Courts and tribunals in the international system.

• A. To enforce domestic law.
• B. To settle disputes between states and interpret international law.
• C. To govern military actions.
• D. To regulate trade within a country.

Answer: (B)

In the international system, courts and tribunals provide a forum for states to resolve disagreements peacefully and to interpret the rules that govern relations between states. They handle disputes about treaty obligations, customary international law, and questions of state responsibility, helping to give effect to international norms through binding judgments or authoritative interpretations. This role is distinct from enforcing a country's own laws—that remains the job of domestic courts and authorities—and from directing a state's military actions or regulating internal commerce, unless those issues involve international obligations or cross-border aspects addressed by international bodies. For example, the International Court of Justice settles disputes between states and issues opinions on how international law should be applied, illustrating their function to interpret and apply international legal rules rather than enforcing domestic or internal measures.