The ITER Council is the highest decision-making body of the ITER program and organization. It consisted of four representatives from each seven ITER country members. These representatives were authorized by their respective foreign ministries and were nominated according to the needs of the meeting. Their roles and responsibilities were very similar to those of a company's board of directors.
However, unlike a company, there were no "company bylaws" that could restrict the ITER Council's decision.
The voting power of the various members wasn't necessarily entirely determined from their country's technological strength and contribution to a specific field. Rather, it depended more on the international relations abilities of various countries.
One had to admit that the United States was definitely strong in this area. The questions asked by the American representatives to the Chinese representatives were quite scary.
