Legal Definitions - ICC

The acronym ICC can refer to two distinct legal entities:

• Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)

  The Interstate Commerce Commission was a regulatory agency of the U.S. federal government, established in 1887 and abolished in 1995. Its primary role was to regulate the economics and services of transportation carriers operating between states, including railroads, trucking companies, bus lines, and some pipelines. The ICC aimed to prevent monopolies, ensure fair rates, and promote competition in interstate commerce.

  • Example 1: Railroad Freight Rates

    In the early 20th century, a manufacturing company in Illinois needed to ship its products by rail to customers in California. Before the ICC's oversight, railroad companies could charge exorbitant and inconsistent rates. The ICC stepped in to approve and regulate these freight rates, ensuring they were reasonable and non-discriminatory for all shippers across state lines.

  • Example 2: Trucking Route Licensing

    During the mid-20th century, a new trucking business wanted to establish routes transporting goods from Texas to New York. To operate legally and ensure fair competition, this company would have needed to apply for and receive a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the ICC, which regulated which carriers could serve specific interstate routes.

  • Example 3: Pipeline Tariffs

    In the 1950s, an oil refinery in Oklahoma was disputing the charges levied by a pipeline company for transporting crude oil through its network, which crossed several state borders. The ICC would have been the federal body responsible for reviewing and approving the pipeline's tariffs (pricing schedules) to ensure they were just and reasonable, preventing the pipeline from exploiting its monopoly power.

• International Criminal Court (ICC)

  The International Criminal Court is a permanent international judicial body established by the Rome Statute in 2002. It investigates and, where warranted, prosecutes individuals for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. The ICC acts as a court of last resort, meaning it only intervenes when national courts are unwilling or unable to genuinely carry out investigations or prosecutions.

  • Example 1: Prosecution for War Crimes

    During an armed conflict in a country that is a party to the Rome Statute, a high-ranking military officer is accused of systematically ordering attacks on civilian hospitals and schools. If the national justice system is unable or unwilling to prosecute this individual, the ICC could open an investigation and potentially issue an arrest warrant, leading to a trial for war crimes.

  • Example 2: Investigation into Crimes Against Humanity

    In a signatory state, evidence emerges of a government-backed campaign involving widespread and systematic forced disappearances and torture of a specific ethnic group. The ICC Prosecutor could initiate an investigation into these alleged crimes against humanity, seeking to identify and prosecute those most responsible for orchestrating these atrocities.

  • Example 3: Genocide Allegations

    A situation arises in a country that has ratified the Rome Statute where there are credible reports of acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a religious minority group, including mass killings and forced sterilization. The ICC would have jurisdiction to investigate these allegations of genocide and bring charges against the individuals believed to be responsible.