CSS International Law MCQs with answers
Practise CSS International Law (Optional) with 241 exam-style MCQs, each with the answer and a short explanation. Every test is marked the moment you finish and shows your score chapter by chapter, so you know what to revise next. It is free and needs no sign-up.
241 questions · 4 chapters
What each chapter covers 4 chapters
The questions follow the syllabus chapter by chapter. You can test the whole subject or one chapter at a time.
- Nature and sources 48 questionsNature, basis and history of international law, Sources: Article 38 of the ICJ Statute, International law and municipal law
- Subjects and territory 54 questionsStates, recognition and succession, Territory, jurisdiction and immunity, Law of the sea
- Treaties, diplomacy and responsibility 59 questionsLaw of treaties, Diplomatic and consular law, State responsibility, nationality, extradition and asylum
- Human rights, conflict and institutions 80 questionsHuman rights law, Use of force and peaceful settlement of disputes, International humanitarian law, International courts and organisations
Sample CSS International Law MCQs with answers 12 questions
12 questions from the test, one or two from each chapter. Try each one, then open the answer.
1. Public international law mainly regulates
- A
the rights and duties of states and other international persons
- B
disputes between citizens that have a foreign element
- C
the internal organisation of each state's own courts
- D
business contracts made between private firms of different countries
Show answer
Answer: A. Public international law governs the relations of states, international organisations and other international persons. Disputes between private parties with a foreign element belong to private international law.
2. The exclusive economic zone under UNCLOS extends up to
- A
350 nautical miles from the baselines
- B
24 nautical miles from the baselines
- C
12 nautical miles from the baselines
- D
200 nautical miles from the baselines
Show answer
Answer: D. Article 57 limits the EEZ to 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial sea is measured.
3. Breaking off diplomatic relations between two states
- A
cancels all treaties between them
- B
automatically ends consular relations too
- C
requires every consul to leave the country within twenty-four hours
- D
does not of itself involve breaking off consular relations
Show answer
Answer: D. Article 2(3) of the 1963 Convention states this expressly.
4. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted in
- A
2002
- B
1948
- C
1998
- D
1969
Show answer
Answer: C. The Statute was adopted at Rome in July 1998 and entered into force in 2002.
5. Who coined the term 'international law' in 1789?
- A
Emer de Vattel
- B
Jeremy Bentham
- C
Lassa Oppenheim
- D
Hugo Grotius
Show answer
Answer: B. Bentham used 'international law' in his Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789) in place of the older 'law of nations'. Grotius and Vattel wrote earlier, and Oppenheim wrote in the twentieth century.
6. Britain recognised the Soviet government de facto in 1921. It granted de jure recognition in
- A
1933
- B
1924
- C
1917
- D
1919
Show answer
Answer: B. Britain gave de jure recognition in 1924; the United States did not recognise the Soviet government until 1933.
7. A reservation to a treaty is a unilateral statement by a state that
- A
adds a new party to the treaty without further negotiation
- B
postpones signature of the treaty until the next conference
- C
withdraws the state from the treaty as a whole, with immediate effect on all parties
- D
excludes or modifies the legal effect of certain provisions for that state
Show answer
Answer: D. Article 2(1)(d) defines a reservation as a statement, however phrased, by which a state purports to exclude or modify the legal effect of certain provisions in their application to it.
8. The 'Hague law' differs from the 'Geneva law' in that it mainly
- A
regulates the means and methods of warfare
- B
protects the victims of war
- C
governs the use of force by states
- D
creates war crimes tribunals and sets their rules of procedure
Show answer
Answer: A. Hague law (the 1899 and 1907 Conventions) limits how war may be fought; Geneva law protects persons who are not or are no longer fighting.
9. Which of the following is NOT one of the sources listed in Article 38(1) of the ICJ Statute?
- A
International conventions
- B
General principles of law recognised by civilised nations
- C
International custom as evidence of a general practice accepted as law
- D
Resolutions of the General Assembly
Show answer
Answer: D. General Assembly resolutions are not listed, although they may be evidence of custom. The other three are the primary sources named in paragraph 1(a) to (c).
10. State A prosecutes foreigners who, in another country, forged A's banknotes. This is jurisdiction on the
- A
passive personality principle
- B
universal principle
- C
territorial principle
- D
protective principle
Show answer
Answer: D. The protective principle applies to acts abroad that threaten the security or vital functions of the state, such as forging its currency or plotting against its government.
11. A state has signed a treaty subject to ratification but has not ratified it. Under Article 18 it must
- A
apply the treaty in full as if it had ratified
- B
refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the treaty
- C
treat itself as free of all obligations
- D
obtain approval from the International Court of Justice before it acts at all
Show answer
Answer: B. A signatory is not yet bound by the treaty, but it must not do things that would deprive the treaty of its object and purpose until it makes clear it will not become a party.
12. The Third Geneva Convention of 1949 protects
- A
prisoners of war
- B
shipwrecked members of armed forces
- C
civilians in occupied territory
- D
wounded and sick members of armies in the field
Show answer
Answer: A. The four 1949 Conventions cover the wounded and sick on land (I), at sea (II), prisoners of war (III) and civilians (IV).
Try 229 more questions
Ways to practise 5 ways
- Quick check. 10 questions drawn fresh each time, about 10 minutes.
- By chapter. 10 questions from one chapter, for the topic you are revising now.
- Full paper. A full-length timed paper across the whole syllabus.
- Practice mode. See the right answer and an explanation after every question, with no clock.
- Exam mode. Timed like the real paper, with no going back.
When you get a question wrong, a short note called "The idea behind this" explains the topic it belongs to, with the rules to remember and a worked example.
Common questions
Is this CSS International Law test free?
Yes. Every test and every explanation is free, and you do not need an account. If you sign in, your results are kept across your devices.
Are these past paper questions?
The 241 MCQs are our own, written to the syllabus in the style of the exam.
How is the test marked?
Instantly. You get your score, the right answer and an explanation for every question, and a list of the topics to work on.
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