This chapter aims to provide a description of U.S. policy on the subject of international criminal courts and tribunals, both at present and historically, and how that policy has been, and continues to be, developed. It is not intended to provide a critique of that policy. The merits of policy positions are examined only insofar as they shed light on the origins of or motivations underlying those positions. As an initial matter, it is essential to formulate a definition of the term “international criminal court” as it is used in this study. The characterization of a court as “international” may be influenced by a range of factors. To comprehend the full range of U.S. policy positions, it is important to include not only those characteristics that jurists would consider relevant but also those that are relevant for policy makers, whether legally relevant or not (and whether reasonable or not).