Free International Law MCQs with Answers
63 International Law MCQs from Law and Constitution, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
International law regulates relations among states and other recognised international actors through treaties, customary practice and general legal principles. Coverage includes statehood and recognition, jurisdiction, diplomatic relations, state responsibility, territory, use of force, peaceful dispute settlement and the role of the United Nations, while distinguishing public international law from private international law.
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63 questions · page 3 of 4
- A. Principles recognized in the legal systems of nations
- B. Rules created only through Security Council resolutions
- C. Practices followed by diplomats for political convenience
- D. Terms included in every bilateral international treaty
Explanation: General principles of law are principles found across major legal systems and used to fill gaps in international law.
Correct answer: Principles recognized in the legal systems of nations- A. The territorial principle
- B. The nationality principle
- C. The protective principle
- D. The universality principle
Explanation: The territorial principle gives a state jurisdiction over acts committed within its territory, subject to recognized international limits.
Correct answer: The territorial principle- A. Entry requires the sending state's consent
- B. Entry is allowed whenever local police request it
- C. Entry is allowed whenever a crime is suspected
- D. Entry requires approval from the International Court of Justice
Explanation: Diplomatic premises are inviolable, so authorities of the receiving state may not enter without the consent of the head of the mission.
Correct answer: Entry requires the sending state's consent- A. The General Assembly acts after a Security Council recommendation
- B. The Security Council acts after a General Assembly recommendation
- C. The Secretary-General admits it after reviewing its application
- D. The International Court of Justice confirms it after a contentious case
Explanation: Admission requires a recommendation by the Security Council followed by a decision of the General Assembly.
Correct answer: The General Assembly acts after a Security Council recommendation- A. Obligations owed to the international community as a whole
- B. Obligations owed only to a treaty's original signatories
- C. Obligations owed exclusively to neighbouring states
- D. Obligations that apply only during an armed conflict
Explanation: An obligation erga omnes is owed to the international community as a whole, so states have a legal interest in its protection.
Correct answer: Obligations owed to the international community as a whole- A. Only when the third state expressly accepts that obligation
- B. Whenever two other states notify the third state of the treaty
- C. Automatically when the treaty is registered with the United Nations
- D. Whenever the treaty concerns an issue of international importance
Explanation: A treaty does not create obligations for a third state without that state's consent.
Correct answer: Only when the third state expressly accepts that obligation- A. The treaty is void
- B. The treaty is automatically suspended for one year
- C. The treaty remains valid but needs Security Council approval
- D. The treaty applies only to the state that used force
Explanation: The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties treats a treaty procured by an unlawful threat or use of force against a state as void.
Correct answer: The treaty is void- A. The place where the conduct occurs
- B. The nationality of the injured person
- C. The location of the offender's bank account
- D. The political relationship between the two states
Explanation: Territorial jurisdiction is based on the location of the conduct or its effects within the state's territory.
Correct answer: The place where the conduct occurs- A. The responsible state must cease the act and provide appropriate assurances
- B. The injured state must immediately break diplomatic relations
- C. The United Nations must impose criminal punishment on the responsible state
- D. The responsible state must transfer its territory to the injured state
Explanation: For a continuing wrongful act, the responsible state must bring the conduct to an end when the obligation to cease applies.
Correct answer: The responsible state must cease the act and provide appropriate assurances- A. Distinguish civilians and civilian objects from military targets
- B. Treat all persons in the conflict as lawful military targets
- C. Use force only after obtaining consent from neutral states
- D. Give identical legal protection to combatants and military objects
Explanation: The principle of distinction requires attacks to be directed only against lawful military objectives and not against civilians or civilian…
Correct answer: Distinguish civilians and civilian objects from military targets- A. Use the watercourse according to their relative military strength
- B. Use the watercourse fairly while considering relevant interests
- C. Give priority to the state with the longer river section
- D. Obtain approval from the United Nations before using it
Explanation: The principle requires states to use shared water resources in an equitable and reasonable manner, taking account of factors such as…
Correct answer: Use the watercourse fairly while considering relevant interests- A. Article 39
- B. Article 41
- C. Article 42
- D. Article 51
Explanation: Article 42 permits the Security Council to take action by air, sea or land forces when non-military measures under Article 41 are…
Correct answer: Article 42- A. They arise only after formal occupation
- B. They exist inherently and do not require effective occupation
- C. They depend entirely on a prior Security Council decision
- D. They are limited to the state's territorial sea
Explanation: A coastal state's rights over its continental shelf exist ipso facto and ab initio because of its sovereignty over the land territory.
Correct answer: They exist inherently and do not require effective occupation54. What is the main function of good offices in the peaceful settlement of an international dispute?
- A. To impose a binding award on the disputing states
- B. To help the parties communicate without proposing settlement terms
- C. To replace the parties' governments during negotiations
- D. To determine which party has committed an unlawful act
Explanation: Good offices assist disputing parties in opening or resuming communication and negotiations.
Correct answer: To help the parties communicate without proposing settlement terms- A. It is automatically bound by every treaty of the predecessor state
- B. It generally begins with a clean slate regarding predecessor treaties
- C. It must reject all boundary treaties made by the predecessor state
- D. It inherits only treaties approved by the International Court of Justice
Explanation: The clean slate principle generally means that a newly independent state is not automatically bound by the predecessor state's treaties.
Correct answer: It generally begins with a clean slate regarding predecessor treaties- A. Changing its capital without international approval
- B. Taking an inconsistent position after another state relied on its earlier position
- C. Refusing to join a treaty negotiated by another state
- D. Exercising jurisdiction over conduct within its territory
Explanation: Estoppel may prevent a state from contradicting a clear earlier representation when another state relied on it and would suffer prejudice…
Correct answer: Taking an inconsistent position after another state relied on its earlier position- A. It has complete sovereignty identical to that over its land territory
- B. It has sovereign rights over natural resources and certain related jurisdiction
- C. It has no authority beyond the outer limit of its territorial sea
- D. It may prohibit every foreign vessel from entering the zone
Explanation: In the exclusive economic zone, the coastal state has sovereign rights to explore, exploit, conserve and manage natural resources, along…
Correct answer: It has sovereign rights over natural resources and certain related jurisdiction- A. Individuals may bear international criminal responsibility for international crimes
- B. Only states can be responsible for violations of international law
- C. Official position always gives complete immunity for international crimes
- D. International crimes can be prosecuted only by the state of nationality
Explanation: The trials established that individuals can incur responsibility under international law for crimes such as aggression, war crimes and…
Correct answer: Individuals may bear international criminal responsibility for international crimes- A. All treaty relations between them automatically end
- B. Their diplomatic relations end, but other legal relations may continue
- C. The states automatically enter a state of armed conflict
- D. The nationals of each state lose their nationality
Explanation: Breaking diplomatic relations ends or suspends the ordinary diplomatic channel, but it does not by itself terminate treaties, consular…
Correct answer: Their diplomatic relations end, but other legal relations may continue- A. Whenever one party requests a decision based on fairness
- B. When the Security Council refers any dispute to the Court
- C. When the parties expressly agree to that method of decision
- D. Whenever the Court considers treaty law unclear
Explanation: The Court may decide ex aequo et bono, meaning according to fairness rather than strictly applicable law, only if the parties agree.
Correct answer: When the parties expressly agree to that method of decision