Security Council (World Assembly)

World Assembly Security Council SC WASC
Flag
Motto: Spreading interregional peace and goodwill, via force if necessary
Administrative center	WA Headquarters
Official Language(s)	English
Membership	22,090
Leaders
• Secretary-General	In Commission Held by the WA Secretariat
Establishment
• Creation	27 May 2009
• Ratification	08 June 2009
Website www.nationstates.net/page=sc

The Security Council of the World Assembly (Security Council, SC, or WASC) is a chamber of the World Assembly, a voluntary world governing body and geopolitical organisation. Along with the General Assembly, it is a principal organ of the World Assembly. Its main purpose is to attempt to regulate the behaviour of national and regional governments through the passage of legislation; these resolutions are typically non-binding, through there are two categories of resolution that the Security Council can pass that is binding on its target(s).

Though generally not considered as powerful as the General Assembly, as its resolutions are either non-binding or can only target one nation or region at a time, the Security Council is the only chamber of the World Assembly that can target non-members of the WA; its decisions on regional security and regional border disputes and are binding, regardless of whether or not all the nations in the region, if any, are actually member states of the World Assembly. Similarly its resolutions praising or criticising specific nations or regions, or declaring a certain viewpoint, do not need to be targeted at member states.

The World Assembly, and by extension the Security Council, is nominally led by a Secretary-General, however since the establishment of the body, the position has been held in Commission by the civil service of the World Assembly, the Secretariat. The Secretariat is responsible for chairing the continuous session of the Security Council, maintaining order and decorum, moderating debates and behaviour, and, if necessary, suspension and/or expulsion of member states.

As with the General Assembly, all member states of the WA are also members of the Security Council; as a result the membership structure of the Security Council is the same as its parent body. There are two tiers; the foundation tier are normal member states; by far the most populous tier. The second tier comprises of regional delegates; member states who are elected or appointed to represent the different regions in the world. These regional delegates have increased votes depending on the number of member states within their region, as well as a further responsibility in approving proposed legislation for vote.

Legislation, called resolutions, may be proposed by any member state, with the caveat that the member state in question must secure the endorsement of at least two other member states. Proposed resolutions may be one of five different types: a resolution to Commend a nation or region for its good behaviour and/or actions, a resolution to Condemn a nation or region for its bad behaviour and/or actions, a resolution to Liberate arbitrary and damaging regional borders, a resolution to Injunct regions and prevent them from adjusting their regional security protocols, and a resolution to Declare a certain non-binding position or viewpoint of the members of the Security Council. Proposed resolutions are progressed in two stages; the first by regional delegates, and the second by vote of the body as a whole.

Membership in the body is regulated by the Secretariat and, due to the number of members plus the ease in which it is to attain and/or lose membership in the body, there is no accurate number of nations that are currently member states. April 2023 estimates, however, put the number of member states in the WA, and by extension the GA, at 22,090.

History

The World Assembly was established in April 2008 as a successor to the United Nations. Its duties were the same as the body it had replaced - to create, enact, and curate a body of law for its member states. All previous laws enacted by the UN were wiped clear, and the new WA was given the duty of refilling the books of international law. This attracted much criticism at the time, and many delegations resigned in protest. Many of these delegations, however, later rejoined the World Assembly once the period of shock was adjusted to.

In May 2009 further duties were assumed by the World Assembly, and the organisation was officially split into two chambers to accomodate the new powers. The Secretariat did not originally intend to split the World Assembly into two chambers, however there was significant backlash from a majority of delegations to the imposition, without discussion or consideration, of the proposed changes. The cause of the controversy stemmed from the fact that the new powers had nothing to do with legislation for member states, as had been the duty of the World Assembly until this point; these new powers were non-binding statements of support or of opposition to the behaviour and/or policies of a nation or a region.

After negotiations between the Secretariat and the member states, it was decided that the new powers would remain, but a separate chamber would be established to accomodate them; the Security Council. On 8 June 2009, a separate chamber for Security Council deliberations was opened for use.

Later that year, in July 2009, the Secretariat announced that the Security Council would be given the power to resolve some regional border disputes; up until this point all of the Security Council's resolutions were non-binding on their recipients as they were just statements of favour or displeasure. This was also met with some criticism of interference by the World Assembly in nations and regions not involved with the body, however, when the Secretariat refused to move from their position that this was a legitimate power of the Security Council, most delegations critical of the measure begrudgingly came to accept it. There remains to this date opposition to the power, dubbed the Liberation power.

In June 2021, the Security Council adopted a new form of resolution called a Declaration. A non-binding resolution, its purpose is to declare a certain viewpoint or opinion of the members of the Security Council on matters related to international or interregional importance. These resolutions were added to the Security Council's repertoire, as member states had criticised their inability to take sides in certain conflicts or matters of legal theory without Commending or Condemning certain parties to such matters. Though there was some opposition to the new power originally, most criticism ended when it was determined by the Secretariat that the Declaration resolution would be non-binding.

After some years of consultation with member states, in April 2023 the Security Council adopted a new power called Injunctions. This binding resolution prevents targeted regions from adjusting their regional security protocols. The same year, the Security Council also adopted a more modern flag for the body, and unveiled refreshed labels that they used internally for nations either commended or condemned by the body. There was a great deal of negotiations between Secretariat and member states over both the Injunction power and the new symbols, but compromises were made on both sides and the changes were welcomed by most member states.

Membership

All members of the World Assembly are members of the Security Council; April 2023 estimates put this number at 22,090. All member states have full voting rights, though there are some qualifications required before a member state may propose some legislation.

There are currently two tiers of membership in the WA:

• Regular member states: These nations are entitled to one vote in each chamber. They have no restriction on taking part in the floor debates or resolution drafting sessions.
• Regional delegates: These nations are member states in their own right, however they have the added responsibility of representing their home region. In recognition of this added responsibility, these nations have an increased vote share in both of the chambers of the World Assembly. This vote share amounts to [their own one vote]+[number of nations in their home region endorsing them]. Member states are not required to endorse, i.e. sign in a public register of support, their regional delegate. Regional delegates are chosen via internal means in their home regions, but are subject to the same Secretariat-set rules and regulations as any other member states.

Resolutions

Any member of the World Assembly may propose legislation provided that at least two other member states in their home region endorse, i.e. sign in a public register of support, their ability to do so. Legislation, referred to as proposed resolutions up until the point of passage, at which point they are Resolutions, must be one of four types: a resolution to Commend, to Condemn, to Declare, or to Liberate. Existing resolutions may also be repealed through repeal legislation.

Since the establishment of the World Assembly, there have been 377 Resolutions passed by the SC (as of 12 December 2021). A number of these have since been repealed.

Proposed legislation that does not meet the rules laid down by the Secretariat may be pulled from consideration by that body.

Commend

A resolution to Commend a nation or region essentially amounts to a statement by the Security Council that the stated action(s) and/or behaviour within the resolution are pleasing to the World Assembly and its member states.

Though there exist no criteria for proposing a nation or region be commended, typically the nominee (i.e. the target of the resolution) will have either been active in a regional geopolitical organisation or governing body, maintained a delegation in the World Assembly that would have been prolific in proposing resolutions in the GA and/or the SC itself, or would have undertaken significant peacekeeping duties were necessary in the world.

Condemn

A resolution to Condemn a nation or region is the World Assembly, though the Security Council, expressing shock or dismay at the actions and/or behaviour of specific, and named, nations or regions; notably, the target of the resolution does not need to be a member state of the World Assembly, though since it is non-binding, it can be ignored by the condemned nation or region if so chosen.

As with resolutions to Commend, no stated criteria exists, and many resolutions of this type are proposed in response to specific incidents of aggression, continued obstruction on the international stage by the nominee, or those accused of war crimes.

Liberate

Liberation resolutions may only be targeted at regions that are at the centre of notable, and ongoing, border disputes. Resolutions of this kind seek to end any impasse in negotiations or hostility, and firmly decide the dispute in one particular direction.

Unlike the other resolutions that may be passed by the Security Council, resolutions to Liberate are binding on its target. Liberation resolutions may be repealed, like any resolution, at which point the World Assembly, through the Security Council, stops enforcing the previously passed arbitration of the border dispute.

Declaration

Declarations are resolutions that express the opinion of the Security Council on international affairs and obligations. They are non-binding resolutions, and exist to allow members of the Security Council take a position on international legal theory, or interregional conflicts where the Liberation resolutions would not be effective.

The Security Council may issue a Declaration resolution on any topic that pleases it to do so, though to date it has generally been in an attempt to settle arguments between geo-political factions on topics such as recognition of international bodies, national animals, and procedures vis a vis how to deal with potential nuclear war.

Injunct

Injunction resolutions are binding resolutions that, like Liberation resolutions, may only be targeted at regions that are seeking to adjust their regional security protocols. These resolutions seek to either prevent regions from eliminating nearly all of their protocols, or to stop regions currently in border disputes not yet resolved by the Security Council from increasing regional security protocols without agreement from all sides.

As with other resolutions, the Injunction resolutions may be repealed, at which point the World Assembly, though the Security Council, no longer enforces their injunction to prevent regional security protocol changes.

Reform

The Security Council has been subject to numerous proposals of reform by its delegations, mainly involving the Secretariat giving the body more powers. Other than the addition of the Liberation resolution in 2009, the Declaration resolution in 2021, and Injunction resolutions in 2023, no further powers have been granted, though the Secretariat have been open and keen on discussions to that end; blocking points in establishing the new powers tend to be that sizeable numbers of delegations, often half the body, oppose what another delegations suggests.

In 2021, the Secretariat opened a large forum on reform of the body, with many changes to the Security Council forecast, including the election of a President of the Security Council who may have powers that include vetos and pocket vetos (via keeping resolutions from the voting floor), and giving the Security Council power to impeach the nation holding the Presidency too.