The United Nations Security Council, which is supposed to be responsible for maintaining international peace and security, is structured so that China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States each have the power to veto any resolutions of the council. Such resolutions can implement sanctions or authorize the use of force. A Security Council member is required to abstain from a vote if it is party to a dispute, and the decision concerns the peaceful settlement of that dispute. In practice, this rule is not applied consistently and was last exercised in 1960.