Which UN body has the power to make decisions that member states are obligated to carry out?

The Security Council is the UN body that has the authority to make decisions that member states are obligated to carry out. This power stems from the UN Charter, which grants the Security Council the responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. When the Security Council adopts resolutions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, these decisions can impose obligations on member states, requiring them to take specified actions or comply with certain measures, such as sanctions or military interventions, to address threats to peace.

In contrast, other bodies like the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council do not possess the same level of enforcement power. The General Assembly, while it plays a crucial role in deliberations and in shaping international norms, has resolutions that are generally non-binding. The Economic and Social Council focuses on promoting social and economic development and coordinating the work of various UN agencies, without the authority to mandate actions for member states. The Trusteeship Council, which has completed its mandate, was originally established to oversee the administration of trust territories and did not have enforcement capabilities over member states. Thus, the unique power of the Security Council to obligate member states sets it apart from these other bodies.