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Chambers and Committees

The International Court of Justice is an international organization that functions as the judicial branch of the United Nations.  It is sometimes called the World Court.  The ICJ was established in 1945 and has its headquarters at The Hague, Netherlands.  ICJ generally discharges its duties as a full Court.  It may also form permanent or temporary chambers and Committees.

ICJ has three types of chamber:

•        The Chamber of Summary Procedure, comprising five judges, including the President and Vice-President, and two substitutes, which the Court is required by Article 29 of the Statute to form annually with a view to the speedy dispatch of business;

•        Any chamber, comprising at least three judges, that the Court may form pursuant to Article 26, paragraph 1, of the Statute to deal with certain categories of cases, such as labor or communications;

•        Any chamber that the Court may form pursuant to Article 26, paragraph 2, of the Statute.  Such chamber deals with a particular case, after formally consulting the parties regarding its members.  These members will sit in all phases of the case until its conclusion, even if in the meantime they cease to be Members of the Court.

The three different Committees are as follows:

•        Budgetary and Administrative Committee: Decisions to be taken by the Court on administrative matters are prepared by a Budgetary and Administrative Committee.  It is composed of the President (chair), the Vice-President and four to five judges elected triennially.

•        Library Committee: Established in 1970, the Library Committee oversees the program of acquisitions for the library of the Court.  It also supervises the ongoing modernization of its services.

•        Rules Committee: Rules Committee was established in 1979.  This committee advises the Court on procedural issues and working methods.


Inside Chambers and Committees