International Law

Overview

What is international law?

International law, commonly referred to as "public international law," regulates relations and activities between nations. It also contains rules regarding the operations of international organizations, such as the United Nations. In addition, it governs state treatment of individuals and juridical persons (i.e., non-natural persons, such as a corporation, association or partnership).

International law is distinct from "private international law" (also known as "conflict of laws"), which regulates dealings between individuals and juridical persons from different nations.

Note that international law refers to nations as sovereign states. In this context, sovereign states does not mean states within a nation. Furthermore, in the United States, individual states lack authority to engage in international dealings. The U.S. Constitution explicitly denies states this power, and vests it with the federal government. (U.S. Const. Art. I, § 10).

International law encompasses several areas, such as international trade, the creation and dissolution of states, use of force (regarding when a state may initiate force against another state), armed conflict ("humanitarian law", which regulates how a state conducts an armed conflict), human rights (which are set forth in several international instruments, such as the Declaration of Human Rights), refugees, crimes, environment, labor, the sea, air space, and postal services.

Featured CasesFeed

LegislationFeed

RegulationsFeed

  • Notice - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Export Declaration of Defense ...

    The Department of State has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment.
  • Notice - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Application To Determine Returning ...

    The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.
  • Notice - Spectra Energy Corp., Application for a New or Amended Presidential Permit

    Notice is hereby given that the Department of State (DOS) has received from Spectra Energy Corp (``Spectra Energy'') notice that it has acquired the entities that own Express Pipeline LLC (``Express''), which operates and maintains pipeline facilities including the Express Pipeline, which is permitted under a 2004 Presidential Permit issued to Express. Spectra Energy requests a new or amended Presidential Permit be issued reflecting these corporate transactions. Spectra Energy owns and operates a large diversified portfolio of natural gas-related energy assets in the areas of gathering and processing, transmission, and distribution. Its natural gas pipeline systems consist of over 19,000 miles of transmission pipelines. The Express Pipeline is a 515 mile, 24 inch crude oil pipeline running between the U.S.-Canada border near Wild Horse, Montana, to Caster, Wyoming and includes five pump stations. The Express Pipeline has been in operation since 1997 and transports crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta Canada to Casper, Wyoming. On March 14, 2013, Spectra Energy (through its subsidiaries Spectra Energy Express (US) GP, LLC and Spectra Energy Express Holding, LLC) purchased all of the outstanding equity and debt interests in Express US Holdings LP. Immediately following these acquisitions, Spectra Energy became the 100 percent owner of the ``upstream'' entities that own Express and reorganized those entities, converting the direct parent corporation of Express into a limited liability corporation, Express Holdings (USA), LLC. Spectra plans to assign 40% of its ownership interests in Express Holdings (USA), LLC, to Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a publicly-traded master limited partnership. Spectra Energy has control over Spectra Energy Partners, LP; it indirectly owns 58% of the ownership interests in the limited partnership and also indirectly owns 100% of Spectra Energy Partners, LP's general partner, Spectra Energy Partners (DE) GP, LP. Spectra affirms that operation and maintenance of the permitted facilities will remain substantially the same as before its acquisition of Express and acknowledges the Express is obligated to comply with the existing 2004 Permit. Spectra does not request any changes to the terms and conditions of the 2004 Permit. Under E.O. 13337 the Secretary of State is designated and empowered to receive all applications for Presidential Permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance at the borders of the United States, of facilities for the exportation or importation of liquid petroleum, petroleum products, or other non-gaseous fuels to or from a foreign country. The Department of State is circulating this application to concerned federal agencies for comment. The Department of State has the responsibility to determine whether issuance of a new or amended Presidential Permit in light of Spectra's acquisition of the entities that own Express would be in the U.S. national interest.
  • Notice - Persons on Whom Sanctions Have Been Imposed Pursuant to the Iran Sanctions Act of ...

    The Secretary of State has determined, pursuant to authority delegated by the (the ``Delegation Memorandum'')(see 77 FR 62139, October 12, 2012), that the following person has engaged in sanctionable activity described in section 5(a)(8) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-172) (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) (``ISA''), as amended, and that certain sanctions are imposed as a result: Ferland Company Limited. The Secretary of State also has determined that the following persons have engaged in sanctionable activity described in section 2(a)(ii) of Executive Order 13622Authorizing Additional Sanctions With Respect to Iran, and that certain sanctions are imposed as a result: Jam Petrochemical Company and Niksima Food and Beverage JLT.

ArticlesFeed