Reading comprehension

Ex 1

1. National or domestic laws are laws that affect people in their daily lives
within a specific country. They are usually divided between civil laws (e.g.,
employment laws) and criminal laws (e.g., laws against murder and drug
trafficking).

2. International law governs the way countries interact with one another and, in
specific circumstances, sets how and when an international government
intervenes in how a government interacts with its citizens or other people within
the state.

3. Some of the main subjects of international law include:

- Human rights
- Regulating the use of armed force
- Protection of individuals during times of war
- Trade and development
- Law of the sea
- Environmental issues and climate change
- Transportation
- Telecommunications

4. No, there is no single international government that creates and enforces

international law.

5. The two main ways that international laws are developed are through the
adoption of customs and the signing of treaties.

6. Customs become international customary law when enough countries engage

in a particular behavior for a sufficiently long time.

7. Customary law is based on what countries actually do, rather than what they
have formally agreed to do.

8. Strength of customary international law: All countries can be bound to follow

it even if they don't expressly agree. Weaknesses: It is slow to change and can
be imprecise due to its development over time.

9. The term "treaty" refers to a formal agreement between two or more states
that sets out their mutual legal rights and obligations.
10. Other sources that can be important for lawyers arguing a case on
international law include:
- Decisions of other courts on matters of international law (jurisprudence)
- Writings of scholars and academics on international law matters
- General legal principles, such as the rule of law

Ex 2

1. TRUE: Domestic laws are indeed the laws that affect people in their daily
lives, divided between civil laws (e.g., employment laws) and criminal laws
against harmful activities (e.g., murder and drug trafficking).
2. TRUE: International law is mentioned as picking up where domestic law
ends.
3. FALSE: Customary law is based on what countries actually do, not
necessarily what they have formally agreed to do. This is stated in the text.
4. FALSE: There are no specific rules mentioned regarding how many countries
must participate in a behavior or for how long for it to become part of
customary international law.
5. TRUE: Treaties are indeed often made with regard to peace, alliances,
commerce, trade, and other international relations.
6. TRUE: For a state to be bound by a treaty, it must ratify or officially consent
to be bound by that treaty.
7. FALSE: Signing a treaty is explicitly mentioned as not being the same thing
as ratifying a treaty.
8. TRUE: A disadvantage of treaties is mentioned as only binding those
countries that agree to be part of the treaty.
9. TRUE: The text mentions that international law provides various ways to
settle disputes peacefully, with negotiation being the most common method.
10. TRUE: The text mentions that if disputes cannot be settled through peaceful
means, the UN Security Council may become involved to prevent armed
conflict.

Ex 3

1. A country’s constitution is usually the supreme law of the land, which

“trumps” other national or local laws if there is a conflict between them.

2. International law governs the way countries interact with one another, and in
specific circumstances, also sets how and when an international government,
like the United Nations, intervenes in how a government interacts with its
citizens or other people within the state.

3. For example, the law of diplomatic immunity – which protects diplomats

from harm or lawsuits when in a foreign country – began as a custom.

4. International treaties may establish general rules of law, such as the

protection of human rights, or provide for contract-like obligations between
countries, such as treaties dealing with international trade.

5. Treaties may be bilateral, meaning that an agreement is formed between two

countries, or multilateral, meaning that the agreement is between three or more
countries.

6. These sources are the decisions of other courts on matters of international law
(jurisprudence), the writings of scholars and academics on international law
matters, and general legal principles, such as the rule of law.

7. If a state does not ratify the treaty, the terms of the treaty do not apply to that
country, and it cannot be sanctioned if that state acts contrary to the terms of the
treaty.

8. Negotiation involves the parties to the dispute initiating talks to attempt to

come to a resolution that is agreeable enough to all parties that the dispute does
not escalate.

9. Disputes may also be addressed through mediation or conciliation, in which a

neutral third party or committee assists the disputing parties to come to a
resolution.

10. Where a treaty is administered by the United Nations, states that have signed
on to that treaty may appeal to the International Court of Justice if they believe
another state is not living up to their obligations under the treaty.

Ex 4

Title: Legal Realms: Unveiling the Dynamics of National and International Law

I. Introduction
A. Definition and pivotal distinctions between national and international law

II. National or Domestic Laws

 A. Defining characteristics and application
B. Dichotomy between civil and criminal laws

III. International Law

A. Scope and its governance of state interactions
B. Role of global organizations, particularly the United Nations

IV. Subjects and Sources of International Law

A. Key subjects, including human rights, armed force use, and environmental
issues
B. Primary sources: Customary international law and treaties
C. Additional sources: Jurisprudence, scholarly writings, and general legal
principles

V. Treaty Dynamics
A. Exploration of treaties, their purpose, and the intricate process of
ratification

VI. Legal Enforcement Landscape

A. Distinctive features in enforcing international law
B. Role of negotiation, mediation, and conciliation
C. Involvement of international courts and the UN Security Council

VII. Conclusion
A. Recapitulation of critical points
B. Acknowledgment of the intertwined influence of national and international
laws.

In the intricate tapestry of legal systems, the nexus between national and
international law defines the contours of governance. National or domestic laws,
the bedrock of daily life, proffer a dichotomy between civil edicts and criminal
prohibitions, encapsulating the minutiae of societal conduct. In contrast, the
expansive realm of international law unfolds as a supra-jurisdictional arbiter,
orchestrating the interactions between sovereign states. This international legal
landscape, governed by a singular system, extends its reach across borders,
underscoring its supremacy over domestic jurisprudence.

The thematic bastions of international law span an array of subjects, ranging

from the safeguarding of human rights to the regulation of armed force
utilization. The pivotal conduits of this legal metropolis are the time-honored
customary international law, forged through habitual state comportment, and
meticulously crafted treaties that codify intricate legal stipulations. Yet, beyond
these pillars, the nuanced tapestry of legal evolution embraces jurisprudence,
academic discourse, and fundamental legal precepts.

Treaties, the linchpin of international legal discourse, traverse a labyrinthine

journey from negotiation to ratification. However, the enforcement paradigm
diverges markedly from domestic legal systems, relying on the delicate art of
negotiation, mediation, and conciliation, and culminating in the adjudicative
domain of international courts or the interventionist mandate of the UN Security
Council.

In essence, this legal odyssey unravels as a symbiotic dance, where the distinct
and interwoven strands of national and international law converge, shaping the
ever-evolving landscape of global jurisprudence.