Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 78, No. 12, December
2005
Glossary of Key Terms
Custom - A legal norm formed by the general and
consistent practice of states that they follow from a sense of legal
obligation.
General Principles of Law - Legal principles applied
by international courts as gap-fillers when there are no treaties or
customs to look to. These principles are drawn from major legal
systems.
Jus Cogens - Customary norms that are binding on all
nations; they cannot be avoided by dissent or treaty.
Reservation - A unilateral statement by a state that
is ratifying a treaty in which the state purports to negate or modify
the legal effect of certain portions of the treaty.
Self-executing Treaty - A treaty intended to become
effective as domestic law without the enactment of enabling
legislation.
Treaty - An agreement between two or more sovereign
nations that is formally signed, ratified, or adhered to.
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