I like the idea of one country per continent.

Australia being its own continent gets a permanent seat like we do. Denmark for Europe. We can always count on the Danes to do the right thing. India for Asia. Africa might need two because of the radical differences between equatorial Africa and the rest of the continent, so how about Lebanon and Kenya. Brazil for South America.

The U.N. would be a changed place PDQ and John Bolton looks like the man to set it in motion.

One seat for the EU and all required to have consensual governments.

When did they move Lebanon from Asia to Africa? Another Syrian plot in the middle of the night? One short trip away from home and I missed that wondrous marvel.

Seriously, maybe erp is confusing Tripoli, Libya with Tripoli, Lebanon?

A continent is a meaningless criteria for geopolitics. Whether you call it the Security Council or the Congress of Europe, this is simply where the Great Powers Make Deals. Lebanon (which is not in Africa by the way), Denmark, and Kenya are simply not Great Powers. Brazil isn't although someday could be. India will get there, but isn't there yet.

The entire idea is that whoever makes these decisions has the power to enforce them. That means influence, wealth, and military power.

While none of these countries are in the rank of the US, they do qualify.

United Kingdom
France
Russia
China
Japan
South Africa

Russia is declining and may drop off soon.
India is rising and could be added soon.
Australia could qualify with a larger population and economy.
Brazil has pretensions, but has never lived up to them.
Egypt could one day qualify, but is nowhere close yet.
Germany theoretically could qualify on paper, but doesn't in reality.

Give a seat to anyone who wants one.

Why does frogistan qualify?

Germany's the economic engine.

The EU countries should only have 1 seat. Having more than 1 vote would be like giving California and Texas both a seat. So France or Germany should be removed. The EU (assuming it continues to exist) could then be like the US and nominate a rep from any of its areas.

With France or Germany gone Japan or India should get the open seat. Then add a few seats so that large upcoming countries like Japan/India, Brazil, and Australia get seats.

Sorry, after posting realized Germany doesn't have a seat. But boot France anyway and give it to someone else from the EU, preferably Poland.

America, Britain, India, Kenya, Australia, Brazil.

Kenya? Australia? C'mon, all, governments aren't forever. If you just start turning it into an international popularity contest or reward for good behaviour, you'll do nothing to undercut its claim to be a source of supranational legal authority and may end up doing the opposite. Do you want the world and half the American public to be howling that some future war was illegal because Brazil and Kenya voted no?

David is right. Seats for all and vetos for none (or all). The problem with the Security Council is its existence, not its composition.

Kenya? Australia? C'mon, all, governments aren't forever. If you just start turning it into an international popularity contest or reward for good behaviour, you'll do nothing to undercut its claim to be a source of supranational legal authority and may end up doing the opposite. Do you want the world and half the American public to be howling that some future war was illegal because Brazil and Kenya voted no?

David is right. Seats for all and vetos for none (or all). The problem with the Security Council is its existence, not its composition.

Peter:

Sure.

Write off the UN and start a new club. To join members must be bona fide democracies. Set up two chambers, one based on GDP and the other based on population.