The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the United Nations’ principal judicial body, responsible for settling legal disputes between states and issuing advisory opinions on questions of international law referred by authorized UN organs and agencies. Composed of 15 judges elected for nine-year terms, the Court operates from The Hague and bases its rulings on treaties, customary international law, general principles of law, and judicial precedents. In Model UN settings, this committee simulates formal legal proceedings rather than traditional debate, requiring delegates to construct written memorials, present oral arguments, and apply legal reasoning to complex international disputes.
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