--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First and foremost, the United States did…" description: "\"First and foremost, the United States did not ratify the 1998 Rome Statute that founded the ICC. Successive administrations have stood by that decision..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/robert-c-o-brien-5596_american_first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did_682858.jpg" --- # First and foremost, the United States did not ratify the… ![“First and foremost, the United States did not ratify the 1998 Rome Statute that founded the ICC. Successive administrations have stood by that decision and, as a result, American citizens are not subject to ICC jurisdiction.” quote by Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/robert-c-o-brien-5596_american_first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did_682858.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/robert-c-o-brien-5596_american_first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did_682858.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/robert-c-o-brien-5596_american_first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did_682858.jpg) > “First and foremost, the United States did not ratify the 1998 Rome Statute that founded the ICC. Successive administrations have stood by that decision and, as a result, American citizens are not subject to ICC jurisdiction.” [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The United States has not joined the Rome Statute, so its citizens are not bound by the International Criminal Court’s authority. **In simple terms:** U.S. is not subject to ICC because it didn’t ratify the treaty. Key Takeaway Know the legal limits of ICC jurisdiction. Themes law sovereignty international relations Mood analytical neutral Type political legal When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - human rights advocacy - legal education Key Concepts jurisdictional immunity state sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - Should the U.S. reconsider joining the ICC? - How does non‑participation affect global justice? A Different Perspective Limits accountability for alleged crimes abroad. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Rome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rome/) ## Related quotes > [I was against impunity when it comes to human rights violations. But many of us African leaders now want to leave the Rome Statute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoweri-museveni/i-was-against-impunity-when-it-comes-to-human-rights-violations-but/) [Yoweri Museveni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoweri-museveni/) > [You are an American, so you're hurt that other American citizens have been hurt, but you end up having to shoulder the shame for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/you-are-an-american-so-you-re-hurt-that-other-american-citizens-have/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [So after a long time of utilizing the American propaganda machine, along with official statements of lies, distortion and falsehood, the focus was basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/so-after-a-long-time-of-utilizing-the-american-propaganda-machine/) [Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/) > [“It may sound reactionary, I know. But we can all feel it. We've changed the way we think of ourselves as citizens. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-may-sound-reactionary-i-know-but-we-can-all-feel-it-we-ve-changed/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [As long as my record stands in federal court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without trial or hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-korematsu/as-long-as-my-record-stands-in-federal-court-any-american-citizen-can/) [Fred Korematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-korematsu/) > [Our Navy was very largely sunk. And we were at war in no time at all. I share, in retrospect, the distress we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-rusher/our-navy-was-very-largely-sunk-and-we-were-at-war-in-no-time-at-all-i/) [William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-rusher/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Think of the undying glory that hangs around the ancient name of Africa and forget not that you are native-born American citizens, and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-highland-garnet/think-of-the-undying-glory-that-hangs-around-the-ancient-name-of/) [Henry Highland Garnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-highland-garnet/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/having-spent-37-years-of-my-life-in-the-military-as-a-reservist-and/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [We have a bunch of American citizens who step up because that's what we do. We'll step up and go across the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/we-have-a-bunch-of-american-citizens-who-step-up-because-that-s-what/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [There's been a systematic propagandizing of American citizens for 30 years to make us forget what America is supposed to be and what our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/there-s-been-a-systematic-propagandizing-of-american-citizens-for-30/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Robert C. O'Brien > [As the Navy gets smaller, the world's oceans are becoming more dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/as-the-navy-gets-smaller-the-world-s-oceans-are-becoming-more/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [When the Jewish state of Israel is strong, Jewish communities worldwide are also strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/when-the-jewish-state-of-israel-is-strong-jewish-communities/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [In World War II, America was the Arsenal of Democracy, providing war materiel to our Allies that ultimately led to victory over tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/in-world-war-ii-america-was-the-arsenal-of-democracy-providing-war/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The American voter knows that we cannot protect the seas and our interests overseas unless we have ships that can fight and deliver Marines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-american-voter-knows-that-we-cannot-protect-the-seas-and-our/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Well, free elections are the foundation of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/well-free-elections-are-the-foundation-of-our-democracy/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [I never wanted Mark Esper's job. I just wanted to see Mark Esper succeed and do a great job as secretary of Defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/i-never-wanted-mark-esper-s-job-i-just-wanted-to-see-mark-esper/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The men appear to have a special blend of GOP DNA: Rubio and Cruz appeal to both the key social conservative and defense hawk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-men-appear-to-have-a-special-blend-of-gop-dna-rubio-and-cruz/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [By interacting with NATO vessels on E.U. anti-piracy duty, the Chinese are gaining valuable insights in to Western naval doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/by-interacting-with-nato-vessels-on-e-u-anti-piracy-duty-the-chinese/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The worst kidnapper of Americans is a nation state - Iran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-worst-kidnapper-of-americans-is-a-nation-state-iran/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [No, I don't think there's systemic racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/no-i-don-t-think-there-s-systemic-racism/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [The United States Navy is of critical importance to the defense of this country and to maintaining freedom of the seas internationally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/the-united-states-navy-is-of-critical-importance-to-the-defense-of/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [My job as the national security adviser is to distill and present to the president the views and options that come from the various…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/my-job-as-the-national-security-adviser-is-to-distill-and-present-to/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [Both Russia and the United States have had their homelands attacked by violent extremists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/both-russia-and-the-united-states-have-had-their-homelands-attacked/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [We're going to do everything we can to harden our systems, to make sure that our elections are free and fair and the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/we-re-going-to-do-everything-we-can-to-harden-our-systems-to-make/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) > [It is hard for anyone born after 1945 to imagine a world where the oceans - the global commons - are not open for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/it-is-hard-for-anyone-born-after-1945-to-imagine-a-world-where-the/) [Robert C. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) [Explore all 99 Robert C. O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "First and foremost, the United States did not ratify the 1998 Rome Statute that founded the ICC. Successive administrations have stood by that decision and, as a result, American citizens are not subject to ICC jurisdiction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert C. O'Brien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did-not-ratify-the-1998-rome/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did-not-ratify-the-1998-rome/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/robert-c-o-brien-5596_american_first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did_682858.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/robert-c-o-brien-5596_american_first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did_682858.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a52/robert-c-o-brien-5596_american_first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did_682858.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“First and foremost, the United States did not ratify the 1998 Rome Statute that founded the ICC. Successive…” — Robert C. O'Brien", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert C. O'Brien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-o-brien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "First and foremost, the United States...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did-not-ratify-the-1998-rome/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-o-brien/first-and-foremost-the-united-states-did-not-ratify-the-1998-rome/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```