LibGuides: Foreign and International Legal Research: Treaty Research

Treaties and International Agreements

Black's Law Dictionary (10th Edition) defines 'Treaty' as "An agreement formally signed, ratified, or adhered to between two countries or sovereigns; an international agreement concluded between two or more states in written form and governed by international law."

A treaty may be bilateral (between two parties) or multilateral (between multiple parties). Treaties may also be referred to by other names such as: international conventions or agreements, covenants, final acts, charters, memorandums of understandings, protocols, pacts, accords, and constitutions for international organizations.

Locating Treaty Texts

Full Text Sources - United States

United States State Department Treaty Affairs
Links to treaty texts and information through the U.S. State Department.

Library Print and Database Resources

Statutes at Large, 2nd Floor KF50 .U5
Treaties were printed in the Statutes at Large until about 1950. The Statutes at Large are available in print in the library as well as on Lexis+ and Westlaw Edge.
Treaties and Other International Agreement of the United States 1776-1949 3rd Floor KZ236 1968.A5
This resource, often referenced as "Bevans," is also available on HeinOnline.
U.S. Treaties and Agreements Library - HeinOnline

Subscription Databases

Lexis+
Treaty resources on Lexis include U.S. Treaties in Force and U.S. Treaties on Lexis+ among others.
Westlaw Edge
Department of State resources on Westlaw including United States Treaties in Force and other international agreements.

United Nations & Multilateral Treaties and Indexes

United Nations Treaty Collection
Search for treaties in the United Nations Treaty Collection online.
Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General
3rd Floor KZ171 .M86 (1981 - 2009)
United Nations Treaty Collection
Current update of the Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General
League of Nations Treaty Series
(1920-1946) 3rd Floor KZ170.5 .T74
Council of Europe Treaties - Online
Organization of American States Treaties - Online

Treaty Indexes

Online

Multilateral Treaties for which the United States is Depositary - Department of State

Library Print Collection

Treaties in Force
2nd Floor Reference KZ235 .T74 2017
Kavass' Guide to the United States Treaties in Force
2nd Floor Reference KZ235 .G85 2009
United States Treaty Index
2nd Floor Reference KZ235 .U58
Current Treaty Index
3rd Floor KZ235 .C87
World Treaty Index
2nd Floor Reference KZ173 .R64
Index to Multilateral Treaties
2nd Floor Reference KZ118 .H35

Recent or Pending Treaties

Congress.gov Treaty Documents
A Library of Congress database where you can search treaty documents (as well as other legislation) for the current Congress as well as past documents going back to the 81st Congress.
United States Senate Treaties
Lists treaties received and approved by the Senate during the current Congress.