Discuss (d) Supranationalism

An international organization (IO) = an association of states (or of states and otherentities) created by treaty, possessing its own organs, will and personality, established to pursue common purposes by permanent cooperation. The definition's four notes: treaty-based (the constituent instrument), institutionalised (organs, staff, headquarters), voluntary-membered (sovereign equals), purpose-driven (the common interest's charter). Nature: IOs are creatures of the states (the powers are conferred, not inherent — the competence-competence question is the members' not the organisation's) yet actors in their own right once created (they act, bind their organs, and bear responsibility). Sources of their law (theexam map): (1) the constituent treaty (the constitution — UN Charter, SAARC Charter); (2) the treaties they conclude (headquarters agreements, relationship agreements); (3) their internallaw (rules of procedure, staff regulations, financial regulations); (4) resolutions and decisions (binding or recommendatory by the constitutions' own terms); (5) the general rules ofinternational law that govern them (state responsibility's mirror in the law of IO responsibility; the Reparations doctrine — 1.5); and (6) custom among members as to their practice.