Final answer:
The United Nations' power lies mainly in its Security Council, which consists of five permanent members and ten rotating members. However, its ability to take strong international action is limited due to factors such as the time constraint of its annual sessions, the veto power of the permanent members, and the absence of political parties within the Security Council.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United Nations' power lies mainly in its Security Council, which consists of five permanent members and ten rotating members. The Security Council is charged with maintaining global peace and stability and has the power to make binding decisions. However, the Security Council's ability to take strong international action is limited due to several factors:
- The annual session of the Security Council runs only from September to December, which restricts its ability to address issues throughout the year.
- Decisions made by the Security Council can be vetoed by any one of the five permanent members, which include China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- The Security Council does not have political parties to provide priorities and discipline, which can affect decision-making processes.