The State Department plays an important role in treaty construction and implementation. Their website often contains information about current treaties and treaties in development.
1. Treaties may have different names such as:
Are these terms synonyms or do they represent different types of international agreement?
2. Create a flow chart illustrating the treaty making and ratification process for the U.S.
*3. There are several good web resources on treaty and agreement research. If you could use but one which one would that be? Why?
4. The United Nations has a Treaty Collection website. Evaluate ease of use by completing a sample search on the topic of slavery. Comment on your experience.
5. A patron is interested in learning about treaties in force with Vietnam. What source or sources would you use? How current are they? How many treaties are in force?
6. You have been asked to speak to the Thursday morning reference group on access to U.S. government treaties. Compare briefly the purpose and utility of these sources: Treaties in Force, Treaties and other International Acts Series, and United States Treaties.
7. A student in U.S. history is interested in information about treaties between members of the Choctaw Native American tribe and the United States. In particular, the student wishes to see particular treaty terms. Discuss your strategy and results. You might begin with the Avalon Project at Yale Law School or Kappler. Include brief comment on the utility of the tools that you used.
8. A user is curious if the U.S. has any trade agreements with the Ukraine. What can you discover?
9. A student wonders if there are any environmental treaties to preserve the Antarctic. You might begin with ENTRI, but consider other sources too.
10. Which treaties, if any, are currently being considered by the Senate?
11. Has President Bush issued any executive orders which seem to you to be very similar to treaties? If yes, provide a good example.
12. Which treaty was the first to be signed by the U.S. and what was it about? Is it still in force?
Last major revision: August 2006.
