United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is a massive intergovernmental organization founded after the end of World War II to foster healthy diplomacy; maintain global peace and stability; and facilitate international cooperation.

Based in New York with branches all over the world, the UN is the world's largest international organization.

It consists of six principal organs:

1. The General Assembly, which consists of all UN member states, which votes to admit new members, adopts the budget, and elects members to other organs in the organization.
2. The Security Council, which adopts compulsory resolutions and is responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
3. The Economic and Social Council, which helps facilitate economic and social cooperation between different nations and between the UN and other organizations.
4. The Secretariat, the UN's administrative organization led by the UN secretary-general.
5. The International Court of Justice, which settles legal disputes between member nations.
6. The Trusteeship Council, which dealt with colonial possessions but which has been defunct since 1994.

The UN also consists of several smaller agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The UN overall is led by the secretary-general, who is currently Antonio Guterres.