International law

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/international-law

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 core principle?State sovereignty, balanced by international obligations and human rights norms
2. What is the key institutions?United Nations, International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC)
3. Why did the United Nations get created?After World War II, people realized many global problems need teamwork, so they made the UN to help countries cooperate and keep peace.
4. How do countries agree on rules?They sign treaties, which are like contracts, or they follow customs that all countries practice and accept as law.

Pacta Sunt Servanda: A fundamental principle stating that treaties are binding and must be performed in good faith.
Universal Jurisdiction: The principle that certain international crimes are so serious that any state can prosecute them, regardless of where they occurred.
State Responsibility: The legal framework outlining when a state is held accountable for internationally wrongful acts.