The Assembly of States Parties
How the ICC's governing body oversees the Court, sets its budget, and shapes its future direction.
The ICC's Governing Body
The Assembly of States Parties (ASP) is the management oversight and legislative body of the ICC. It comprises all 124 states parties, each with one vote. The ASP elects judges and the Prosecutor, approves the Court's budget, adopts amendments to the Rome Statute, and provides general oversight of the Court's administration.
The ASP meets annually and makes decisions by consensus when possible, or by two-thirds majority for substantive matters. Its Bureau, composed of a president, two vice-presidents, and 18 elected members, manages business between sessions. The ASP's most significant powers are the purse (it sets the budget) and personnel (it elects the Court's leadership). These powers give states parties considerable influence over the Court's direction without interfering in judicial matters.