January 2025 Lincoln Douglas Topic Overview

Please read as much of the attached document that you can, out loud, for 5 minutes. If you can't finish this reading out loud in the 5 minute recording time, finish the reading regardless.

What is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)?

• A treaty focused on airspace regulations

• An international treaty regarding laws of the oceans and seas

• A convention on international trade laws

• A treaty on climate change

  
  

What does 'become party to' mean in the context of international agreements?

• Formally ratifying an international agreement

• Informally agreeing to an international treaty

• Observing an international law without ratification

• Rejecting an international treaty

What is the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court?

• A treaty establishing the International Court of Justice

• A treaty establishing the International Criminal Court

• A treaty on international environmental laws

• A treaty on international trade agreements

  
  

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is often regarded as the 'constitution' for laws regarding ______ and seas.

Which of the following is NOT a crime under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court as per the Rome Statute?

• Genocide

• Cybercrime

• War crimes

• Crimes against humanity

How many countries and the European Union have joined the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea?

• 168

• 125

• 150

• 200

The United States views most of the contents of the treaties as 'customary international law', meaning they are already established perspectives on what is considered ______ and illegal.

What is a key argument for the Negative side regarding the United States not ratifying the Rome Statute?

• Maintaining sovereignty and autonomy of its legal system

• Increasing international cooperation

• Enhancing the power of the ICC

• Promoting international human rights

Under what conditions can the International Criminal Court prosecute crimes?

• Only when crimes occur in international waters

• When domestic courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute

• Only when crimes are committed by state leaders

• When crimes are reported by the United Nations