EXAM INTERNATIONAL LAW: SPECIAL TOPICS:
Questions: lesson 1
1. How can we define ‘Law’?
A set of legal rules to make society livable (both secular and religious law)
2. What is the difference between secular and religious law?
Secular law is made by the government (the parliament: that changes all the time)
Religious law is made by God (in all sorts of religions) -> through holy writings…
= the interpretation can change, but rules can’t!
3. How can one distinguish Common Law and Civil Law?
Common Law = for example: USA, UK -> a judge looks at previous cases! = usage of the “rule
of precedent”: once a certain case is done, all others are (same judgment)
Civil Law = our system: a criminal/suspect is arrested by police, and then taken to a judge
who uses the law (’wetboek’) and applies it
4. What are unwritten legal norms?
Things/rules that are known to be normal, for example: a teacher can’t hit a student (=
normen/waarden)
5. What is a constitution, and how is it different from ‘regular’ laws?
Constitutional law are rules (law) that can’t easily be changed!
For example: de grondwet!
Regular law are normal rules that are easy to change
6. What is supranational law?
Law/rules on a level higher than purely a state/country
For example: European law > national law
7. Explain the role of interpretation with a politico-legal framework.
Interpretation is very important (for example: we know there is freedom of speech but what
are its limits?)
- Also very important with religious law: for example: you can’t work on a holiday (is
cleaning your house considered working?)
8. What is ‘multiple citizenship’?
When a person has a passport/nationality for 2 or more countries (this can have a lot of
different motives)
9. Explain citizenship acquisition by:
i. ius soli = system used in f.ex.: the USA:
In the USA: if a baby is born, it automatically gets an American nationality (a lot of
pregnant women go there, to give their children opportunities) – but they often leave
before paying their bills (because of the very expensive healthcare)
ii. ius sanguinis = system where they look at blood relatives (nationality of your mom and
dad)
iii. iure matrimonii = system where you can get a nationality by marriage (to someone with a
certain nationality)
iv. naturalization = system where you live in a country for a number of years and then apply
for a passport/nationality
, v. adoption = system where if a minor (child) is adopted from another country it gets the
nationality of its new home country when at least one adoptive parent is a citizen of that
country
vi. investment = system where you can buy a certain nationality (it is often very expensive
though!)
vii. religion = system where if you’re part of a certain religion you can get a nationality (for
example: Jewish)
viii. ius officii = system where you can get a nationality based on something work-related (for
example: Vatican citizenship)
10. Clarify the problem of ‘birth tourism’ with regards to citizenship.
A lot of Russian women are giving birth in America to make sure their children get the
American nationality (important for the future) (= misbruik wetgeving) – but then they leave
before paying their bills, because of the very expensive healthcare in the USA
11. In Belgium, what is the principal difference between naturalization and declaration of
nationality?
Naturalization = the legal act/process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire
citizenship/nationality of that country (in Belgium: a decision made by the House of
Representatives)
Declaration = when you have the right to get your passport (= strict conditions, has become
more and more difficult)
12. If an adult gets adopted, does citizenship come automatically?
If an adult gets adopted, they don’t automatically get the new nationality
13. Explain ‘citizenship by investment’.
Pay for a passport (nationality)
14. What is the Hebrew term aliyah and how is it related to nationality?
The law of return: every Jew is allowed to go back to Israel and get the nationality
15. Why don’t children acquire Vatican citizenship?
Because of celibacy (in theory: no children can be born)
16. Why can one state that article 4 of the European Convention on Nationality, 1997 is rather
emancipatory or even feminist?
Every human should have the same rights
17. How could age be seen as a discriminatory element in Belgian nationality law?
If you want to receive the Belgian nationality, you have to pass a language exam (except for
when you’re over 65 years old)
18. Why/how do states want to avoid the statelessness (apatride) status?
WHY: Stateless people have no legal protection, no right to vote, and they often lack access
to education, employment, health care, registration of birth, marriage and property rights
HOW: Resolve existing statelessness, ensure that no child is born stateless, remove gender
discrimination from nationality laws, prevent loss of nationality ...
19. Explain the two types of loss of citizenship.
Voluntary: own choice: through renunciation of citizenship
Non-voluntary: state/country’s choice: denaturalization or loss of citizenship
20. What is renunciation of one’s citizenship?
Voluntary choice to lose your citizenship/nationality
Questions: lesson 1
1. How can we define ‘Law’?
A set of legal rules to make society livable (both secular and religious law)
2. What is the difference between secular and religious law?
Secular law is made by the government (the parliament: that changes all the time)
Religious law is made by God (in all sorts of religions) -> through holy writings…
= the interpretation can change, but rules can’t!
3. How can one distinguish Common Law and Civil Law?
Common Law = for example: USA, UK -> a judge looks at previous cases! = usage of the “rule
of precedent”: once a certain case is done, all others are (same judgment)
Civil Law = our system: a criminal/suspect is arrested by police, and then taken to a judge
who uses the law (’wetboek’) and applies it
4. What are unwritten legal norms?
Things/rules that are known to be normal, for example: a teacher can’t hit a student (=
normen/waarden)
5. What is a constitution, and how is it different from ‘regular’ laws?
Constitutional law are rules (law) that can’t easily be changed!
For example: de grondwet!
Regular law are normal rules that are easy to change
6. What is supranational law?
Law/rules on a level higher than purely a state/country
For example: European law > national law
7. Explain the role of interpretation with a politico-legal framework.
Interpretation is very important (for example: we know there is freedom of speech but what
are its limits?)
- Also very important with religious law: for example: you can’t work on a holiday (is
cleaning your house considered working?)
8. What is ‘multiple citizenship’?
When a person has a passport/nationality for 2 or more countries (this can have a lot of
different motives)
9. Explain citizenship acquisition by:
i. ius soli = system used in f.ex.: the USA:
In the USA: if a baby is born, it automatically gets an American nationality (a lot of
pregnant women go there, to give their children opportunities) – but they often leave
before paying their bills (because of the very expensive healthcare)
ii. ius sanguinis = system where they look at blood relatives (nationality of your mom and
dad)
iii. iure matrimonii = system where you can get a nationality by marriage (to someone with a
certain nationality)
iv. naturalization = system where you live in a country for a number of years and then apply
for a passport/nationality
, v. adoption = system where if a minor (child) is adopted from another country it gets the
nationality of its new home country when at least one adoptive parent is a citizen of that
country
vi. investment = system where you can buy a certain nationality (it is often very expensive
though!)
vii. religion = system where if you’re part of a certain religion you can get a nationality (for
example: Jewish)
viii. ius officii = system where you can get a nationality based on something work-related (for
example: Vatican citizenship)
10. Clarify the problem of ‘birth tourism’ with regards to citizenship.
A lot of Russian women are giving birth in America to make sure their children get the
American nationality (important for the future) (= misbruik wetgeving) – but then they leave
before paying their bills, because of the very expensive healthcare in the USA
11. In Belgium, what is the principal difference between naturalization and declaration of
nationality?
Naturalization = the legal act/process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire
citizenship/nationality of that country (in Belgium: a decision made by the House of
Representatives)
Declaration = when you have the right to get your passport (= strict conditions, has become
more and more difficult)
12. If an adult gets adopted, does citizenship come automatically?
If an adult gets adopted, they don’t automatically get the new nationality
13. Explain ‘citizenship by investment’.
Pay for a passport (nationality)
14. What is the Hebrew term aliyah and how is it related to nationality?
The law of return: every Jew is allowed to go back to Israel and get the nationality
15. Why don’t children acquire Vatican citizenship?
Because of celibacy (in theory: no children can be born)
16. Why can one state that article 4 of the European Convention on Nationality, 1997 is rather
emancipatory or even feminist?
Every human should have the same rights
17. How could age be seen as a discriminatory element in Belgian nationality law?
If you want to receive the Belgian nationality, you have to pass a language exam (except for
when you’re over 65 years old)
18. Why/how do states want to avoid the statelessness (apatride) status?
WHY: Stateless people have no legal protection, no right to vote, and they often lack access
to education, employment, health care, registration of birth, marriage and property rights
HOW: Resolve existing statelessness, ensure that no child is born stateless, remove gender
discrimination from nationality laws, prevent loss of nationality ...
19. Explain the two types of loss of citizenship.
Voluntary: own choice: through renunciation of citizenship
Non-voluntary: state/country’s choice: denaturalization or loss of citizenship
20. What is renunciation of one’s citizenship?
Voluntary choice to lose your citizenship/nationality
