. NMT04-F013
Volume IV · Page XIII
| CHARTER OF THE
INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL |
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| CONSTITUTION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY TRIBUNAL |
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| Article 1. In pursuance of
the Agreement signed on the 8th day of August 1945 by the Government of the
United States of America, the Provisional Government of the French Republic,
the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and
the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, there shall be
established an International Military Tribunal (hereinafter called "the
Tribunal") for the just and prompt trial and punishment of the major war
criminals of the European Axis. Article 2. The Tribunal shall consist of four members, each with an alternate. One member and one alternate shall be appointed by each of the Signatories. The alternates shall, so far as they are able, be present at all sessions of the Tribunal. In case of illness of any member of the Tribunal or his incapacity for some other reason to fulfill his functions, his alternate shall take his place. Article 3. Neither the Tribunal, its members nor their alternates can be challenged by the prosecution, or by the Defendants or their Counsel. Each Signatory may replace its member of the Tribunal or his alternate for reasons of health or for other good reasons, except that no replacement may take place during a Trial, other than by an alternate. Article 4. (a) The presence of all four members of the Tribunal or the alternate for any absent member shall be necessary to constitute the quorum. (b) The members of the Tribunal shall, before any trial begins, agree among themselves upon the selection from their number of a President, and the President shall hold office during that trial, or as may otherwise be agreed by a vote of not less than three members. The principle of rotation of presidency for successive trials is agreed. If, however, a session of the Tribunal takes place on the territory of one of the four Signatories, the representative of that Signatory on the Tribunal shall preside. (c) Save as aforesaid the Tribunal shall take decisions by a majority vote and in case the votes are evenly divided, the vote of the President shall be decisive: provided always that convictions and sentences shall only be imposed by affirmative votes of at least three members of the Tribunal. Article 5. In case of need and depending on the number of the matters to be tried, other Tribunals may be set up; and the establishment, functions, and procedure of each Tribunal shall be identical, and shall be governed by this Charter. II. |
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| JURISDICTION AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES | |
| Article 6. The Tribunal
established by the Agreement referred to in Article 1 hereof for the trial and
punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis countries shall have
the power to try and punish persons who, acting in the interests of the
European Axis countries, whether as individuals or as members of organizations,
committed any of the following crimes. The following acts, or any of them, are crimes coming within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal for which there shall be individual responsibility: |
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| (a) | CRIMES AGAINST PEACE: namely, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing; |
