The ICJ's jurisdiction in contentious cases depends on states' consent, which can be expressed through special agreements, treaty clauses, or voluntary declarations under the _____ clause of the ICJ Statute.
- compromissory
- optional
- mandatory
- unilateral
Answer: optional
Article 36(2) of the ICJ Statute allows states to declare acceptance of the Court's compulsory jurisdiction for legal disputes with other accepting states. These 'optional clause' declarations may include reservations, and reciprocity limits jurisdiction to the scope both parties have accepted.