Biology
The Principle of Lex Specialis in Treaty Interpretation
Quick fact
The Latin maxim 'lex specialis derogat legi generali'—'special law repeals general law'—was famously applied by the International Court of Justice in the Tehran Hostages case, where diplomatic law was treated as a special regime prevailing over general rules of state responsibility.
Why this is interesting
When two laws both seem to apply to the same situation, which one wins? In international law, the answer often depends on which is more specific—not which is newer.