uca.edu Open in urlscan Pro
161.31.3.35  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

 * Skip to content
 * Skip to navigation
 * Skip to footer

Government, Public Service, and International Studies

Menu
 * UCA Home
 * Admissions
 * Academics
 * Campus Life
 * Athletics
 * Connect
 * About UCA
 * A to Z

 * Home
 * Faculty/Staff
 * Programs »
   * Political Science Program
   * Public Administration Program
   * International Studies Program
 * Student Resources »
   * Department Mentoring Programs
   * Pre-Law Advising
   * Professional Associations
   * Professional Careers and Jobs
   * Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs)
   * Scholarships and Fellowships
   * The UCA Journal of Government, Public Service, and International Relations
 * Experiential Learning »
   * Academic Service-Learning
   * Department Honors Thesis
   * Global Education Opportunities
   * Model United Nations
   * Professional Internship Opportunities
   * Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program
   * The Washington Center (TWC) for Internships and Academic Seminars
 * Constitution Day
 * News
 * Contribute


MODEL INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (MICJ)

FUNCTIONS OF THE MICJ

The primary purpose of the MICJ is to resolve territorial and other disputes
between members of the United Nations in accordance with international law and
legal precedence. Member-states of the UN that submit disputes to the MICJ agree
that the decisions of the court are legally-binding upon both parties to the
disputes. The MICJ may also issue advisory opinions on legal issues when asked
to do so by committees of the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, or
agencies affiliated with the UN (member-states of the UN may not request
advisory opinions of the MICJ).

COMPOSITION OF THE MICJ

The MICJ is composed of 15 judges represented by high school students
participating in the AMUN Conference. Each participating high school is limited
to a maximum of two judges (more than two judges may be assigned to a high
school if there are available slots after all participating schools have had an
opportunity to choose judges). In their positions on the MICJ, the judges do not
officially represent their respective governments. However, in the event that a
case involves the government of one of the judges, that judge is prohibited from
participating in case deliberations and opinion writing (although they are
allowed to participate in oral arguments, rebuttals, and questions). Students
representing judges on the MICJ should prepare for their roles by researching
the International Court of Justice (ICJ), international law and legal
precedence, and territorial disputes. Students should not come to any
conclusions regarding a particular case until after reading the written
pleadings and hearing the oral arguments regarding the case during the sessions
of the MICJ.

STAFF OF THE MICJ

(1)  Coordinator – individual who is responsible for administering the court and
assisting the Presiding Officer of the MICJ.

(2)  Assistant Coordinator – individual who is responsible for assisting the
MICJ Coordinator.

(3)  Special Representative of the AMUN Secretary-General – individual who is
responsible for representing the AMUN Secretary-General in the proceedings of
the MICJ.

(4)  Applicants – individuals who represent the parties that initiated the
submission of the disputes to the MICJ.

(5)  Respondents – individuals who represent the parties that agreed to the
submission of the disputes to the MICJ (but did not initiate the submission of
the disputes to the MICJ).

JURISDICTION OF THE MICJ

The MICJ has jurisdiction over disputes between member-states under one or more
of the following conditions:

(1) when both of the parties to a dispute have agreed to submit the dispute to
the MICJ.

(2) when one of the parties to a dispute has submitted the dispute to the MICJ
in cases whereby the dispute involves the interpretation or application of a
treaty ratified by two or more parties (and the treaty specifically contains a
provision allowing one of the parties to submit a dispute to the MICJ in the
event of disagreement over its interpretation or application).

(3) when the dispute involves two or more member-states that have agreed in
advance to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the MICJ.

PROCEDURES OF THE MICJ

(1) Election of the President and Vice-Presidents of the MICJ – the 15 judges
elect by secret ballot a Presiding Officer (or President) of the MICJ and three
different Vice-Presidents of the MICJ.  The individual elected President of the
MICJ will also serve as Rapporteur for the MICJ during the Closing Session of
the conference on Saturday afternoon.  The following nomination/election
procedures shall be followed:

 * The MICJ Coordinator shall recognize the judges for between four and eight
   nominations (a minimum of four nominations) for MICJ Presiding Officer.  Only
   one nominee per high school may be allowed (so the MICJ Coordinator must
   record both the nominee’s country and high school).  After the nominations
   have been completed, the Coordinator shall announce the nominees (countries)
   for MICJ Presiding Officer.
 * The MICJ Coordinator shall distribute ballots to the 15 MICJ judges and ask
   them to vote for four of the nominees for MICJ Presiding Officer in order of
   preference (#1 – 1st preference, #2 – 2nd preference, #3 – 3rd preference,
   and #4 – 4th preference).  Votes cast for any country that was not among the
   nominees shall be discarded (although any votes for eligible nominees on the
   ballot shall be counted).
 * The MICJ Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator shall collect the ballots and
   count the votes.  Nominees will receive four votes for every 1st preference
   vote, three votes for every 2nd preference vote, two votes for every 3rd
   preference vote, and one vote for every 4th preference vote.  The top
   vote-getter shall be elected Presiding Officer of the MICJ and the next three
   top vote-getters shall be elected as Vice-Presidents of the MICJ (one for
   each of the three cases).
 * In the event of a tie for the top vote-getter, there shall be a runoff
   election among the top two or more vote-getters (depending on how many
   candidates tied for the top vote-getter).  In the runoff election, each of
   the 15 judges may cast a single vote for MICJ Presiding Officer among the two
   or more top vote-getters.  Ballots containing votes for candidates other than
   the two or more top vote-getters shall be discarded.  The same runoff process
   shall be following in the event of a tie for the third vice-president
   position.
 * The candidates elected as MICJ Presiding Officer and Vice-Presidents shall be
   announced by the MICJ Coordinator.

(2) Submission of Written Pleadings – all of the parties to each of the disputes
are required to submit a typed-written document summarizing their respective
governments’ positions (including the facts and the legal arguments concerning
the case) prior to the convening of the first session of the MICJ.

(3) Oral Arguments – each of the parties to the dispute (applicant and
respondent) are given 15 minutes each to orally present a summary of their
governments’ position regarding the case.

(4) Rebuttals – following the oral arguments, the parties to the dispute are
given a total of 15 minutes (approximately 7 1/2 minutes each) to present their
rebuttals to the opposing party’s oral arguments.

(5) Questions – following the oral arguments and rebuttals, the 15 judges of the
MICJ have a total of 40 minutes to ask questions of one or both of the parties
to the dispute.  The MICJ Presiding Officer (or a Vice-President) shall
recognize judges to ask questions.

(6) Case Deliberation – following the oral arguments, rebuttals, and questions,
the 15 MICJ judges meet in the chambers in private for a total of 60 minutes to
discuss the case.  All observers, applicants, and respondents are required to
leave the chambers.  Only the Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator are
permitted to remain in the chambers in order to assist the judges in their
deliberations.  During this period, the judges may choose to take a vote
regarding the pending case.  A “majority opinion” requires the approval of a
majority of the judges participating in the deliberations (e.g. 8 out of 15
judges).

(7) Writing of the Opinion – following the deliberations, the 15 MICJ judges
meet in the chambers in private for an additional 60 minutes to write the
“majority opinion” regarding the pending case.  All of the judges that agree
with the “majority opinion” must sign the document on the last page.  All of the
judges that do not agree with the “majority opinion” may choose to write one or
more “dissenting opinions” explaining their reasons for opposing the “majority
opinion.”  Only the MICJ Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator (if he or she is
not also serving as an applicant or respondent in the case) are permitted to
remain in the chambers in order to assist the judges in their writing of the
“majority opinion” and “dissenting opinions.”

(8) Reading of the Opinion – following the writing of the opinion, one of the
Vice-President of the MICJ publicly reads the “majority opinion” (regardless of
whether or not s/he signed the opinion) regarding the pending case. Observers,
applicants, and respondents are allowed in the chambers for the reading of the
opinions.

SCHEDULE

Friday, November 18, 2022

2:00 pm – 2:45 pm – Convening of the MICJ.  Election of the Presiding Officer
and Vice-Presidents of the MICJ (see procedure #1 above).

Case #1 – TBA

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm – Oral Arguments

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Rebuttals

3:30 pm – 3:35 pm – Break

3:35 pm – 4:15 pm – Questions

4:15 pm – 5:00 pm – Case Deliberation and Opinion Writing

5:00 pm – 6:15 pm – Dinner Break

6:15 pm – 7:30 pm – Case Deliberation and Opinion Writing (continued)

7:30 pm – 7:40 pm – Reading of the Opinion (Case #1)

7:40 pm – 7:45 pm – Break

Case #2 – TBA

7:45 pm – 8:15 pm – Oral Arguments

8:15 pm – 8:30 pm – Rebuttals

8:30 pm – 8:35 pm – Break

8:35 pm – 9:15 pm – Questions

9:15 pm – Recess

Saturday, November 19, 2022

8:30 am – 10:30 am – Case Deliberations and Opinion Writing

10:30 am – 10:40 am – Reading of the Opinion (Case #2)

10:40 am – 10:45 am – Break

Case #3 – TBA

10:45 am – 11:15 am – Oral Arguments

11:15 am – 11:30 am – Rebuttals

11:30 am – 12:45 pm – Lunch Break

12:45 pm – 1:25 pm – Questions

1:25 pm – 3:25 pm – Case Deliberation and Opinion Writing

3:25 pm – 3:35 pm – Reading of the Opinion (Case #3)

3:45 pm – Adjournment.  All MICJ judges and staff should proceed to the Closing
Session in Ida Waldran Auditorium.

 

Dr. Clay Arnold, Chair
Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies

University of Central Arkansas
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035

Phone: (501) 450-3412
Email: carnold@uca.edu

UCA dedicates itself to academic vitality, integrity, and diversity.
University of Central Arkansas · 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR 72035 · (501)
450-5000
UCA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Report Web Accessibility Issue | Concerned About a Student? | Privacy
Copyright © 2024 · All Rights Reserved

Return to Top