The United Nations Security Council includes 15 members and is founded with the purpose of peacekeeping and sanctions. Five members-China, Russia, France, the UK, and the United States-have veto power while ten others are voted in based on regional blocs. Is this temporary regional representation enough? Europe accounts for a third of the Security Council members, and two-fifths of the veto powers.

YES
* New Voices. When the UN was founded, the most powerful nations at the time were given permanent seats. Countries such as South Africa, Brazil and India have much more authority than they did at the UN founding while France and the United Kingdom have significantly less influence. Regional voices are needed.

* Diversity. The current permanent membership is four-fifths from white-dominated countries. The same four-fifths are developed economies. More diversity is needed for regional and economic representation. The southern hemisphere is underrepresented and needs membership.

* Decentralization. When the United Nations was founded, ten percent of its members had permanent UN Security Council seats. As UN membership has increased, permanent membership has not. Permanent members only account for less than three percent of the members. This power is too centralized.

NO
* Slower. The General Assembly is the place to hear from everyone and deliberate every angle of an issue. The Security Council is designed to act quickly on matters of peace and security. More permanent members could result in more stalemates and less action.

* UN Endorsement. By selecting regional or continental representative powers, such as Brazil and India, the United Nations is sanctioning the authority of said countries in the region, something neighboring countries may easily resent. Such endorsement undermines diversity and emboldens balkanization.

* Status Quo Works. Current non-permanent members already represent regions in the Security Council. Arguments about diverse voices fall flat. By rotating in members based on regional votes, the variety of voices is even greater than a stagnant set of members. Rotation is more diverse than permanence.

Next week: I am taking open to topic recommendations. E-mail me a topic you want to see in this column.

Roger Hatridge coaches debate at Leaders Academy and can be reached at Hatridge@gmail.com.