United States Treaty Research and Interpretation
This guide is a comprehensive resource to finding treaties to which the United States is a party -- official and unofficial, bilateral and multi-lateral, print and electronic.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ryan Harrington in the Foreign and International offices on L1.
Prepared by Teresa Miguel, Yale and Marylin Raisch, Georgetown.
Treaty Research
- Research Guides
- Treaty Sets
- Treaty Indexes
- Treaty Status
- Updating Treaties
- Interpretation and Legislative History
- Commentary
À la Recherche des Travaux Préparatoires: An Approach to Researching the Drafting History of International Agreements
Treaties and Other International Agreements: The Role of the United States Senate (2001)
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. 2001.
Buffalo, N.Y. : W.S. Hein, 2004.
Published periodically but irregularly for the benefit of the Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate.
UC Berkeley -- Researching Treaties and International Agreements
United States International Agreements -- Transmission to Congress
Case-Zablocki Act on the transmittal to Congress of internatioanl agreements other than "advice and consent treaties."
EISIL
American Society of International Law's (ASIL) Electronic Information System for International Law is a comprehensive database for primary documents, websites, and research guides - a great first-stop for finding international agreements; search by title, subject, keyword // has a human rights section
KAV Agreements
Recent State Department Agreements, Senate Treaty Documents, Trade Agreements and others.
Kavass, Igor I. KAV 0001-8574 (1987 - current)
Thomas - Treaties
Library of Congress (Thomas) (from the 90th Congress, 1967).
Treaties and Other International Acts Series (TIAS)
Washington , D.C.: United States Department of State, 1946-Present.
United Nations Treaty Series
New York: United Nations, Office of Legal Affairs, 1946-Present.
United Nations - L1 (tunnel). Available to the Yale community via Access UN index and the UN Treaty Collection.
United States Statutes at Large
Washington , D.C.: United States Department of State.
All U.S. treaties were published in the Statutes at Large until 1950. Vol.64, part 3 contains a cumulative list of treaties and agreements reproduced in Vols.1-64.
Vol. 7 contains treaties between the United States and the Indian Tribes (1848);
Vol. 8 contains treaties between the United States of America and Foreign Nations (1867)
United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (U.S.T.)
Washington , D.C.: United States Department of State (1950-1984)
Bevans -- Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States of America, 1776-1949
Edited by C. Bevans. Washington , D.C. : U.S. Gov’t Printing Office, 1968-1976. Vols. 1-13 (1776-1949)
Consolidated Treaty Series
Edited by C. Parry. Dobbs Ferry , New York : Oceana Publications, Inc., 1969-1981.
EISIL
American Society of International Law's (ASIL) Electronic Information System for International Law is a comprehensive database for primary documents, websites, and research guides - a great first-stop for finding international agreements; search by title, subject, keyword // has a human rights section
International Legal Materials
Search ASIL's compilation of international laws, treaties, decisions, and declarations on Westlaw (database: ILM), Lexis (file-name: ILM), and HeinOnline. American Society of International Law, Washington, DC, 1962-Present.
Malloy -- Treaties, Conventions, International Acts, Protocols and Agreements between the United States and Other Powers, 1776-1937
Compiled by William M. Malloy. Washington , D.C.: U.S. Gov’t Printing Office, 1910. Vols. 1-4 (1776-1937)
Unperfected Treaties of the United States of America
Edited by C. Wiktor. Dobbs Ferry , New York : Oceana Publications, Inc., 1976-1994.
CIS Index to Publications of the United States Congress: Senate Treaty Document Series
1970-Present.
Congressional Record Index: Treaties and Agreements
1873-Present.
Current Treaty Index, 1982-1999
Compiled by I. Kavass and A. Sprudzs. William S. Hein & Co., Inc.
Hein's United States Treaties and other International Agreements Current Service
Edited by W.S. Hein. Buffalo , New York : William S. Hein & Co., Inc., (1990-present). Microfiche.
Kavass's Current Treaty Index
Edited and compiled by Igor I. Kavass (1982 - current)
Multilateral Treaty Calendar -- Répertoire des Traités Multilatéraux, 1648-1995
Wiktor, Christian L. The Hague , The Netherlands ; Boston , Mass.: M. Nijhoff Publishers; Cambridge , MA : Kluwer Law International, 1998.
U.S.T. Cumulative Index, 1950-1970 & U.S.T. Cumulative Index, 1971-1975
Compiled by I. Kavass & A. Sprudzs. Buffalo , New York : William S. Hein & Co., Inc.
United States Treaties and Other International Agreements Cumulative Index, 1776-1949
Compiled by I. Kavass & M. Michael. Buffalo , New York : William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1975.
United States Treaty Index, 1776-Present Consolidation
Edited by Igor Kavass. Buffalo , New York : William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1991 (2008 Supplement). Replaces in their entirety U.S.T. Cumulative Indices.
Guide to the United States Treaties in Force
Kavass, Igor I. & Sprudzs, Adolf. Buffalo, New York.: W.S. Hein Co., 1982 (unofficial)
Treaties in Force: A List of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States
United States Department of State. Washington , D.C. : U.S. Gov’t Printing Office, 1929-Present (official).
Current Treaty Index
Edited and compiled by Igor I. Kavass. Buffalo , New York : W.S. Hein & Co., 1999-Present.
"Travaux préparatoires" of the Convention (ECHR)
European Court of Human Rights - 2000s
1er congrès international des tribunaux pour enfants, Paris, 29 juin-1er juillet 1911: Actes du congrès, travaux préparatoires, comptes rendus analytiques et sténographiques publiés au nom du Comité d'organisation
Marcel Kleine - 1912
Actes et documents de la neuvieme a la vingtieme session / Conférence de La Haye de droit international privé (1960-2005)
Proceedings of the 9th through the 20th session of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (1960-2005).
9th session (5 - 26 Oct 1960): Miscellaneous Matters, Legalization, Form of wills, Protection of Children.
10th session (7 -28 Oct 1964): Divorce, Adoption, Notification, Contract forum.
Special Meeting (13 - 26 April 1966): Execution of judgments.
11th session (7 - 26 Oct 1968): Miscellaneous Matters, Divorce, Traffic Accidents, Taking evidence abroad.
12th session (2 - 21 Oct 1972): Miscellaneous Matters, Administration of estates, Product Liability, Maintenance Obligations.
13th session (4-23 Oct 1976): Miscellaneous Matters, Matrimonial Property Regimes, Marriage, Agency.
14th session (6 - 25 Oct 1980): Miscellaneous Matters, Consumer Sales.
15th session (8 - 20 Oct 1984): Miscellaneous Matters, Trusts - applicable law and recognition.
16th session (3 - 20 Oct 1988): Miscellaneous Matters, Succession to estates - applicable law.
17th session (10 - 29 May 1993): Miscellaneous Matters, Centenary, Adoption - Cooperation.
18th session (30 Sept - 19 Oct 1996): Miscellaneous Matters, Protection of Children.
Special Commission (20 Sept - 2 Oct 1999): Protection of Adults.
19th session (6 - 22 June 2001, 2 - 13 Dec 2002): Miscellaneous Matters, Securities.
20th session (14 - 30 June 2005): Choice of Court.
Berlingieri on arrest of ships : a commentary on the 1952 and 1999 arrest conventions (2000 ed.)
Berlingieri on arrest of ships : a commentary on the 1952 and 1999 Arrest Conventions (2006 ed.)
By Francesco Berlingieri ; foreword by Jean-Serge Rohart.
CIS Senate Executive Documents and Reports
Microfiche with two-volume index, 1817-1969.
Collected edition of the "travaux préparatoires" of the European Convention on Human Rights = Recueil des travaux préparatoires de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme
By Council of Europe
Communication de la Commission au Conseil relative à la participation de la Communauté à la prochaine Conférence sur le Droit de la Mer et à ses travaux préparatoires (Comité des utilisations pacifiques du fond des mers et des océans au-delà des limites de la juridiction nationale)
Communication of the Commission to the Council on the participation of the Community at the next Conference on the Law of the Sea and its preparatory work (Committee on the peaceful uses of the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. SEC (72) 284 final, 1 February 1972
Conference on Succession of States in Respect of State Property, Archives, and Debts, 1983
Conference on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties, 1977-1978
Conference on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court, 1998
Conference on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations, 1986
Conference on the Representation of States in their Relations with International Organizations, 1975
Congressional Hearings
Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings & GPO
Department of State Dispatch
Bureau of Public Affairs. Vols. 1-10. 1990-1999. All Published.
Developments in customary international law : theory and the practice of the International Court of Justice and the international ad hoc criminal tribunals for Rwanda and Yugoslavia
By Birgit Schlütter.
Digest of United States Practice in International Law
1973-Present.
Vols. 1-8 (1973-1980); Dept. of State.
Final record of the Diplomatic Conference of Geneva of 1949.
Final record of the diplomatic conference convened by the Swiss Federal Council for the establishment of international conventions for the protection of war victims and held at Geneva from April 21st to August 12th, 1949.
Foreign Relations of the United States
1948-1976..
Genèse et destinée de la Constitution Européenne : commentaire du Traité établissant une Constitution pour l'Europe à la lumière des travaux préparatoires et perspectives d'avenir = Genesis and destiny of the European Constitution : commentary on the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe in the light of the travaux préparatoires and future prospects /
Giuliano Amato, Hervé Bribosia, Bruno de Witte (eds.) ; avec la contribution de/with the contribution of Julio Baquero Cruz [et al...] ; coordination scientifique/scientific co-ordination Hervé Bribosia.
Guide to the "travaux préparatoires" of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
By Marc J. Bossuyt ; preface by John P.Humphrey
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture
International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)
This website containts a variety of UNIDROIT's publications and documents, including travaux preparatoires
La protection internationale du droit d'auteur: contribution aux travaux préparatoires de la Conférence diplomatique de Rome pour la révision de la Convention de Berne
International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation - 1928
Le Travail temporaire dans la société moderne III: travaux préparatoires à la conférence de Genève 5-6 mai 1982
International Institute for Temporary Work
Translation of the French: The Temporary work in modern society III: preparations for the Geneva Conference 5-6 May 1982
Les circonscriptions indigènes: commentaire du décret du 5 décembre 1933, d'après l'exposé des motifs, les travaux préparatoires et le rapport du Conseil Colonial
J Magotte - 1934
Les Travaux Préparatoires et L'interprétation des Traités
Available in print and online (French only)
NATO agreements on status: travaux préparatoires
Edited and annotated by Joseph M. Snee.
Nice Agreement (1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards)
Notice sur les travaux préparatoires du canal maritime et sur les nouvelles études des barrages
Translation of the French: "Instructions on the preparation of the ship canal and new dams studies"
Projet de statut de la Communauté politique européenne: travaux préparatoires
Translation of the French: Draft Statute of the European Political Community: preparatory work
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
1929-Present.
Ratification of the Single European Act: travaux préparatoires
EC, Court of Justice - 1993
The Collected Travaux Préparatoires of the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
The Genocide Convention: The Travaux Preparatoires
The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights: A Perspective on its Development
The international law of human rights and states of exception : with special reference to the travaux préparatoires and case-law of the international monitoring organs
By Anna-Lena Svensson-McCarthy.
The legislative history of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act and the Travaux préparatoires of the Hague rules
Compiled and edited by Michael F. Sturley with translations by Caroline Boyle
The Refugee Convention, 1951 : the travaux préparatoires analysed, with a commentary
By Paul Weis
The Slavery Conventions: The Travaux Préparatoires of the 1926 League of Nations Convention and the 1956 United Nations Convention
The Travaux Préparatoires of the Crime of Aggression
The Vienna convention on the law of treaties : travaux préparatoires = Die Wiener Vertragsrechtskonvention : Materialien zur Entstehung d. einzelnen Vorschr.
The work of the International Law Commission
Travaux preparatoires of the International Law Commission - print and online versions.
Traité instituant la Communauté européenne du charbon et de l'acier: État actuel des questions juridiques et de la jurisprudence. Bibliographie des travaux préparatoires, de la doctrine [et] de la jurisprudence, 1950-1957
European Coal & Steel Community - 1957
Travaux préparatoires of the negotiations for the elaboration of the United Nations Convention against Corruption
Travaux préparatoires relatifs au programme scientifique
Translation of the French: Preparatory work on the scientific program
Treaties Submitted to the United States Senate: Legislative History, 1989-2004
Christian Witkor, Leiden ; Boston : Martinus Nijhoff, 2006.
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
1965-Present.
American Journal of International Law
1989-Present. An equivalent to the quarterly updates of similar information as is found in the current Digest of United States Practice in International Law.
U.S. Department of State - Digest of International Law
HeinOnline
Westlaw
LexisNexis
JSTOR
Gale LegalTrac
ProQuest
K1.M444
Cumulative Digest of United States Practice in International Law (1981-1988)
Washington , DC : Office of the Legal Adviser, Dept. of State: U.S. Gov’t Printing Office, 1993.
KZ21.D54
Digest of International Law -- Hackworth
Vols. 1-8 (1940-1944).
HeinOnline
KZ237.7.H33 1946
Digest of International Law -- Moore
Full Title: Digest of International Law as Embodied in Diplomatic Discussions, Treaties and other International Agreements, International Awards, the Decisions of Municipal Courts, and the Writings of Jurists, and Especially in Documents, Published and Unpublished, Issued by Presidents and Secretaries of State of the United States, the Opinions of the Attorneys-General, and the Decisions of Courts, Federal and State.
Vols. 1-8 (1906).
HeinOnline
KZ237.7.M66 1906
Digest of International Law -- Wharton
Full title: Digest of International Law of the United States Taken from Documents Issued by Presidents and Secretaries of State and from Decisions of Federal Courts and Opinions. Vols. 1-3 (1887)
HeinOnline
JX237.W5 1887
Digest of International Law -- Whiteman
Vols. 1-15 (June 1963-1973).
LLMC
HeinOnline
KZ237.7.W49 1963
Digest of the Published Opinions of the Attorney-General and of the Leading Decisions of the Federal Courts, With Reference to International Law, Treaties, and Kindred Subjects
Vol. 1 (1877)
HeinOnline
KZ237.7.D54
Restatement of the Law: The Foreign Relations Law of the United States
The American Law Institute. St. Paul, MN: American Law Institute Publishers, 1987 (and current supplements).
Westlaw
LexisNexis
HeinOnline
KF4651.R47
