HW3: Law

Question 1

Explain the difference between International Written Agreements and Customary International Law.

Answer 1

• International Written Agreements applies only to nation that have signed and ratified agreements (legally binding).
• Customary International Law - not written or signed, need state practice and sense of legal obligation.

Question 2

Describe the process necessary for the US to become a party of an international treaty.

Answer 2

President to sign then Congress to ratify with 2/3 vote.

Question 3

Identify and define the five International Laws that affect operations in space.

Answer 3

• 1967 Outer Space Treaty - foundation for space law
• 1968 Rescue and Return Agreement - nations must assist astronauts landing
• 1972 Liability Convention - responsible for your launched body
• 1975 Registration Convention - must register with UN
• 1979 Moon Agreement - any body in space belongs to international community

Question 4

Explain the difference between Title 10 and Title 50 operations.

Answer 4

Title 10 - authority of DoD over military operations
Title 50 - civilian intel operations

Question 5

Describe the continuum of conflict and how the definition of “use of force” is interpreted differently by the US and other countries.

Answer 5

Unlike other countries, the US regards the use of force the same as an armed attack.

Question 6

Describe Article 4 of the Outer Space Treaty and why it’s important to space operations.

Answer 6

No Weapons of Mass Destruction in space.

The allocation of WMDs in space would make things a lot more tense and provide an entirely new danger to watch out for in space.