pedants and lawyers...state party

[hatwoman]

what is your prefered plural of the term state party (I am talking about countries that have signed up to treaties. not ones that are having a bit of a shindig).

and do you like it with upper or lower case

I don't actually think there's a right or wrong here btw. it's just something I've long been torn about...I think it's a case where the pragmatist/modernist in me wins over the pedant.but interested to know others' opinions.

parties in normal use, Parties in a deed or other contract.

I think in legal terminology I'd say States Party but in a less technical context would try to rephrase in order to get around using it at all (which is my general approach to any areas of grammar where I feel uncomfortable or that are in a state of flux).

I agree re the rephrasing technique - my favoured approach in general.

some would say state parties - which pedantically speaking is wrong but in some contexts does seem to work.