LCP4804 Assignment 1: 100 Q&A on
Fundamental International Law Principles
Part 1: The Nature and Sources of International Law (Questions 1-25)
1. What is the primary distinction between international law and domestic
law?
a) International law is always codified in a single document.
b) Domestic law governs relations between states, while international law governs
relations within a state.
c) International law lacks a central sovereign authority to enforce it.
d) Domestic law is not binding on its subjects.
c) International law lacks a central sovereign authority to enforce it.
2. The two main primary sources of international law, as per Article 38(1) of
the ICJ Statute, are:
a) UN Resolutions and International Conventions.
b) International Conventions and International Custom.
c) Judicial Decisions and Teachings of the Most Highly Qualified Publicists.
d) General Principles of Law and Jus Cogens.
b) International Conventions and International Custom.
3. A 'Jus Cogens' norm is best described as:
a) A bilateral treaty obligation.
b) A peremptory norm of general international law from which no derogation is
permitted.
c) A recommendation from the UN General Assembly.
d) A regional custom.
b) A peremptory norm of general international law from which no
derogation is permitted.
4. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for the formation of a rule of
customary international law?
a) State Practice (usus)
b) A written treaty
c) Opinio Juris (belief that the practice is legally obligatory)
,d) General acceptance by states
b) A written treaty
5. The principle of 'pacta sunt servanda' means:
a) Treaties must be negotiated in good faith.
b) Every state has the right to a coastline.
c) Agreements must be kept.
d) States are immune from suit.
c) Agreements must be kept.
6. What is a 'reservation' to a treaty?
a) A formal withdrawal from a treaty.
b) A unilateral statement seeking to exclude or modify the legal effect of certain
provisions.
c) An amendment proposed by all state parties.
d) The preamble of the treaty.
b) A unilateral statement seeking to exclude or modify the legal effect of
certain provisions.
7. The 'persistent objector' rule allows a state to:
a) Veto any new rule of customary international law.
b) Be exempt from a new customary rule if it consistently and openly objected
during the rule's formation.
c) Ignore all treaties it has not signed.
d) Unilaterally modify a treaty after ratification.
b) Be exempt from a new customary rule if it consistently and openly
objected during the rule's formation.
8. General principles of law recognized by civilized nations are derived from:
a) Principles common to the major legal systems of the world.
b) The UN Secretary-General's directives.
c) Regional international organizations only.
d) The domestic law of the most powerful state.
a) Principles common to the major legal systems of the world.
, 9. Which source of international law is considered subsidiary?
a) International Conventions
b) International Custom
c) Judicial Decisions and Scholarly Writings
d) General Principles of Law
c) Judicial Decisions and Scholarly Writings
10. Soft law refers to:
a) Non-binding legal instruments like declarations and guidelines.
b) Treaties that are not yet in force.
c) Judgments of the International Court of Justice.
d) The domestic laws of states with soft power.
a) Non-binding legal instruments like declarations and guidelines.
11. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) primarily governs:
a) The conduct of warfare.
b) The formation, application, and termination of treaties between states.
c) The jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
d) Diplomatic immunity.
b) The formation, application, and termination of treaties between states.
12. 'Opinio Juris' is the:
a) Physical act of state practice.
b) Belief that a state practice is legally required.
c) Text of a treaty.
d) Decision of an international court.
b) Belief that a state practice is legally required.
13. A treaty is 'void' if it conflicts with:
a) A UN General Assembly Resolution.
b) A subsequent treaty on the same subject.
c) A jus cogens norm.
d) The domestic law of one of the signatory states.
c) A jus cogens norm.
Fundamental International Law Principles
Part 1: The Nature and Sources of International Law (Questions 1-25)
1. What is the primary distinction between international law and domestic
law?
a) International law is always codified in a single document.
b) Domestic law governs relations between states, while international law governs
relations within a state.
c) International law lacks a central sovereign authority to enforce it.
d) Domestic law is not binding on its subjects.
c) International law lacks a central sovereign authority to enforce it.
2. The two main primary sources of international law, as per Article 38(1) of
the ICJ Statute, are:
a) UN Resolutions and International Conventions.
b) International Conventions and International Custom.
c) Judicial Decisions and Teachings of the Most Highly Qualified Publicists.
d) General Principles of Law and Jus Cogens.
b) International Conventions and International Custom.
3. A 'Jus Cogens' norm is best described as:
a) A bilateral treaty obligation.
b) A peremptory norm of general international law from which no derogation is
permitted.
c) A recommendation from the UN General Assembly.
d) A regional custom.
b) A peremptory norm of general international law from which no
derogation is permitted.
4. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for the formation of a rule of
customary international law?
a) State Practice (usus)
b) A written treaty
c) Opinio Juris (belief that the practice is legally obligatory)
,d) General acceptance by states
b) A written treaty
5. The principle of 'pacta sunt servanda' means:
a) Treaties must be negotiated in good faith.
b) Every state has the right to a coastline.
c) Agreements must be kept.
d) States are immune from suit.
c) Agreements must be kept.
6. What is a 'reservation' to a treaty?
a) A formal withdrawal from a treaty.
b) A unilateral statement seeking to exclude or modify the legal effect of certain
provisions.
c) An amendment proposed by all state parties.
d) The preamble of the treaty.
b) A unilateral statement seeking to exclude or modify the legal effect of
certain provisions.
7. The 'persistent objector' rule allows a state to:
a) Veto any new rule of customary international law.
b) Be exempt from a new customary rule if it consistently and openly objected
during the rule's formation.
c) Ignore all treaties it has not signed.
d) Unilaterally modify a treaty after ratification.
b) Be exempt from a new customary rule if it consistently and openly
objected during the rule's formation.
8. General principles of law recognized by civilized nations are derived from:
a) Principles common to the major legal systems of the world.
b) The UN Secretary-General's directives.
c) Regional international organizations only.
d) The domestic law of the most powerful state.
a) Principles common to the major legal systems of the world.
, 9. Which source of international law is considered subsidiary?
a) International Conventions
b) International Custom
c) Judicial Decisions and Scholarly Writings
d) General Principles of Law
c) Judicial Decisions and Scholarly Writings
10. Soft law refers to:
a) Non-binding legal instruments like declarations and guidelines.
b) Treaties that are not yet in force.
c) Judgments of the International Court of Justice.
d) The domestic laws of states with soft power.
a) Non-binding legal instruments like declarations and guidelines.
11. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) primarily governs:
a) The conduct of warfare.
b) The formation, application, and termination of treaties between states.
c) The jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
d) Diplomatic immunity.
b) The formation, application, and termination of treaties between states.
12. 'Opinio Juris' is the:
a) Physical act of state practice.
b) Belief that a state practice is legally required.
c) Text of a treaty.
d) Decision of an international court.
b) Belief that a state practice is legally required.
13. A treaty is 'void' if it conflicts with:
a) A UN General Assembly Resolution.
b) A subsequent treaty on the same subject.
c) A jus cogens norm.
d) The domestic law of one of the signatory states.
c) A jus cogens norm.
