UN Charter - Nature, Formation & Membership

The UN Charter is the founding treaty of the United Nations.

• Nature: As per its own text, the UN Charter is a treaty, according to International Law (not a summary of constitutions or a mere political resolution).
• Signing: The Charter was signed on 26th June, 1945 at the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco (Article 3).
• Coming into force / content: The Charter aims to save people from war, provides fundamental rights, and promotes collective progress and upgradation — i.e., all of these together.
• Objectives: Co-operation, friendly relations, and equality among states — all of these.
• Original Members (1945): There were 51 original members.
• Current Membership: There are presently 193 member states.
• Membership eligibility: Membership is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations of the Charter and are able and willing to carry them out.
• Expulsion (Article 6): A member that persistently violates Charter principles may be expelled by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
• Original Members terminology: States that joined the UN on its very first day are called Original Members.