International Law Cheat Sheet

The core ideas of International Law distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.

PiqCue — piqcue.com/international-law/cheatsheet

Quick Reference

State Sovereignty

The principle that each state has supreme authority within its territorial boundaries and is legally equal to all other states, free from external interference in its internal affairs.

Treaties and Conventions

Formal, binding written agreements between states or international organizations governed by international law. Treaties are the primary source of international legal obligations and may be bilateral or multilateral.

Customary International Law

Unwritten rules derived from the consistent and general practice of states followed out of a sense of legal obligation (opinio juris). It binds all states unless they have persistently objected during the rule's formation.

Jus Cogens (Peremptory Norms)

Fundamental, overriding principles of international law from which no derogation is permitted. These norms are accepted and recognized by the international community as rules that cannot be set aside by treaty or consent.

International Human Rights Law

The body of international law designed to promote and protect the human rights of individuals and groups, primarily through treaties, customary law, and international institutions.

International Humanitarian Law (Law of Armed Conflict)

The set of rules that seek to limit the effects of armed conflict by protecting persons who are not or are no longer participating in hostilities and by restricting the means and methods of warfare.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a state or international body to prescribe, adjudicate, and enforce rules of law. In international law, jurisdiction may be based on territory, nationality, protective principle, universality, or the passive personality principle.

International Criminal Law

The branch of international law that deals with the criminal responsibility of individuals for the most serious offenses of international concern, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression.

Law of the Sea

The body of public international law governing the rights and responsibilities of states with respect to their use of the world's oceans, including navigation, maritime boundaries, resource exploitation, and environmental protection.

Diplomatic Immunity

A principle of international law granting foreign diplomats immunity from the jurisdiction of the host country's courts and protection from arrest or detention, ensuring they can perform their functions without interference.

Key Terms at a Glance

Advisory Opinion:A non-binding legal opinion issued by the ICJ on questions of international law referred by authorized UN organs or agencies.

Bilateral Treaty:A treaty between two states or parties, as opposed to a multilateral treaty involving three or more parties.

Comity:The informal and voluntary recognition by one state of the legislative, executive, or judicial acts of another state, not based on legal obligation.

Compulsory Jurisdiction:Jurisdiction accepted by states in advance as binding, typically through an optional clause declaration under Article 36(2) of the ICJ Statute.

Customary International Law:Rules of international law derived from consistent state practice accompanied by a sense of legal obligation (opinio juris).

Derogation:A temporary suspension of certain legal obligations, typically human rights provisions, during a state of emergency, subject to strict conditions.

Diplomatic Immunity:Legal protections granted to diplomats exempting them from the jurisdiction of the host state's courts and law enforcement.

Erga Omnes:Latin for 'toward all.' Refers to obligations owed by a state to the international community as a whole.

Extradition:The formal process by which one state surrenders an individual accused or convicted of a crime to another state for trial or punishment.

Geneva Conventions:Four international treaties (1949) that establish standards for the humanitarian treatment of victims of armed conflict.

Genocide:Acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, as defined by the 1948 Genocide Convention.

International Humanitarian Law:The body of law that regulates the conduct of armed conflict, seeking to protect those not participating in hostilities and restrict means of warfare.

Jus Ad Bellum:The branch of international law governing the conditions under which states may resort to the use of force.

Jus Cogens:Peremptory norms of international law that are accepted as norms from which no derogation is permitted under any circumstances.

Jus In Bello:The branch of international law governing the conduct of parties during armed conflict, synonymous with international humanitarian law.

Get study tips in your inbox

We'll send you evidence-based study strategies and new cheat sheets as they're published.

We'll notify you about updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.