International Law

Question 1

what is international law?

Answer 1

*in theory * it governs INDEPENDENT NATIONS BEHAVIOUR and their RELATIONSHIPS with ONE ANOTHER. there is NO GOVERNMENT to enforce this, but it is MORALLY ENFORCEABLE (countries get ‘bullied’ into contracts ex. if you don’t join we won’t be friends)

Question 2

what is sovereignty?

Answer 2

SUPREME POWER/ AUTHORITY over geographical territory.

Question 3

what is appeasement?

Answer 3

‘turning a BLIND EYE’/ willfully blind to an issue. ex. when countries didn’t stop the Nazi’s from expanding

Question 4

what is customary law?

Answer 4

PATTERNS of CONDUCT that are accepted as OBLIGATORY RULES (laws). oldest form of international law, stems from customs and conventions (ex. white flag is a symbol of peace).

Question 5

what are customary laws described as?

Answer 5

OBLIGATORY, CONSISTENT, and REASONABLE

Question 6

what is a diplomat?

Answer 6

STATE OFFICIAL who REPRESENTS their country in negotiation, information, public relations, etc. Members of the UN. They get certain privileges and immunities when in foreign countries (ex. wife who drove on wrong side of road)

Question 7

what is an ambassador?

Answer 7

ACCREDITED DIPLOMATIC AGENT of the highest rank. appointed as the REPRESENTATIVE of a GOVERNMENT. before global communication this was the quickest way to communicate with another nation

Question 8

what is the charge d’affaires?

Answer 8

DIPLOMAT temporarily taking the PLACE OF an AMBASSADOR until one can be appointed

Question 9

what is the high commissioner?

Answer 9

Canadas AMBASSADOR from the UNITED KINGDOM (since we are part of the commonwealth)

Question 10

what is immunity?

Answer 10

DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY: diplomats are EXEMPT from LOCAL LAWS in other countries (promotes cooperation). protects them from breaking an unknown law in a foreign country (and being subject to punishment)

Question 11

what is an embassy?

Answer 11

official HEADQUARTERS of an ambassador. you can get work visas, passports, etc. from here. when visiting an embassy you are LEGALLY ‘IN’ that country

Question 12

what happened with Princess Margriet when she was born?

Answer 12

location in Canada where she was born was TEMPORARILY declared to be EXTRATERRITORIAL by the government, so she took the citizenship from her mother (not the country she was in)

Question 13

how is territory identified?

Answer 13

according to ACCEPTED BORDERS. international interaction is based on territory and sovereignty

Question 14

what are borders?

Answer 14

IMAGINARY LINES drawn on a map that ESTABLISH PARAMETERS of a nations AUTHORITY (this is understood as a sovereignty)

Question 15

what is international territory?

Answer 15

territory that does NOT fall under ANY PARTICULAR NATIONS AUTHORITY or BORDERS (not occupied or controlled) ex. the moon, international water, the UN, antarctica

Question 16

what are international zones?

Answer 16

area governed by INTERNATIONAL LAW or TWO or more NATIONS

Question 17

what are green zones?

Answer 17

in areas of CONFLICT, a PROTECTED area to keep diplomats SAFE

Question 18

what are demilitarized or neutral zones?

Answer 18

in countries in CONFLICT, NO WEAPONS allowed or act as a BUFFER between borders

Question 19

what is a diplomatic asylum?

Answer 19

when someone enters an EMBASSY to be PROTECTED from religious or political PERSECUTION. usually your life is in jeopardy ex. you spoke out against the counrty

Question 20

what is a treaty?

Answer 20

FORMAL AGREEMENT between two or more nations in reference to PEACE, ALLIANCES, etc. It is like a CONTRACT, where each country has obligations

Question 21

what is extradition?

Answer 21

the SURRENDER of an ACCUSED or CONVICTED person by one COUNTRY TO ANOTHER. most countries decline surrendering their own people (especially in the US, they will try them but never give them up)