The international Linear Collider (ILC) is an electron-positron collider whose initial goal is to make precision measurements on the Higgs boson.

Such measurements are expected to elucidate the shortcomings of the Standard Model of elementary particles and guide us to the new physics that governs the universe. Being a linear collider, It also has potential to upgrade its collision energy without sacrificing the investment up to that point.  In this talk, we review the scientific case of the ILC and describe its political status.