X. Read the text and answer the questions

1. What are the two main groups of sources of international law?

2. What are the subsidiary sources of international law?

3. What are the differences between ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ sources of international law?

international lawmaking: other
LAW-CREATING PROCESSES (part I)

Custom and treaties constitute the two most important sources of international law. They are envisaged by twobasic 'constitutional' rules of the international community, which lie at the very apex of the legal order.

Other sources of international law exist. Article 38 mentions two of them (general principles of law recognized by civilized nations and judicial decisions).

There are other sources to which that provision makes no reference, but which are nonetheless envisaged by international law and applied by the ICJ itself: unilateral acts of States creating rules, general principles of international law and binding decisions of international organizations.

Some of the above sources may be termed 'primary’, in that they are contemplated by general international law: custom, treaties, unilateral acts of States creating rules of conduct, general principles of international law. Binding decisions of international organizations, as well as judicial decisions made ex aequo et bono are ‘ secondary’ sources, because they are provided for by rules produced by primary sources (treaties).