information on multilateral treaties for which the United States is a custodian. In the United States, the term “treaty” is reserved for an agreement reached “by and with the consultation and approval of the Senate” (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution). If the Senate contemplates a contract, it can approve it as written, approve it with conditions, refuse it and return it or prevent its entry into force by denying it permission. In the past, the Senate has given its unconditional opinion and approval to the vast majority of the treaties submitted to it. Links to the full text of treaties submitted to the U.S. Senate from 1995 to the present day are available on the Government Publishing Office (GPO) website. International agreements that are not submitted to the Senate are called “executive agreements” in the United States, but are considered treaties and are therefore binding under international law. For a long discussion and the history of the role of the Senate in international treaties and agreements, see treaties and other international agreements: The role of the U.S. Senate.
The treaties and other international legal acts of the United States that have been adopted the Information on Treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is currently affiliated. The Department of Foreign Affairs advises the president and leads the nation on foreign policy issues. The State Department negotiates treaties and agreements with foreign institutions and represents the United States at the United Nations. Treaty Law, as applied by the U.S. Government the U.S. State Department publishes existing treaties, an annual list of bilateral and multilateral treaties, and other international agreements to which the United States belonged. This publication is available electronically and may also be available in local public libraries and university libraries. In addition, the State Department provides the full text of numerous contracts related to its Office of Control, Audit and Compliance. Information on treaties pending in the U.S. Senate for consultation and approval of ratification by the United States.
All of these publications may be available in major public libraries and university libraries, often as part of their participation in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).