Public international law fundamentals: sovereignty, treaties, and international organizations, for an intro college course.
35 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is sovereignty in international law?
- The supreme authority of a state to govern itself within its territory and conduct foreign relations without interference from other states.
- What are the four criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention?
- Permanent population, defined territory, government capable of maintaining order, and capacity to enter into relations with other states.
- What is the Montevideo Convention?
- A 1933 treaty that defines the rights and duties of states and establishes the four criteria for statehood in international law.
- What is recognition in international law?
- A state's acknowledgment of another entity as a state, usually expressed through formal diplomatic relations or explicit declaration.
- Define a treaty in international law.
- A formal written agreement between states (or international organizations) that creates binding legal obligations under international law.
- What is the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties?
- A 1969 treaty that codifies the law governing the formation, interpretation, amendment, and termination of treaties between states.
- What does 'pacta sunt servanda' mean?
- A Latin principle meaning agreements must be kept; treaties create binding obligations that parties must honor.
- What is a bilateral treaty?
- An agreement between two states that creates reciprocal rights and obligations for those two parties only.
- What is a multilateral treaty?
- An agreement among three or more states, often open to all states or a large group of states.
- What is the difference between signing and ratifying a treaty?
- Signing shows agreement to the treaty's text; ratification is the formal step that binds a state to the treaty's obligations.
- Define customary international law.
- Rules derived from the consistent practice of states over time, accepted by states as binding legal obligations.
- What is opinio juris?
- The subjective element of customary law: the belief among states that a practice is legally obligatory, not merely customary.
- What is state practice?
- The objective, repeated conduct of states in their relations with one another that can form the basis of customary international law.
- What is the International Court of Justice?
- The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, authorized to settle legal disputes between states and give advisory opinions.
- What is the United Nations?
- An international organization founded in 1945 to maintain international peace, security, and promote cooperation among states.