Treaties and other international agreements are cited under Bluebook Rule 21.4. The citation format varies depending on whether the United States is a party to the agreement and the source in which the treaty is published. For treaties to which the United States is a party, cite to an official U.S. source first, such as the Treaties and Other International Acts Series (T.I.A.S.) or United States Treaties and Other International Agreements (U.S.T.).
For multilateral treaties, the preferred source hierarchy begins with official U.S. treaty sources if the U.S. is a party. If the treaty is not available in a U.S. source, cite to the United Nations Treaty Series (U.N.T.S.) or other official international publications. The basic format includes the treaty name, the parties (for bilateral treaties), the date of signing, and the source citation.
Treaty citations also require the date of signing (not ratification or entry into force, unless specified). For well-known treaties, a popular name may be used: Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nov. 20, 1989, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3. For bilateral treaties, list both parties after the treaty name. Include subsequent history (entry into force, amendments) as appropriate.
Multilateral (U.N.T.S.)
Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nov. 20, 1989, 1577 U.N.T.S. 3.
Bilateral (U.S. Party)
Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights, U.S.-Iran, Aug. 15, 1955, 8 U.S.T. 899.
T.I.A.S.
North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S.-Can.-Mex., Dec. 17, 1992, 32 I.L.M. 289.
Geneva Convention
Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Aug. 12, 1949, 6 U.S.T. 3316, 75 U.N.T.S. 135.
Cite to an official U.S. source first: T.I.A.S. (Treaties and Other International Acts Series) or U.S.T. (United States Treaties and Other International Agreements). If the treaty is not available in a U.S. source, cite to U.N.T.S. or another official international publication.
Include the parties after the treaty name: Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights, U.S.-Iran, Aug. 15, 1955, 8 U.S.T. 899. Use a hyphen between the party abbreviations.
Use the date of signing in the main citation. If entry into force or ratification is relevant, note it in a parenthetical or subsequent history: (entered into force Jan. 1, 1994).
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Disclaimer: While this guide follows Bluebook 21st edition rules, always verify citations with official Bluebook resources or your institution's requirements. This content is for educational assistance only.
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