In addition to international law, nations also have a variety of national laws that regulate their own internal affairs. These laws are typically found in the constitution, but some are also incorporated in legislation. For example, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe maintains a collection of national laws on human rights and other related subjects, such as hate crimes, human trafficking, and environmental protection. The OSCE includes many countries, including the U.S. and Canada, as well as Turkey and Russia.

The main difference between national and international laws is that a country’s laws are a product of its own legal system. These laws are created by the governments of nations, not by individual judges. In the United States, national laws are enacted by Congress and signed by the president. They often have a popular name and citation, as well as being published in the United States Code.

Another difference between international and national law is that international conventions may be a form of national law. Usually, these international conventions become national law once they are ratified. Similarly, unwritten trade usages can be used to create a-national law. Those who work in international law may find this distinction difficult, since they must learn to navigate these unwritten rules and usages.

Although the concept of international law has been around for many centuries, its roots lie in the 1648 Peace of Westphalia. This agreement established the existence of sovereign independent entities known as “nation states” with equal authority. As a result, nations are defined by their ability to protect their citizens and not intervene in their internal affairs. This concept grew quickly after 1648, and the concept of the nation state began to encompass a range of complex relations among states.