International law

International law is the body of legal rules that apply between sovereign states and such other entities as have been granted international personality. International law means public international law as distinct from private international law or the conflict of laws, which deals with the differences between the municipal laws of different countries.

International law forms a contrast to municipal law. While international law applies only between entities that can claim international personality, municipal law is the internal law of states that regulates the conduct of individuals and other legal entities within their jurisdiction.

International law should also be distinguished from quasi-international law, which is the law governing relations similar to those covered by international law but outside the pale of international law because at least one of the parties lacks international personality. Concession agreements between oil companies and sovereign states fall into this category.

Rules of international law

The basic rules of international customary law can be summarized in the following fundamental principles: sovereignty, recognition, consent, good faith, freedom of the seas, international responsibility, and self-defense.

Exercise 1 Answer the questions:

1. What kinds of law are there in jurisprudence?

2. What does constitutional law treat of?

3. Constitutions may be only written, isn’t it?

4. What kind of state is Russia?

5. What does criminal law deal with?

6. Does tax law deal with financial, and economic aspect of taxation?

7. Who are the parties of the law of contract?

8. What are the purposes of Tort Law?

9. What are the mallers of Labour Law?

10. What are the basic rules of International Law?

Exercise 2 Translate into English:

Конституционное право рассматривает функции государства, основные принципы власти и организацию государства. Каждое государство имеет свою конституцию. Конституция-это политический документ, который содержит (включает) основные законы государства, права и обязанности граждан. Конституция также может содержать статьи, ограничивающие те или иные полномочия государства, чтобы обеспечить защиту прав граждан.

Exercise 3 Match the coloums:

1. administrative law a. касающиеся существа

2. juridical b. государственное законодательство

3. national legislature c. относящийся

4. substantive d. состав, свод

5. local government f. считать, полагать

6. relating g. юридический

7. to reckon h. административное право

8. corpus i. местное правительство

Exercise 4 Find the following expressions in the translate them into Russian:

To mete out; apprehension and charging; suspected persons; the standards of conduct; civil life; police powers; an offense against the public; to make the offender give retribution; the prevention of crime.

Exercise 5 Fill in the gaps with the appropriate forms from the table:

The assessor . . . (1) find himself in disagreement with the taxpayer, . . . (2) as to the facts . . . (2) as to the manner in which the taxpayer . . . (3) a question of law or a mixed question of law and fact. The tax agent . . . (4) use his discretion as to questions of fact, and frequently a compromise . . . (5) on those questions between the taxpayer and the tax agent.

Exercise 6 make up sentences out of these words and expressions. The original version can be found in the text.

1. of two; the making; requires; or; one; more; persons; an offer; of a contract; ordinarily; the mutual assent; one of them; accepting; and; making; another.

2. deals with; transfer; property; the allocation; of wealth; and; use; the objects; law; then; and.

Exercise 7 Read the text and fill in the blanks with the words and expressions given below:

The quality; rights; property rights; by air and sea; challenge; reduce; the environment; refugees; throughout; set up; financial;

The United Nations

The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems which . . . humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as the UN system. Day in and day out, the UN and its family of organizations work to promote respect for human . . . , protect . . . , fight disease, foster development and . . . poverty. UN agencies define the standards for safe and efficient transport . . . , help improve telecommunications and enhance consumer protection, work to ensure respect for intellectual . . . and coordinate allocation of radio frequencies. The United Nations leads the international campaigns. Against drug trafficking and terrorism. . . . the world, the UN and its agencies assist . . . and . . . programmes to clear landmines, help improve . . . of drinking water and expand food production, make loans to developing countries and help stabilize . . . markets.