Sovereignty & International Law: Core Principles & Dynamics
The Evolution and Nature of Sovereignty
1. The Rise of the Modern State and Sovereignty
States evolved from feudal systems to centralized governments. Key components of statehood include:
- Territory and population
- Government with authority to enforce laws
- Sovereignty – supreme power within a defined territory
The Peace of Westphalia (1648) marked the consolidation of sovereignty as a legal-political principle. Legal systems diverged into:
- Civil Law: Codified systems (e.g., Napoleonic Code)
- Common Law:
State and Local Government: Powers, Structures, and Finance
Legal and Judicial Concepts
- Common Law: Unwritten law based on tradition, custom, or court decisions.
- Successful plea bargaining results in the defendant pleading guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence or pleading guilty to a lesser charge.
- In a criminal case, the state acts as the plaintiff.
- Limited Jurisdiction Trial Courts: Courts of original jurisdiction for specific types of cases.
- Major Trial Courts (or Courts of General Jurisdiction): Hear both civil and criminal cases.
- Intermediate Appellate
Spanish Civil Service Structure and Access
Civil Service under Law 30/1984
The civil service, under Law 30/1984 of 2 August on Reform Measures for Public Service, is one of the priority policy objectives of the government program: the reform of Public Administration. The reform of the Civil Service law is one of its basic aspects.
The scope of the measures concerns:
- The staff of the Civil Administration of the State and its Autonomous Agencies.
- Civilian personnel serving the military administration and its Autonomous Agencies.
Personnel of the
Read MoreSpanish Tax Debt Enforcement: The Urgency Procedure
Urgency Procedure: Concept and Consequences
The enforcement or urgency procedure follows the breach of the payment provision in the voluntary period, with the objective of enforcing the required equity in an amount sufficient to cover the unmet debts. Its basic regulation is found in Articles 163 to 173 of the GTL (General Tax Law).
Characteristics of the Urgency Procedure
The characteristics of the urgency procedure are:
- It is an administrative procedure reflecting the Administration’s privilege of
Obscenity Law Evolution: The Fanny Hill Story
SECTION 1 – Passage Identification (40 points)
💡 Tip: Memorize title + date + key idea.
1️⃣ First Amendment (1791) → Protects freedom of speech but does not define its limits. Key cases: Roth v. U.S., Miller v. California.
2️⃣ Fourteenth Amendment (1868) → Applies constitutional rights to states, influencing censorship laws.
3️⃣ Regina v. Hicklin (1868) → Obscenity = any material that could “corrupt.”
4️⃣ Comstock Act (1873) → Bans obscene materials, contraceptives, and
Read MoreSpanish Constitutional Principles for Taxation and Finance
Normative Nature of Constitutional Principles
Constitutional principles are fundamental elements of the financial system and its institutions (including compulsory contributions or “tributo”, credit revenue, public assets, and the Budget). They are legally binding and possess normative value. We must consider the following:
- Direct Normative Value: The Spanish Constitution (SC) is the supreme norm of the legal order, subjecting both citizens and public authorities to its provisions. This normative