Foreign policy & defense
treaty
A binding international agreement the President negotiates and the Senate approves by two-thirds. Once ratified, it is part of the supreme law of the land.
In full
The Senate does not ratify a treaty; it gives advice and consent, after which the President ratifies by exchanging or depositing instruments. The Senate may attach reservations, understandings, and declarations that change how the United States is bound. A treaty that is not self-executing requires implementing legislation before courts will apply it.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.