INTERNATIONAL LAW
GROSSMAN
FALL 2011
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I.                  Sources of International Law
a.      Treaties: (most important source of International Law):
                                                              i.     Definition
1.     International Law
a.      Agreements and formal treaties
                                                                                                                                      i.     For something to be a treaty there must be:
1.     An agreements
a.      An intent to create an agreements
b.     Signature
                                                                                                                                                                                                              i.     This is a formality with states
2.     Written
3.     Between States
4.     Governed by International law
a.      To determine if governed by International Law:
                                                                                                                                                                                                              i.     Can state it expressly in the treaty
                                                                                                                                                                                                            ii.     Look to the treaty to determine if it would be governed by any other law – if not, it can possibly be inferred that it is governed by International law.
2.     United States:
a.      Signed by the President and ratified by the Senate (2/3)
3.     Individual States:
a.      States determine their own criteria for establishing treaties.
                                                            ii.     Interpretation:
1.     How to distinguish between treaties and political commitments:
a.      Did the parties intend to create a treaty?
                                                                                                                                      i.     Look at the title
1.     Does it say treaty?
a.      This is not dispositive
                                                                                                                                    ii.     Look at what the agreement does:
1.     Does the agreement endow rights or privileges of opposite parties?
a.      If it does, it is evidence that it could be a treaty
                                                                                                                                  iii.     WITH THE U.S.:
1.     Is it listed among U.S. treaties
2.     Has the President signed it and sent it to the Senate?
                                                                                                                                  iv.     Are there other agreements similar to the one being examined that are considered to be treaties?
1.     If so, it is evidence that it could be a treaty.
                                                                                                                                    v.     Is the treaty registered with the United Nations?
1.     States are required to deposit treaties with the United Nations.
                                                                                                                                  vi.     Is it conditional? Does it require something else to happen?
1.     If so, it may be less likely that the agreement is a treaty.
                                                                                                                                vii.     Look at circumstances surrounding the agreement.
b.     WAYS TO EVALUATE (as given by the professor):
                                                                                                                                      i.     Text:
1.     Shall? Will? Should?
2.     How specific is the language about what is being required to do?
                                                                                                                                    ii.     Title
                                                                                                                                  iii.     Negotiation history
1.     Travaux preparatories
                                                                                                                                  iv.     Have steps been taken for implementation?
                                                                                                                                    v.     Is it intended to create enforceable rights?
                                                                                                                                  vi.     Is it registered with the United Nations Secretary General (Charter, Art. 102)?
                                                                                                                                vii.     Domestic compilation of treaties in force?
                                                                                                                              viii.     Similar prior instruments treated as treaties?
c.      Political commitment:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Common when:
1.     There is not enough political will for a treaty
2.     The executive does not have authority or support to enter into a treaty
3.     Want to set a direction
4.     When a State does not want to have to go through the hard process of breaking a treaty
2.     Interpretation under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT)
a.      Article 31(2)(a):
                                                                                                                                      i.     Agreements related to the treaty can be taken into account along with text (which includes preamble and annexes).
b.     Article 31(3)(a):
                                                                                                                                      i.     Subsequent agreements should be taken into account, together with the context, to interpret the treaty.
c.      Article 31(3)(b)
                                                                                                                                      i.     Subsequent practice in the application of the treaty can be taken into account.
3.     Unilateral Declaration of one party:
a.      In negotiations a representative make a comment regarding the effect of an external factor on the terms of the treaty:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Article 31 is not applicable because it is legislative history (a unilateral statement that took place before the treaty was concluded).
                                                                                                                                    ii.     Article 32 would apply:
1.     Can only come in if interpretation under Article 31 results in ambiguous interpretation OR to confirm the meaning under Article 31:
a.     Â
                                                          iii.     Formation:
1.     Steps in making a treaty:
a.      Negotiators have to agree on the text
b.     Have to agree to the treaty
c.      Individual states have to ratify the treaty
2.     Twilight in between signature and ratification:
a.      Article 18 VCLT:
                                                                                                                                      i.     States have to refrain from acting to defeat the treaty until it is determined that the State will not ratify the treaty.
1.     Ex: President Clinton signed the Rome Statute establishing the ICC but never sent it to the Senate. President Bush then state that the United States will not seek to ratify the treaty.
a.      This allows the United State to perform acts contrary to the treaty.
                                                                                                                                    ii.     When a state ratified a treaty it will depend on the entry into force provisions in the treaty as to when the treaty becomes active.
                                                          iv.     Entry Into Force (making a treaty active):
1.     Â
                                                            v.     Reservations:
1.     A reservatio
tatus with other states.
                                                                                                                                  iii.     Situation 3:
1.     U.S. makes reservation
2.     Canada says nothing
3.     What is the treaty relationship between the U.S. and Canada:
a.      Legal effect – – VCLT Article 20(5):
                                                                                                                                                                                                              i.     It is an acceptance of the reservation.
                                                          vi.     Amendment and Modification:
1.     Can be specified in the treaty:
2.     If not specified in the treaty, all parties must agree to the modification.
                                                        vii.     Invalidity (Articles 46-53, 64):
1.     Only if:
a.      Article 46:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Conflict with domestic law:
b.     Article 47:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Misrepresentation on behalf of a representative of a state
1.     This DOES NOT create grounds for invalidity UNLESS statement of the restriction placed upon the representative has been notified to the other participating state BEFOREHAND.
c.      Article 48:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Error:
1.     Does not invalidate the treaty BUT provides the right to invalidate consent to a treaty.
a.      And ONLY if consent pertained to a essential part of the treaty.
b.     And NOT if the party claiming invalidation CREATED the error.
2.     Textual errors DO NOT AFFECT a treaty’s validity.
d.     Article 49:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Fraud:
1.     Fraud does not invalidate the treaty BUT creates the grounds for invalidating a party’s consent to the treaty.
e.      Article 50:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Corruption:
1.     Corruption must come from another negotiating state (it cannot come from within the state who has been corrupted).
f.       Article 51:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Coercion of a Representative:
1.     Acts or threats against a representative. Consent due to coercion is given no effect. NO CONSENT TO THE TREATY.
g.      Article 52:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Coercion of a State:
1.     Use or threat of use of force creates invalidation. Can include everything from economic to political pressure to actual military force.
h.     Articles 53, 64:
                                                                                                                                      i.     Conflict with preemptory norm (jus cogens)
1.     Generally:
a.      A treaty is void if it violates the rules of jus cogens.
