International agreements are formal, legally binding contracts between sovereign states or international organizations, governed by international law

. While often referred to generically as treaties, they appear under various names including conventions, protocols, pacts, and charters. 

Core Types of Agreements

• Bilateral Agreements: Concluded between two parties, such as the US-Mexico Consular Treaty.
• Multilateral Agreements: Involve three or more parties, like the UN Charter or the Paris Agreement on climate change.
• Executive Agreements (US-specific):Agreements made by the President without formal Senate approval, often categorized as Congressional-Executive or sole executive agreements. 

Key Functions & Examples

• Human Rights: Agreements like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)and the Convention on the Rights of the Childestablish global standards for individual protections.
• Environmental Protection: Includes the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Economic & Trade: Regulate commerce and investment, such as Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) or Social Security “Totalization” Agreements that prevent dual taxation.
• Peace & Security: Focus on disarmament and conflict resolution, such as the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) or the Antarctic Treaty. 

The Legal Process

1. Negotiation: Representatives (plenipotentiaries) meet to discuss terms and draft the text.
2. Signature: Indicates an intention to be bound, though for major multilateral treaties, this is usually preliminary.
3. Ratification/Accession: The formal process by which a state confirms its consent to be bound, often requiring domestic legislative approval.
4. Entry into Force: The point at which the agreement becomes legally binding, often after a specific number of countries have ratified it. 

Are you looking for information on a specific agreement, or do you need details on the legal requirements for a particular country’s involvement?

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