UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS (USC)

SCHOOL OF LAW & GOVERNANCE

COLLEGE OF LAW
Cebu City
COURSE OUTLINE in
POLITICAL LAW REVIEW
(ALLIED POLITICAL LAWS: LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW,
LAW OF PUBLIC OFFICERS, ELECTION LAWS AND PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL
LAW)
(2016 Version)
ATTY. DARYL BRETCH M. LARGO

V. PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW

A. Introduction
Read:
-Chapters 1 & 2 (Akehurst)
-Chapters 1 & 2 (Shaw)
Meaning and Nature of International Law
-Section 101, Restatement (Third), American Law Institute of the Foreign Relations Law
of the United States
Public International law as binding law
The scope of Public International law
Public International Law vs. Private International Law
Subjects of Public International law
-Reparation for Injuries Case (ICJ Advisory Opinion 1949)
B. Sources of International Law
Read:
-Chapter 3 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 3 (Shaw)
-Article 38 (1), Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
-Sections 102 & 103, Restatement (Third), American Law Institute of the Foreign
Relations Law of the United States
Formal vs. Material sources of international law
Law-creating vs. Law-determining sources
Treaties
Law-making treaties and contract treaties
Parties to international treaties and international contracts
Custom
Evidence of customary law
The elements in the formation of customary law
Objective Element (State Practice)
Subjective or Mental Element (Opinio Juris Sive Necessitatis)
-The Paquete Habana Case, 175 U.S. 677

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Cases:
-Nicaragua vs. USA, ICJ Report (1986)
-North Sea Continental Shelf Cases (Germany vs. Denmark & Germany vs. Netherlands,
ICJ Report, 1969)
-Continental Shelf Case (Libya vs. Malta, ICJ Report, 1985)
-Asylum Case (Columbia vs. Peru, ICJ Report, 1950)
-Anglo Norwegian Fisheries Case (UK vs. Norway, ICJ Report, 1951)
-Fisheries Jurisdiction Case (UK vs. Iceland, ICJ Report, 1973)
-Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons Case (ICJ Advisory Opinion, 1996)
-Lotus Case (France vs. Turkey, PCIJ Series A No. 1018, 1927)
Instant Customary International Law
-Terrorism
General principles of law
-South-West Africa Case, (2nd Phase, ICJ Report, 1966;
-Barcelona Traction Case (Belgium vs. Spain, 2nd Phase, ICJ Report, 1970)
Judicial decisions
-Article 59, Statute of the ICJ
Learned writers
Other possible sources of international law
Acts of international organization
Soft law (vs. Hard law)
Non Liquet vs. ex aequo et bono
-The River Meuse Case (Netherlands vs. Belgium, PCIJ Reports, 1937)
-Art. 38 (2), ICJ Statute (Ex aequo et bono)
Hierarchy of the Sources of international law
Jus cogens
-Art. 53, Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969
Obligations erga omnes
C. Treaties
Read:
-Chapter 9 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 16 (Shaw)
-1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) [Jan. 27, 1980]
Definition of Treaty
-South-West Africa cases (supra.)
-Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. case (ICJ Reports, 1952)
-Qatar vs. Bahrain (ICJ Reports, 1994, p. 112)
Parties to a Treaty
Application of VCLT
Conclusion and entry into force of treaties
Adoption of the text of a treaty
Consent to be bound by a treaty
Means of Expressing Consent to be bound by a treaty
Signature
Exchange of Instruments
Ratification
Accession
Other means of expressing consent to be bound
Entry into force
Reservations
-Reservations to the Genocide Convention Case (ICJ Advisory Opinion, 1951)
Registration
-Article 102, UN Charter
Application of treaties
Territorial scope of treaties
Treaties and third states
Application of successive treaties relating to the same subject matter
Interpretation of Treaties

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Textualist Interpretation
Intent Theory of Interpretation
Teleological Interpretation and Principle of Effectiveness
Systemic Integration
Evolutive Interpretation vs. Doctrine of Intertemporality
Supplementary means of Interpretation
Invalid Treaties
Provision of municipal law regarding competence to conclude treaties
Treaties entered into by person not authorized to represent a state
Specific restrictions on authority to express the consent of a state
Error
- Preah VihearTemple Case (Cambodia vs. Thailand, ICJ Reports, 1960)
Fraud
Coercion of a state by the threat or use of force
Other causes of invalidity
The consequences of invalidity
Termination of Treaties
Termination in accordance with the provision of a treaty
Termination by consent of the parties
Implied right of denunciation or withdrawal
Termination or suspension of a treaty as a consequence of its Breach
-Advisory Opinion on Namibia (ICJ Reports 1971)
-Appeal Relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council (India v. Pakistan)(ICJ, 1972)
-Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia) (ICJ, 1997)
Supervening impossibility of performance
Fundamental change of circumstances (cf. Rebus Sic Stantibus)
-Fisheries Jurisdiction (United Kingdom v. Iceland)(ICJ, 1973)
-Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia) (ICJ, 1997)
Emergence of a new peremptory norm (Jus Cogens)
Outbreak of war
Consequences of termination or suspension
D. International law and Municipal law
Read:
-Chapter 4 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 4 (Shaw)
Dualist and Monist theories
International law and Municipal law
Doctrine of Incorporation
Doctrine of Transformation
Soft and Hard Transformation
E. States and Governments
Read:
- Chapter 5 (Akehurst)
- Chapter 5 (Shaw)
State
-Art. 1, 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States
Defined territory
-Island of Palmas Case (Netherlands vs. US, Arbitrator Max Huber of PCIJ, 1928) on
Territorial Sovereignty;
-See again North Sea Continental Shelf Cases
Population
Effective control by a government
-land Islands Question Case (League of Nations, 1920)
Capacity to enter into relations with other states

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- Art. 3, 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States
Self-determination, Secession and Recognition
- Reference re Secession of Quebec, [1998] 2 S.C.R. 217 (Opinion of the Supreme
Court of Canada)
- ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in respect of
Kosovo (2010)
Governments
Recognition of states and governments in international law
Recognition of States
- Art. 1, 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States
Effects of Recognition on Recognizing State
-Underhill vs. Hernandez, 168 U.S. 250
Recognition of Governments
Tobar or Wilson Doctrine
Stimson Doctrine
Estrada Doctrine
De jure and de facto recognition
-Tinoco Claims Arbitration (Great Britain v. Costa Rica) [1923] [William H. Taft,
Arbitrator]
F. Jurisdiction
Read:
-Chapter 7 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 12 (Shaw)
Forms of jurisdiction
-Nottebohm Case (Liechtenstein vs. Guatemala, ICJ,1955)
Jurisdiction of national courts
Territorial principle
-United States v. Vasquez-Velasco, 471 F.2d 294 (1972)
Nationality principle
- United States v. Columba-Collela, 604 F.2d 356 (5th Cir. 1979)
Protective principle
-United States v. Romero-Galue, 757 F.2d 1147 (11th Cir. 1985)
Universality principle
-Eichmann Case (Attorney General of Government of Israel vs. Eichmann [ICJ, 1961])
Universal jurisdiction of national courts over crimes against human rights
-United States v. Osama Bin Laden, 92 F. Supp. 2d 189 (S.D.N.Y. 2000)
Conflicts of jurisdiction
Extradition
Distinguished from Deportation
Purposes of Extradition
Characteristics of Extradition
Conditions for Extradition
Double or Dual Criminality Principle/Clause
Attentat Clause
Rule of Specialty
-Wilson v. Girard, 354 U.S. 524 (1957)
-United States v. Alvarez-Machain, 504 U.S. 655 (1992)
Legality of Abduction of criminals in foreign territory
-Eichmann Case (Attorney General of Government of Israel vs. Eichmann [ICJ, 1961])
-Ker-Frisbie Doctrine
-Ker vs. Illinois, 119 U.S. 436 (1886)
-Frisbie vs. Collins, 342 U.S. 519 (1952)
-United States v. Alvarez-Machain, 504 U.S. 655 (1992)
-US vs. Tuscanino (1974)
-United States ex rel. Lujan v. Gengler (1974)
G. Immunity From Jurisdiction

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Read:
-Chapter 8 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 13 (Shaw)
Sovereign (or state) Immunity
- Verlinden B.V. v. Central Bank of Nigeria, 461 US 480 (1983)
-The Jones vs. Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia case (House of Lords of UK [2006])
-Argentine Republic v. Amerada Hess Shipping Corp., 488 US 428 (1989)
-Saudi Arabia v. Nelson, 507 US 349 (1993)
Immunity of Head of State, Head of Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs
-The Pinochet case (In re: Pinochet, House of Lords of UK [2001])
-Arrest Warrant Case (Democratic Republic of Congo vs. Belgium, 2002)
The Act of State Doctrine
-Underhill v. Hernandez, 168 US 250 (1897)
Diplomatic Immunity
-Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR)
-Convention on Special Missions
-Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected
Persons Including Diplomatic Agents
Immunity from the jurisdiction of courts
Immunity ratione materiae
Immunity ratione personae
-Belgium v. Congo, International Court of Justice case (2002); Arrest Warrant of
11 April 2000 (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Belgium, 2002)
-R. v. Guildhall Magistrates Court Ex p. Jarrett-Thorpe (1977)
Other privileges and immunities
Consular immunity
-Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR)
Immunities of international organization
Waiver of immunity
H. State Responsibility
Read:
-Chapter 17 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 14 (Shaw)
-2001 International Law Commission (ILC) Commentaries on the Draft Articles
on State Responsibility for Internationally Wrongful Acts [ASRIWA]
The work of the International law Commission
State responsibility and the treatment of aliens
Imputability
-Youmans Claim (U.S. vs. Mexico, General Claims Commission, 1926)
-Tehran Hostages Case (United States vs. Iran, ICJ 1980)
-Nicaragua vs. US (supra.)
-Prosecutor v. Tadic [case before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY), 1999]
The minimum international standard
Preliminary objections
-Nottebohm case, supra.
-Barcelona Traction case, supra.
-Interhandel Case (Switzerland vs. U.S., ICJ Report, 1959)
Nationality of claims
Exhaustion of local remedies
Waiver
Unreasonable delay and improper behavior by the injured
Alien
Consequences of an internationally wrongful act
Countermeasures and dispute settlement
I. Acquisition of Territory

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Read:
-Chapter 10 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 10 (Shaw)
-Island of Palmas case, supra.
Modes of acquisition of territory
Cession
Occupation
Prescription
Operation of nature
Adjudication
Conquest
Acquiescence, recognition and estoppel
Intertemporal law
Minor rights over territory
Servitudes
J. Legal Effects of Changes of Sovereignty over Territory (State Succession)
Read:
-Chapter 11 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 17 (Shaw)
Treaties
Treaties dealing with rights over territory
Other types of treaties
The principle of moving treaty boundaries
Decolonization and new/emerging states
Recent practice
Secession
Dismemberment
Unification
International claims
Nationality
Public property
Private property
Contractual rights
Boundaries
Principle of uti possidetis juris
-Frontier Dispute Case (Burkina Faso/Mali) [ICJ, 1986]
K. The Law of the Sea
Read:
-Chapter 12 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 11 (Shaw)
-1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) III
Internal Waters (vs. Archipelagic Waters)
Territorial Sea
The right of innocent passage
Rights of the coastal state over the territorial sea
The width of territorial sea
The line from which the territorial sea is measured
The Contiguous Zone
Exclusive Fishery Zones and Exclusive Economic Zones
The High Seas
Interference with ships on the high sea
Jurisdiction of municipal courts over crimes committed on the high seas
- Lotus case (supra.)
-Art. 11 (1) of the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas

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The continental shelf
Exclusive Economic Zone vs. Continental Shelf Regimes
The Area
Maritime boundaries
-North Sea Continental Shelf Case (supra.)
L. International Human Rights Law
Read:
-Chapter 14 (Akehurst)
-Chapters 6 & 7 (Shaw)
The concept of Human Rights
Human rights on the universal level
The United Nations Charter
-Article 55
-The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
The 1966 Covenants
-International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR)
-International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Other human rights instruments on the universal level
Human rights on the regional level
The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms
Other regional instruments
Human rights as a matter of international concern
M. Environment
Read:
-Chapter 16 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 15 (Shaw)
-1972 Stockholm Conference
-Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
-Trail Smelter Case (US vs. Canada Arbitration)
-Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary/Slovakia) (ICJ, 1997)
The scope and nature of International Environmental Law
Customary law and general principles
Basic Principles
Principle of State Responsibility
-Principle 21, Stockholm Declaration
Principle of Intra and Inter-Generational Equity
-Principle 3, Rio Declaration
Common But Differentiated Principle (CBDR)
-Principle 7, Rio Declaration
Conservation of Resources
-Principle 8, Rio Declaration
Integration Principle
-Principle 4, Rio Declaration
Precautionary Principle
-Principle 15, Rio Declaration
Polluter Pays Principle
-Principle 16, Rio Declaration
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
The Convention on Climate Change
CITES
The Biodiversity Convention
The Rio Declaration and Agenda 21
Climate Change Regime

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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Kyoto Protocol
N. Peaceful Settlement of Disputes Between States
Read:
-Chapter 18 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 18 (Shaw)
-Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
-Chapter 19 (Shaw)
Diplomatic methods of dispute settlement
Negotiations
Good offices and mediation
Fact-finding and injury
Conciliation
Legal methods of dispute settlement
Adjudication
The International Court of Justice
Composition
Jurisdiction in contentious cases
-Armed Activities on the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the
Congo v. Rwanda) (ICJ, 2002)
-Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua [Nicaragua vs.
USA, ICJ Report (1986)]
Procedure
Ad hoc chambers
Enforcement of Judgments
-Committee of US Citizens Living in Nicaragua v. Reagan, 859 F.2d 929 (1988)
Advisory Opinions
-Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons Case (ICJ Advisory Opinion,
1996)
Evaluation of the Court
Settlement of disputes under the Law of the Sea Convention
-Philippines vs. China (October, 2015)
O. International wars, civil wars and the right to self-determination: Jus ad bellum
Read:
-Chapter 19 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 20 (Shaw)
Lawful and unlawful wars: developments before 1945
The prohibition of the use of force on the United Nations Charter
-Art. 2(4), UN Charter
-Corfu Channel Case (U.K. vs. Albania, ICJ Report, 1949)
-Nicaragua vs. U.S., supra.
-Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion, ICJ 1996)
Self-defense
-Caroline case, supra.
-Art. 51, UN Charter
Preventive self-defense
-Nicaragua vs. U.S., supra.
Self-defense and claims to territory
-1970 Gen. Assembly Friendly Relations Declaration
-Falkland Islands Case, supra.
Self-defense against attacks on ships and aircraft
-Corfu Channel Case, supra.
Armed protection of national abroad

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Armed reprisals
Immediacy and proportionality
Collective self-defense
Civil wars
The legality of civil wars
Participation by others states: help for the insurgents
Participation by other states: help for the established authorities
The theory that help for the established authorities is legal
The theory that help for the established authorities is illegal
Collective self-defence against subversion
Conclusion
Self-determination and the use of force
Mandated territories, trust territories and non-self-governing
P. Means of Waging War and Criminal Responsibility: Jus in bello
Read:
-Chapter 20 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 21 (Shaw)
-The 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols
-Chapter 8 (Shaw)
Lawful and unlawful means of waging war
Nuclear weapons
The law of neutrality and economic uses of maritime warfare
Reprisals
Rules governing the conduct of Civil Wars
War Crimes trials
Nuremberg Trial
Tokyo Trial
International Criminal Tribunal of the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR)
The International Criminal Court (ICC)
-The Rome Statute (Articles 1-8, 25-33 only)
Jurisdiction and International Crimes
Genocide
Crimes Against Humanity
War Crimes
Aggression
Principle of Complementarity
Principle of Legality
International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
Meaning & Scope
International Human Rights Law vs. International Humanitarian Law
Meaning and Types of Armed Conflict
Non-international or Internal Armed Conflict
International Armed Conflict
-Prosecutor vs. Limaj, ICTY-IT-03-66-T, Nov. 30, 2005
State Border Armed Conflict
War of National Liberation
Fundamental Principles in IHL
-Read: ICRC Commentaries on Basic Principles of IHL
Principle of Distinction
Civilians and Civilian objects
Military Objectives
Principle of Proportionality
Military Necessity
Methods of Warfare and Use of Weapons
- Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons Advisory Opinion,
ICJ 1996)
Principle of Precaution

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Responsibility
Read: Chapter 8 (Shaw)
Individual
Joint Criminal Enterprise (JCE)
Command Responsibility
Superior Responsibility
-Prosecutor vs. Tadic, ICTY Judgment, Appeals Chamber, Oct. 2, 1995
-Prosecutor vs. Bagilishema, ICTR-95-1A-T, June 7, 2001
Q. The Charter and the organs of the United Nations
Read:
-Chapter 21 (Akehurst)
-Chapter 22 (Shaw)
The United Nations Charter and Interpretation
Literal interpretation
Intention and travaux preparatoires
Membership
The organs of the United Nations
The Security Council
The General Assembly
The Secretariat
The Economic and Social Counsel and the specialized agencies
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