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 (a)   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 (a)   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