U.S. payments) and U.S. withholdings from UN activities. UN Specialized Agencies The UN system has 15 specialized agencies, each of which is a legally independent organization with its own constitution, membership, and assessed budget (Figure 1). Many follow the assessments for the UN regular budget, while others use their own formulas. The United States is a member of all specialized agencies except for UNIDO and UNWTO. In January 2025, President Trump announced the United States would begin the one-year process of withdrawing from WHO. Figure I. UN Specialized Agencies Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International Fund for Agricultural Development(lFAD) International Labor Organization (ILO) International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Monetary Fund (IMF) InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU) U.N. Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) U.N.Industrial DevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO) SU.N. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Universal Postal Union (UPU) World Banfk Group (WBG) World Health Organization (WHO) World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) n mdiates the United States is nota member. Source: United Nations, adapted by CRS. UN Peacekeeping The United Nations currently operates 11 UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, with more than 68,000 personnel from over 120 countries. The UNSC is responsible for https://crsreports.congress.