Rules and principles applied to the
relations between states
Foreign Law
Internal law of countries outside the
United States
Public International Law
Laws dealing with the relations between
states
Private International Law
Rules that govern the choice of law
(conflict of laws) in private matters such as family
law, business disputes, etc.
Customary International
Law
Rules arising from general and consistent
practices of states that are accepted as legally binding
Terms Relating to Formal Agreements
Terms Relating to Formal Agreements
Definitions
Convention
Includes treaties and other international
agreements of all kinds; the word is used interchangeably
with "agreement"
Treaty
A formal written agreement between states
Bilateral Treaty
Treaty between two states
Multilateral Treaty
Treaty between three or more states;
typically a minimum number of countries must join
a multilateral treaty before it becomes binding on
the countries that agree to it
Executive Agreement
An agreement entered into by the President
that does not require consent of the Senate
