Treaty Research
A Pathfinder
Vicenç Feliú
October 2006
Treaty Research
Selected Guide to Materials at or Available Through the LSU Law Library
Vicenç Feliú
Foreign, Comparative, and International Law Librarian
October, 2006
NOTICE: The purpose of this pathfinder is to assist in the identification and use of potentially relevant sources of legal information. Nothing in this document should be interpreted as legal advice. Items cited in this pathfinder can be located using the library’s catalog or can be obtained through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Also, many of the items cited can be used electronically through LEXIS, WESTLAW, and the Internet.
Index
- Introduction:
- Resources
- oGuides
- oIndexes and Collections
- oLinks and Databases
- Finding a Treaty
- oTreaties to which the US is a Party
- oTreaties to which the US is not a Party
- oTreaties of International Organizations
Introduction
Treaties come under many different labels; agreements, convention, protocols, memoranda of understanding, modus vivendi, exchange of notes, or treaties. They can be bilateral or multilateral and they can be in force or awaiting ratification or adoption. Searches in law reviews and journals often reveal a wealth of information on citations, status, and parties to treaties.
Before beginning a search on treaties, the researcher should become familiar with the treaty making process and the special characteristics of treaty research. An excellent source to become familiar with treaty research is Treaty Research Basics, 89 Law Library Journal 407 (1997).
To understand how the treaty process works, the researcher should look at a treatise on the basics of treaty law, such as Modern Treaty Law and Practice.
The researcher can also find an excellent explanation of the ratification and implementation process for U.S. treaties at “National Treaty Law and Practice: United States” in National Treaty Law and Practice.
Another resource describing the process of treaty-making, including depositing a multilateral treaty with the United Nations Secretary-General, key events in the treaty process, and registering and filing a treaty is the Treaty Handbook from the United Nations, Office of Legal Affairs, Treaty Section.
Resources
Guides
Indexes and Collections
- Treaties in Force
- United States Treaty Index
- Hein's United States Treaties and Other International Agreements Current Service
- Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General
- Multilateral Treaty Calendar
- Multilateral Treaties: Index and Current Status
- World Treaty Index
Links and Databases
- Council of Europe Treaty Series
http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/v3MenuTraites.asp
- Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators
http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/
- Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
http://www.fao.org./legal/Treaties/Treaty-e.htm
- Hein Online
- Lex Mercatoria
http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/treaties.and.organisations/lm.chronological.html
- Thomas, Treaties
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/treaties/treaties.htm
- Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Multilaterals Project
http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multilaterals.html
- U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Income Tax Treaties
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96454,00.html
- U.S. State Department, Bureau of Nonproliferation, Treaties and Agreements
http://www.state.gov/t/ac/trt/
- U.S. State Department, Treaty Actions; record of actions taken by states in regard to international agreements http://www.state.gov/s/l/c3428.htm
- Yale Law School Avalon Project
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/avalon.htm
- LexisNexis: Legal > Area of Law by Topic > International Law > Treaties & International Agreements
- European Communities and European Union treaties from 1953.
ECLAW
- North American Free Trade Agreement and supplemental agreements from Sept. 1993.
NAFTA
- Worldwide tax treaties from 1828.
TAWTT
- Westlaw:
- European Union treaties between member states from 1951.
EU-TREATIES
- Tax treaties and agreements between the United States and other countries from 1955.
FTX-TREATIES
Finding a Treaty
Treaties to which the US is a Party
To understand the process of treaty making and ratification in the United States, see:
- “National Treaty Law and Practice: United States” in National Treaty Law and Practice
- The Making of International Agreements: Congress Confronts the Executive
- Treaties and Other International Agreements: The Role of the United States Senate: A Study
- Treaties: Their Making and Enforcement (2d ed.) The 1904 edition is available online through Hein Online.
To find the texts of U.S. treaties from 1776-1949, see:
- Statutes at Large
- Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949
- United States Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980
- American State Papers, 1789-1838.
To find the texts of U.S. treaties from 1950, see:
- United States Treaties and Other International Agreements
- Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS). This is the slip law version of United States Treaties and Other International Agreements begun in 1945 as a continuation of the prior slip law series: Treaty Series and Executive Agreement Series.
- Print: Documents
Fourth Floor S9.10
- eResource: From TIAS 11060 to 12734
Hein Online
- United States Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980
Treaties to which the US is not a Party
Resources for older treaties
- Consolidated Treaty Series. Covers treaties from 1648 until the date of commencement of the League series (approximately 1918-1920.)
- The Major International Treaties of the Twentieth Century: A History Guide with Texts. Revision of two works including the major international treaties from 1914 to 1945 and the major international treaties since 1945.
- Manual of Collections of Treaties and of Collections Relating to Treaties.
Treaties of International Organizations
- The United Nations Treaty Series. Published since 1946. All treaties are published in their original language plus English and French. Only registered treaties are published in this series; those treaties that are not registered with the
- U.N. Secretariat do not get published here.
- The League of Nations Treaty Series. Published between 1919 and 1946. In catalog under League of Nations Documents, 1919-1946
- Encyclopedia of European Union Law
- European Union Law Reporter
- LexisNexis: Go to Command Searching and enter the name of the treaty database
EUROPE;TREATY
- INTLAW;ECTY
INTLAW;ILMTY
- Westlaw: Search the treaty databases
EU- TREATIES
ILM
