Indian & World Geography·Policy Changes
United Nations — Policy Changes
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Version 1Updated 5 Mar 2026
| Entry | Year | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Amendment - Article 23 | 1965 | Expanded the UN Security Council from 11 to 15 members, increasing non-permanent seats from 6 to 10 while maintaining 5 permanent members. This was the first major structural reform of the UN, reflecting the growth in UN membership from 51 to 117 countries by 1965. | The expansion improved representation for developing countries and regional groups but also made decision-making more complex. It established the precedent for Charter amendments requiring two-thirds General Assembly approval and ratification by two-thirds of members including all P5 countries, making future reforms extremely difficult. |
| Charter Amendment - Article 61 | 1965 | Expanded the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) from 18 to 27 members, later increased to 54 members in 1973. This amendment aimed to provide better representation for the growing UN membership in economic and social affairs coordination. | The ECOSOC expansion improved developing country representation in economic governance but also contributed to the body's declining influence as larger membership made consensus-building more difficult. It highlighted the tension between representation and effectiveness in international organizations. |
| Charter Amendment - Article 109 | 1968 | Modified the provisions for General Conference to review the Charter, changing the majority required from two-thirds to simple majority of General Assembly members, while maintaining the requirement for P5 concurrence for any Charter amendments. | This technical amendment simplified procedures for calling a Charter review conference but had limited practical impact since no such conference has been convened. It reflects the ongoing tension between the need for institutional adaptation and the difficulty of achieving consensus on fundamental reforms. |