The correct answer is 10. Explanation & Key Takeaways: • The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is composed of a total of 15 members, which includes 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. • The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the United Nations General Assembly for a two-year term. • Each year, the General Assembly elects five non-permanent members to ensure a staggered transition; retiring members are not eligible for immediate re-election. • The distribution of these 10 seats is based on equitable geographical representation: 5 seats for African and Asian States, 1 seat for Eastern European States, 2 seats for Latin American and Caribbean States, and 2 seats for Western European and Other States. • The primary mandate of the UNSC is to maintain international peace and security as defined in the UN Charter. • To be elected, a candidate country must receive at least a two-thirds majority of the votes from the General Assembly. Related Concepts: • Permanent Members (P5): • The 5 permanent members are China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. • These nations possess veto power, meaning any one of them can block a substantive resolution regardless of the level of international support. • Council Composition History: • The council originally consisted of 11 members (5 permanent and 6 non-permanent). • An amendment to Article 23 of the UN Charter was adopted in 1963 and came into effect in 1965, increasing the non-permanent membership from 6 to 10. • Voting Procedures: • Each member of the Security Council has one vote. • Decisions on procedural matters require an affirmative vote of at least 9 members.