LCP4801 INTERNATIONAL LAW EXAM PACK 2026
150 Questions and Verified Answers | University of
South Africa (UNISA)
Graded A+ | Full Exam Coverage | 2026/2027
Edition
SECTION 1: NATURE & SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Questions 1–30
Question 1
What is the definition of international law?
A) The law governing relations between individuals across borders
B) The law governing relations between states and regulating their external interactions in the
international sphere
C) The domestic law of sovereign states
D) The law created by international corporations
Correct answer: B
Rationale: International law is broadly defined as the law regulating relations between states . It
governs how states interact with each other and with other international actors in the global
arena .
Question 2
Who are the primary subjects of international law?
A) Individuals
,B) International organizations
C) States
D) Non-governmental organizations
Correct answer: C
Rationale: States are the primary subjects of international law because international law
historically developed as a system regulating relations between sovereign states . While other
entities have legal personality, states possess the fullest capacity .
Question 3
Are individuals traditionally subjects of international law?
A) Yes, individuals have always been primary subjects
B) No, individuals are generally not primary subjects, although modern international law
recognizes them in areas such as human rights and international criminal law
C) Yes, individuals are the only subjects of international law
D) No, individuals have no standing under any circumstances
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Individuals are generally not primary subjects of international law, although modern
international law recognizes them in areas such as human rights and international criminal law .
The traditional view holds that states are the primary actors .
Question 4
What event marked the emergence of the modern state system?
A) The Congress of Vienna (1815)
B) The Peace of Westphalia (1648)
C) The signing of the UN Charter (1945)
D) The Treaty of Versailles (1919)
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The Peace of Westphalia (1648) established sovereign, territorially independent
states and entrenched the idea of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs .
This is widely regarded as the birth of the modern state system .
,Question 5
What is the Westphalian principle of sovereign equality?
A) All states are economically equal
B) All states are legally equal; each has the right to independence and must respect the
sovereignty of others
C) All states have equal military power
D) All states have the same population
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The Westphalian model established that all states are legally equal, each has the
right to independence, and must respect the sovereignty of others . This principle remains
fundamental to international law .
Question 6
What early practices resembled international law before the modern state system?
A) Only written treaties
B) Diplomacy, treaties, trade agreements, and rules governing war between political
communities
C) Only maritime law
D) Only religious laws
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Early practices that resembled international law included diplomacy, treaties, trade
agreements, and rules governing war between political communities . These existed long before
the Westphalian system .
Question 7
How did African kingdoms participate in early international relations?
A) They were completely isolated from international relations
, B) Through diplomacy, trade, and political agreements, such as Mansa Musa of Mali interacting
with Arabia, the Oba of Benin sending envoys to Lisbon in 1514, and diplomatic exchanges
between Portugal and the kingdoms of Mossi and Congo
C) Only through warfare
D) Only through religious missions
Correct answer: B
Rationale: African kingdoms participated in early international relations through diplomacy,
trade, and political agreements. Examples include Mansa Musa of Mali interacting with Arabia,
the Oba of Benin sending envoys to Lisbon in 1514, and diplomatic exchanges between
Portugal and the kingdoms of Mossi and Congo .
Question 8
How did colonialism affect Africa's role in international law?
A) It enhanced Africa's role as a creator of international law
B) Colonialism suppressed African political systems and treated Africa largely as an object
rather than a creator of international law
C) It had no effect on Africa's role
D) It made Africa the primary subject of international law
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Colonialism suppressed African political systems and treated Africa largely as an
object rather than a creator of international law . African states were not considered equal
participants in the international legal system during the colonial era .
Question 9
What is the main source of international law according to the ICJ Statute?
A) Only treaties
B) Treaties, customary international law, and general principles of law recognized by civilized
nations
C) Only customary international law
D) Only judicial decisions
Correct answer: B
150 Questions and Verified Answers | University of
South Africa (UNISA)
Graded A+ | Full Exam Coverage | 2026/2027
Edition
SECTION 1: NATURE & SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Questions 1–30
Question 1
What is the definition of international law?
A) The law governing relations between individuals across borders
B) The law governing relations between states and regulating their external interactions in the
international sphere
C) The domestic law of sovereign states
D) The law created by international corporations
Correct answer: B
Rationale: International law is broadly defined as the law regulating relations between states . It
governs how states interact with each other and with other international actors in the global
arena .
Question 2
Who are the primary subjects of international law?
A) Individuals
,B) International organizations
C) States
D) Non-governmental organizations
Correct answer: C
Rationale: States are the primary subjects of international law because international law
historically developed as a system regulating relations between sovereign states . While other
entities have legal personality, states possess the fullest capacity .
Question 3
Are individuals traditionally subjects of international law?
A) Yes, individuals have always been primary subjects
B) No, individuals are generally not primary subjects, although modern international law
recognizes them in areas such as human rights and international criminal law
C) Yes, individuals are the only subjects of international law
D) No, individuals have no standing under any circumstances
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Individuals are generally not primary subjects of international law, although modern
international law recognizes them in areas such as human rights and international criminal law .
The traditional view holds that states are the primary actors .
Question 4
What event marked the emergence of the modern state system?
A) The Congress of Vienna (1815)
B) The Peace of Westphalia (1648)
C) The signing of the UN Charter (1945)
D) The Treaty of Versailles (1919)
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The Peace of Westphalia (1648) established sovereign, territorially independent
states and entrenched the idea of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs .
This is widely regarded as the birth of the modern state system .
,Question 5
What is the Westphalian principle of sovereign equality?
A) All states are economically equal
B) All states are legally equal; each has the right to independence and must respect the
sovereignty of others
C) All states have equal military power
D) All states have the same population
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The Westphalian model established that all states are legally equal, each has the
right to independence, and must respect the sovereignty of others . This principle remains
fundamental to international law .
Question 6
What early practices resembled international law before the modern state system?
A) Only written treaties
B) Diplomacy, treaties, trade agreements, and rules governing war between political
communities
C) Only maritime law
D) Only religious laws
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Early practices that resembled international law included diplomacy, treaties, trade
agreements, and rules governing war between political communities . These existed long before
the Westphalian system .
Question 7
How did African kingdoms participate in early international relations?
A) They were completely isolated from international relations
, B) Through diplomacy, trade, and political agreements, such as Mansa Musa of Mali interacting
with Arabia, the Oba of Benin sending envoys to Lisbon in 1514, and diplomatic exchanges
between Portugal and the kingdoms of Mossi and Congo
C) Only through warfare
D) Only through religious missions
Correct answer: B
Rationale: African kingdoms participated in early international relations through diplomacy,
trade, and political agreements. Examples include Mansa Musa of Mali interacting with Arabia,
the Oba of Benin sending envoys to Lisbon in 1514, and diplomatic exchanges between
Portugal and the kingdoms of Mossi and Congo .
Question 8
How did colonialism affect Africa's role in international law?
A) It enhanced Africa's role as a creator of international law
B) Colonialism suppressed African political systems and treated Africa largely as an object
rather than a creator of international law
C) It had no effect on Africa's role
D) It made Africa the primary subject of international law
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Colonialism suppressed African political systems and treated Africa largely as an
object rather than a creator of international law . African states were not considered equal
participants in the international legal system during the colonial era .
Question 9
What is the main source of international law according to the ICJ Statute?
A) Only treaties
B) Treaties, customary international law, and general principles of law recognized by civilized
nations
C) Only customary international law
D) Only judicial decisions
Correct answer: B
