1

RESEARCHING INTERNATIONAL LAW: THE BASICS

by
Victor Essien (vessien@law.fordham.edu)

21. THE SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

Excerpts from the Statute of the International Court of Justice

Article 38
1. The Court, whose function is to decide in accordance with international law such disputes as
are submitted to it, shall apply:
a. international conventions, whether general or particular, establishing rules expressly
recognized by the contesting states;
b. international custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law;
c. the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations;
d. subject to the provisions of Article 59, judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly
qualified publicists of the various nations, as subsidiary means for the determination of rules of
law.
2. This provision shall not prejudice the power of the Court to decide a case ex aequo et bono, if
the parties agree thereto.
Article 59
The decision of the Court has no binding force except between the parties and in respect of that
particular case.

2. GENERAL TREATISES ON INTERNATIONAL LAW

a. Print Sources
Brierly, J.L. Brierlys Law of Nations: An Introduction to the Role of International Law in
International Relations ( Andrew Clapham, ed. 7th ed.) (KZ3225.B75 A37 2012
Brownlie, Ian. Principles of Public International Law (6th ed.) KZ 3225 A37 2003
Cassese, A. International Law (2d ed.) (KZ3395.C25 A36 2005)
Grewe, W.G. The Epochs of International Law (KZ1242.G7413 2000)
Janis,M. W. An Introduction to International Law (4th ed.) (KZ3140.J36 A32 2003)
Malanczuk, P. Akehursts Modern Introduction to International Law (8th rev. ed.) (KZ3205.A44
A3 2002)
O'Brien, J. International Law (2d ed.) (KZ3410 .O27 2004)
Oppenheim, L. Oppenheims International Law (Robert Jennings & Arthur Watts, eds., 9th ed.)
(KZ3264.A3 I58 1992)
Shaw, M. International Law (5th ed.) (KZ3275.S53 A32 2003)
Wolfe, J. H. Modern International Law: An Introduction to the Law of Nations (KZ3195.W65
A36 2002)
b. Electronic Sources
HeinOnline <http://www.heinonline.org/HOL/Welcome> (click on "Legal Classics").
Selected classic treatises on international law (such as works by Grotius, Vattel, and Pufendorf)
are available in the Making of Modern Law (search by author, title or "International Law" as a
subject)

3. PORTALS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources of International Law
http://www.asil.org/erg/
Globalex
www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/index.html
Guide to Foreign and International Legal Databases (New York University)
http://www.law.nyu.edu/library/foreign_intl/index.htm
Harvard Research in International Law
Heinonlline.org
International Law In Brief
ilib@asil.org
Created by the editors of the International Legal Materials, it provides materials that barely
missed the cut into ILM.
Intute: Law
www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/law
LLRX.COM Law Related Information-Legal
http://www.llrx.com/
Max Planck Institute to Comparative Public and International Law.
http://www.virtualinstitute.de/en/Link/ePIVLVR
Research Guide to International Law on the Internet (University of Bologna, Italy)
http://www.spfo.unibo.it/spolfo/ILMAIN.htm
United Nations Bibliographic Information System (UNBISNET)
http://unbisnet.un.org
United Nations Info Quest (UNIQUE)
http://lib-unique.un.org/lib/unique.nsf
United Nations Official Document System (ODS)
http://documents.un.org

4. TREATIES
A. Treaties to which the U.S. is a party
1. Indexes
a. Print Sources
Current Treaty Index: A Cumulative Index to the U.S Slip Treaties and Agreements (Kavass &
Sprudz, annual) KZ 235.U583.1999
Guide to the U.S. Treaties in Force (Kavass & Sprudz, annual) KZ 235.G85
Treaties in Force. (U.S. G.P.O., 1944- ) KZ 235 T74
United States Treaties and Other International Agreement Cumulative Indexes: 1950-1970
(Kavass & Sprudz, 1973 with suppl.) KZ 235.U57.1975
Unpublished and Unnumbered Treaties Index (Kavass & Sprudz), 1987) KZ 235.U56
U.S. Treaty Index on CD-ROM (Hein) RESERVE KZ 235.H35
b. Electronic Sources
Treaties in Force
http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/treaties/2007/index.htm
Heinonline
http://www.heinonline.org
The Treaties and International Agreements Library offers access to Treaties in Force
2. Treaty Compilations:
a. Print Sources
Heins United States Treaties and Other International Agreements. (Kavass & Sprudz)
Microfiche Cab. 40
Treaties and Other International Acts Series.
(TIAS) U.S. Dept of State, 1946 -) Dep.TIAS 12589- KZ 235.32.U55
United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (UST) (U.S. Dept of State, 1946-)
KZ 235.3.U55
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United States Treaties of Other International Agreements of the United States of America, 17761949 (Bevans, 1968-76) KZ 235 .U57 1975
United States Statutes of Large (U.S.G.P.O., 1789-) KF 50 .U5
Unperfected Treaties of the United States of America, 1776-1976 (Witkor, 1976-)
KZ 236.1976
b. Electronic Sources
Heinonline
http://www.heinonline.org
Provides ready access to both current and historical treaty collections and indexes such as TIAS,
UST, Bevans, Malloy, Miller, ILM , and Kavass, among others
WESTLAW USTREATIES (U.S. Treaties database; see also other databases in International
Materials)
LEXIS INTLAW (International Law Library, including USTRTY (U.S. Treaties file, among
others)
3. Status of Recent Treaties
a. Print Sources
Congressional Index (Senate vol.) (CCH 1927-) REF KF 49.C6
U.S. Department of State Dispatch (formerly Department of State Bulletin ) Sup. Doc, 1990-)
KZ 231. U832
Microfiche & Online
Legislative Calendar (U.S.G.P.O., 1984 - ) Microfilm
Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications (Index of Senate Executive
Documents and Reports) U.S.G.P.O., 1951 - ) Z 1223.A18 & ONLINE
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
(U.S.G.P.O., 1965 - ) J80.A284 microfiche
b. Electronic Sources
US Department of State-Treaty Affairs
http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/
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4. Status of Treaties Generally:

a. Print Sources
A Guide to the United States Treaties in Force (Kavass comp.; Hein, 1982 - KZ 235.G85
Treaties in Force (U.S.G.P.O., 1944 - ) KZ 235.T74
b. Electronic Sources
Treaties in Force http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/treaties/2007/index.htm
CIS Index (on Subscription)

B. Treaties to which the U.S. is not a party

1. Indexes
a. Print Sources
Bowman, M. and D. Harris. Multilateral treaties:
index and current status. London, Butterworths, 1984 - Annual Supplements. Current to 1995
KZ 118.B69.
Catalogue of Treaties, 1814-1918. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Oceana, 1964. KZ 118.U57 1919
Cumulative List and Index to Treaties and International Agreements
Registered or Filed and Recorded with the Secretariat of the
United Nations December, 1969 - December, 1974. J. Vambery and
R. Vambery, Comps. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Oceana, 1977 2 vols. KZ 171.V36 1977
Harvard University Law School Library Index to Multilateral Treaties:
A Chronological List of Multiparty International Agreements from the
Sixteenth Century through 1963. V. Mostecky and F.R. Doyle eds.
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Oceana, 1965. KZ 118.H37 1965
Index - Guide to Treaties: Based on the Consolidated Treaty Series.
Clive Parry, ed. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Oceana, 1979 - KZ 120.P372 1979
List of Treaty Collections, New York, United Nations, 1956 (Reprinted
by W.M.W. Gaunt 1981) JX 1977.A2 St/Leg.5 1981
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Multilateral Treaties Calendar. Boston: M.Nijhoff, 1998. KZ 118. W55 1998

Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General: Status as of
31 December of each year. New York, United Nations, Annual
KZ171.M85.
Rohn, P.H. World Treaty Index 2d.ed, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC - Clio 1983-1984
5 Vols. KZ 173.R64 1983
United Nations, Cumulative Index to United Nations Treaty Series, New York:
United Nations, 1946. KZ 171.U55
b. Electronic Sources
Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General: Status as of
31 December of each year New York, United Nations. Annual.
http://www.un.org/depts/treaty/
2. Treaty Compilations
a. Print Sources
Consolidated Treaty Series C. Parry comp. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Oceana, 1969-1981
231 Vols. KZ 120 P37 1969
League of Nations, Treaty Series Lausanne, Imprimeries Reunies, 1920-1946
Microfiche
Hudson, M.O. ed. International Legislation: a collection of the texts of
multipartite international instruments of general interests beginning with the
Government of the League of Nations. Washington, D.C. Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, 1931-1950, 9 Vols. KZ 172.8 I58 1931
Martens, G.F. von. Recueil des Principaux Traites depuis 1761, Gothingers,
Dietrich, 1791-1801 with Supplements (Reprinted in Consolidated Treaty
Series). KZ 142.3 M37 1817
United Nations, Treaty Series New York, United Nations, 1946. KZ 172.T74 Microfiche
b. Electronic Sources
Australian Treaties Library
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/
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Environmental Treaties
http://www.ecolex.org
European Treaty Series
http://Conventions.coe.int
European Union Treaties
http://europa.eu/
International Labor Organizations Conventions and Recommendations
http://www.ilo.org
International Committee of the Red Cross: Treaty Database
http://www.icrc.org/ihl
LEXIS: INTLAW ILMTY (on Subscription)
Multilaterals Project
http://www.tufts.edu/fletcher/multilaterals.html
Organization of American States Treaties
http://www.oas.org
Text of Recently Deposited Multilateral Treaties
http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/notpubl/notpubl/asp
United Nations Treaty Series
http://untreaty.un.org
WESTLAW: US TREATIES (on Subscription)
World Intellectual Property Organization Treaties
http://www.wipo.org
5. JUDICIAL AND ARBITRAL DECISIONS
a. Print Sources
Common Market Law Reports. London: Common Law Reports Ltd, 1978KJE 923.7 C66
Reports of Cases Before the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance. Luxembourg: Court
of Justice of the European Communities, 1990- KJE 924.5 R47
Reports of Judgements, Advisory Opinions and Orders of the International Court of Justice.
Leyden: A.W. Sijthoff, 1947- KZ 214 I58
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Reports of Judgments and Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights

KJC 5132 A52.E8815

b. Electronic Sources
Courts and Tribunals
http://ww.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/specilhtm#trib
Provides links to the I.C.J., ITLOS, ITFY, ICTR, ICC and the UNAT
International Court of Justice website
http://www.icj-cij.org
WESTLAW: INT-ICJ (on Subscription)
International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes
http://www.worldbank.org/ICSID/index.html
European Court of Human Rights
http://www.echr.coe.int
European Court of Justice
http://curia.eu.int/en/index.htm
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
http://corteidh-oea-nu.or.cr/ci/
International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration
http://www.iccwbo.org/index-Court asp
Permanent Court of Arbitration
http://www.pca-cpa.org
6. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & INITIATIVES
African Union
http://www.africa-union.org
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
http://www.apecseo.org.so
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Council of Europe
http://www.coe.fr/index.asp
European Union
Europa: http://europa.eu/
Hague Conference on Private International Law
http://www.hcch.net/e/index.html
International Documents Task Force
http://govinfo.ucsd.edu/idtf/linkshtml#igo
Contains links to most international governmental and non-governmental organizations.
International Labor Organization
http://www.ilo.org
International Law Commission
http://www.un.org/law/ilc/
Mercosur
http://www.mercosur.org
North American Free Trade Agreement
http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
http://www.nato.int
Organization of America States
http://www.oas.org
Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development
http://www.oecd.org
U.C. Berkeley Site European union internet resources
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/GSSI/eu.html#bib
UNICITRAL
http://www.uncitral.org
UNESCO
http://www.unesco.org
Unidroit
http://www.unidroit.org
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United Nations
http://www.un-org
World Bank Group
http://www.worldbank.org
World Intellectual Property Organization
http://www.wipo.org
World Trade Organization
http://www.wto.org
7. PERIODICAL INDEXES
(a)

Print Sources

Index to Legal Periodicals. New York: H.W. Wilson Co, 1994Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals. Berkeley, Ca: University of California Press for the AALL,
1960(b) On-line Sources
Heinonline [electronic resource]
Index to Legal Periodicals. New York: H.W. Wilson Co, 1994- [electronic resource]
Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals. Berkeley, Ca: University of California Press for the AALL,
1960- [electronic resource]
Jstor [ electronic resource].
Lexis> US and Canadian Law Reviews Combined11
Westlaw> Index to Legal Periodicals( ILP); Legal Resource Index (LRI); Journals and Law
Reviews Combined (JLR)

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