Master the International Court of Justice: Online Quizzes and Study Guide

Question 1

Which legal sources **cannot** be applied by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its judgments?

Accepted Answer

Case law of national and international courts

Answer

Treaties and international agreements

Answer

Customary international law

Answer

General principles of law recognized by civilized nations

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a valid source of jurisdiction for the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

Accepted Answer

Reservation to the Statute of the ICJ

Answer

Consent of the parties to a dispute

Answer

Compulsory jurisdiction under the ICJ Statute

Answer

Security Council referral of a dispute

Question 3

Which principal organ of the United Nations has the authority to refer disputes to the ICJ?

Accepted Answer

Security Council

Answer

General Assembly

Answer

Economic and Social Council

Answer

International Court of Justice

Question 4

Which characteristic best describes the International Court of Justice?

Accepted Answer

Permanent composition of judges

Answer

Ad hoc nature of its proceedings

Answer

Compulsory jurisdiction over all UN member states

Answer

Exclusive jurisdiction over human rights violations

Question 5

What is a key consequence of a state accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ?

Accepted Answer

The state is legally bound to submit all disputes to the Court

Answer

The state has the right to withdraw its acceptance at any time

Answer

The state is exempt from the Court's jurisdiction in matters of national security

Answer

The state can only be sued by other states that have also accepted the Court's jurisdiction

Question 6

What is the term used to describe the ICJ's advisory opinion procedure?

Accepted Answer

Legal opinion

Answer

Declaratory judgment

Answer

Preliminary ruling

Answer

Judicial interpretation

Question 7

Which factor is NOT considered by the ICJ when determining its jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

Political implications of the dispute

Answer

Consent of the parties involved in a dispute

Answer

Existence of a treaty or other binding instrument

Answer

Past precedents set by the ICJ

Question 8

What principle governs the ICJ's adherence to its own previous decisions?

Accepted Answer

Stare decisis: The Court is bound by its own previous decisions

Answer

The Court is bound by the decisions of other international tribunals

Answer

The Court is not bound by its own previous decisions

Answer

The Court is bound by the decisions of domestic courts

Question 9

Which criticism commonly leveled at the ICJ highlights a limitation of its authority?

Accepted Answer

Lack of enforcement powers to implement its decisions

Answer

Political bias in its decisions

Answer

Excessive workload leading to delays

Answer

Delay in rendering judgments

Question 10

What is the primary function of the International Court of Justice?

Accepted Answer

To resolve legal disputes between states

Answer

To promote international peace and security

Answer

To interpret international law

Answer

To punish individuals for international crimes

Question 11

In what circumstances does the ICJ exercise jurisdiction over disputes?

Accepted Answer

When both parties involved have explicitly consented

Answer

When all UN member states are involved

Answer

When the dispute pertains to a matter of international concern

Answer

When the United Nations Security Council refers the case

Question 12

Which of the following is excluded from the sources of law that the ICJ may consider in its decisions?

Accepted Answer

National laws of the parties involved

Answer

International treaties

Answer

Customary international law

Answer

General legal principles shared by civilized nations

Question 13

Describe the composition of the International Court of Justice.

Accepted Answer

15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly

Answer

7 judges elected by the UN Security Council

Answer

9 judges appointed by the UN Secretary-General

Answer

A rotating panel of judges from various regions

Question 14

What is the legal effect of an ICJ decision?

Accepted Answer

Binding only on the parties directly involved in the dispute

Answer

Binding on all United Nations member states

Answer

Advisory in nature and not legally binding

Answer

Binding only if the parties have explicitly agreed to its jurisdiction

Question 15

What is the primary function of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

Accepted Answer

To resolve disputes between states through binding judgments

Answer

To provide advisory opinions on legal questions

Answer

To enforce international treaties

Answer

To investigate human rights violations

Question 16

Which of the following states has opted out of the ICJ Statute?

Accepted Answer

United States

Answer

United Kingdom

Answer

China

Answer

Japan

Question 17

What is the name of the document that outlines the ICJ's rules of procedure?

Accepted Answer

Rules of Court

Answer

Statute of the ICJ

Answer

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

Answer

Optional Protocol to the ICJ Statute

Question 18

What is the primary responsibility of the Registrar of the ICJ?

Accepted Answer

To oversee the administrative and registry functions of the Court

Answer

To assist judges in their deliberations

Answer

To represent states in proceedings before the Court

Answer

To enforce the Court's judgments

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a source of law that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) may apply when deciding a case?

Accepted Answer

National laws of the parties to the dispute

Answer

Customary international law

Answer

Treaties

Answer

General principles of law recognized by civilized nations

Question 20

Which of the following is a form of relief that the ICJ may grant in its judgments?

Accepted Answer

Reparation for damages

Answer

Injunctions

Answer

Supervisory jurisdiction

Answer

Punitive measures

Question 21

What is the purpose of the optional clause in the ICJ's Statute?

Accepted Answer

To allow states to accept the ICJ's jurisdiction as compulsory in certain types of disputes

Answer

To limit the ICJ's jurisdiction to cases involving human rights violations

Answer

To exclude the jurisdiction of the ICJ in all cases

Question 22

Which of the following is a function of the ICJ's Registry?

Accepted Answer

To receive and transmit applications, pleadings, and other documents

Answer

To interpret the ICJ's judgments

Answer

To conduct investigations on behalf of the ICJ

Question 23

What is the significance of the ICJ's advisory opinions?

Accepted Answer

They provide authoritative guidance on international law but are not binding

Answer

They are legally binding on all UN member states

Answer

They are only binding on the states that request them

Question 24

Which of the following disputes is NOT within the jurisdiction of the ICJ?

Accepted Answer

A territorial dispute between two non-state entities

Answer

A dispute between a state and an international organization

Answer

A dispute between two states that have both accepted the ICJ's jurisdiction

Question 25

What is the role of the Security Council in relation to the ICJ?

Accepted Answer

It can request the ICJ to give an advisory opinion on legal questions

Answer

It can enforce the ICJ's judgments

Answer

It can appoint and dismiss ICJ judges