When confronted with a threat to security, a European government can respond on its own or join an alliance. Because a democratic government is accountable to its electorate for security, it may choose to act on its own to avoid diluting its power to act. However, in order to act effectively, a government needs substantial resources, and joining a multi-national alliance can enhance national resources. There are hundreds of institutions that a government can ally with to increase its resources; these differ in their powers and specialised purposes. The European Union is a multi-purpose alliance with strong powers to deal with economic security; significant powers to deal with climate change; and very little authority to deal with military defence. The United Nations Charter lists a variety of purposes. However, the very inclusiveness of its membership greatly limits its effectiveness, since the governments threatening security are member states as are states wanting protection. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization by contrast is an alliance with a clear purpose: to protect its member states against military attack. The great majority of European states belong to alliances to help deal with threats to their security and engage in political bargaining with other governments that restrict their independence.