For the purposes of this title:
§ 1297.21.Definitions
Title 9.3. Arbitration and Conciliation of International Commercial Disputes · Chapter 1. Application and Interpretation · Article 2. Interpretation · Enacted 1988 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1297.21 defines the title's core vocabulary, including arbitral award, arbitral tribunal, arbitration, conciliation, Chief Justice, court, party, superior court, and Supreme Court, for consistent use throughout the title.
Full Text of § 1297.21
(a) "Arbitral award" means any decision of the arbitral tribunal on the substance of the dispute submitted to it and includes an interim, interlocutory, or partial arbitral award.
(b) "Arbitral tribunal" means a sole arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators.
(c) "Arbitration" means any arbitration whether or not administered by a permanent arbitral institution.
(d) "Conciliation" means any conciliation whether or not administered by a permanent conciliation institution.
(e) "Chief Justice" means the Chief Justice of California or his or her designee.
(f) "Court" means a body or an organ of the judicial system of a state.
(g) "Party" means a party to an arbitration or conciliation agreement.
(i) "Supreme Court" means the Supreme Court of California.
Plain-English Summary
A title this technical needs a shared vocabulary, and this section supplies it. An arbitral award covers any decision on the substance of a submitted dispute, including partial or interim awards, and an arbitral tribunal can be either a single arbitrator or a panel. Arbitration and conciliation are each defined broadly enough to include proceedings run by a permanent institution as well as ad hoc ones arranged by the parties themselves.
The remaining definitions point to specific people and institutions. "Chief Justice" means California's Chief Justice or a designee, "court" means a judicial body or organ of a state's court system, and "party" means a party to an arbitration or conciliation agreement. "Superior court" refers to the particular county court selected under this title's own venue rule, and "Supreme Court" means California's own high court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an arbitral award include a partial or interim decision?
Yes. The definition of arbitral award expressly includes an interim, interlocutory, or partial arbitral award.
Does this title only apply to arbitrations run by a permanent institution?
No. Both arbitration and conciliation are defined to include proceedings whether or not administered by a permanent arbitral or conciliation institution.
Which court is meant by "superior court" in this title?
The superior court in the county selected under Section 1297.61's venue rule.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 23, Sec. 1. Effective March 7, 1988.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: definitions international arbitration title californiaarbitral tribunal definition california statute