Diplomatic immunity

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/diplomatic-immunity

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical precedent?Practiced by ancient civilizations to ensure safe passage and communication for envoys
2. What is the mechanism for removal?Host countries can declare diplomats 'persona non grata' and request their expulsion
3. Why do countries give diplomats immunity?It helps diplomats talk safely and keep peace between nations, especially when they are negotiating or solving problems.
4. How did diplomatic immunity start?People have used it since ancient Greece, Rome, and medieval kingdoms to keep envoys safe, and it became a formal rule in 1961 with the Vienna Convention.

Sovereign States: Independent countries with their own governments and the authority to govern themselves.
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations: An international treaty that defines diplomatic relations, privileges, and immunities.
Persona Non Grata: A Latin term meaning 'unwelcome person,' used to expel a diplomat.