Legal Literacy - Have you ever heard of the term veto power? What is the mechanism for using veto power and what is the legal basis? This article will explain to you the meaning and uses of veto power in international sessions. United Nations to determine every important decision on a global scale. Learn more about veto power by reading the article below!

Definition of Veto Power

The UN charter does not actually mention the term veto power. Veto power is a privilege held by permanent members of the UN Security Council. This is as stipulated in Article 27 paragraph (1) which states that each member of the Security Council has the right to cast one vote. Article 27 paragraph (2) states that decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members. Then Article 27 paragraph (3) states that decisions of the Security Council on all other matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members including the concurring votes of the permanent members; provided that, in decisions under which are taken under chapter VI and Article 52 paragraph (3), a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.

Based on the formulation of these articles, it can be interpreted that the veto power is the privilege to express agreement, reject or cancel UN decisions. According to Soeprapto, 1995, if one of the permanent member states of the UN Security Council uses its veto power to reject or cancel a UN decision even though the decision has been agreed upon by other member states, the decision cannot be implemented. Thus, it is very clear that the influence of the veto power as held by the permanent member states of the UN Security Council is very large. This great influence takes the form of decision-making through voting in the UN Security Council on all matters except those of a procedural nature, requiring the unanimous support of the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council as a main condition as implied in Article 27 paragraph (3) of the UN Charter.