国际法定义:Internationallawconsistsofrulesandprincipleswhichgoverntherelationsanddealingsofnationswitheachother.InternationalLaw,whichisinmostothercountriesreferredtoasPublicInternationalLaw,concernsitselfonlywithquestionsofrightsbetweenseveralnationsornationsandthecitizensorsubjectsofothernations.Incontrast,PrivateInternationalLawdealswithcontroversiesbetweenprivatepersons,naturalorjuridical,arisingoutofsituationshavingsignificantrelationshiptomorethanonenation.Inrecentyearsthelinebetweenpublicandprivateinternationallawhavebecameincreasinglyuncertain.Issuesofprivateinternationallawmayalsoimplicateissuesofpublicinternationallaw,andmanymattersofprivateinternationallawnavesubstantialsignificancefortheinternationalcommunityofnations.
作为国际法主体的国家:ThelawofnationsisapartofthelawoftheUnitedStatesunlessthereissomestatuteortreatytothecontrary.InternationallawisapartofthelawoftheUnitedStatesonlyfortheapplicationofitsprinciplesonquestionsofinternationalrightsandduties.ItdoesnotrestricttheUnitedStatesoranyothernationfrommakinglawsgoverningitsownterritory.AStateoftheUnitedStatesisnota"state"underinternationallaw,sincetheConstitutiondoesnotvestitwithacapacitytoconductforeignrelations.
Internationallawimposeuponthenationscertaindutieswithrespecttoindividuals.Itisaviolationofinternationallawtotreatanalieninamannerwhichdoesnotsatisfytheinternationalstandardofjustice.Howeverintheabsenceofaspecificagreementanindividualcannotbringthecompliant.Onlythestateofwhichheisanationalcancomplainofsuchaviolationbeforeaninternationaltribunal.Thestateofnationalityusuallyisnotobligatedtoexercisethisrightandcandecidewhethertoenforceit.
国际法的国际组织定义:Internationalorganizationsplayincreasinglyimportantroleintherelationshipsbetweennations.Aninternationalorganizationisonethatcreatedbyinternationalagreementorwhichhasmembershipconsistingprimaryofnations.TovitalizethestatusofinternationalorganizationofwhichUnitedStatesisamemberandfacilitatetheiractivitiesCongresshasenactedtheInternationalOrganizationImmunitiesAct,whichamongotherprovisionsdefinesthecapacityofsuchorganizations.
