Compromissory Law and Legal Definition
Compromissory generally means related to a compromise. For example, a contract may have a compromissory clause in which the parties agree to subject a dispute to a third party for settlement. Most modern treaties will contain a compromissory clause, providing for dispute resolution by the International Court of Justice. Cases founded on compromissory clauses have not been as effective as cases founded on special agreement, since a state may have no interest in having the matter examined by the Court and may refuse to comply with a judgment. For example, during the Iran hostage crisis, Iran refused to participate in a case brought by the US based on a compromissory clause contained in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, nor did it comply with the judgment. Since the 1970s, the popularity of such clauses has lessened. Many modern treaties set out their own dispute resolution process, often based on forms of arbitration.