When conducting treaty research, a researcher should:
1) Locate the treaty text (from an authoritative source)
2) Determine whether the treaty is still in force?
3) Determine whether there been any litigation (U.S. or other) regarding the treaty?
4) Determine whether there are questions about interpretation? Consider:
– Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
--Commentaries, judicial decisions, drafting history(Travaux Préparatoires).
The following guides for Treaty research are recommended as starting points:
While limited treaty content is available through large subscription services, such as Weslaw and Lexis, most researchers will incorporate specialized databases, such as the ones below.
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, found at A/Conf.3927 (1969), 1155 U.N.T.S 331, or 8 I.L.M. 679, specifies the structure and rules for treaties.
While it is not the global standard, the Bluebook 21st edition offers treaty citation details through Table 4.
See also, International Citator and Research Guide: The Greenbook, K89 .I58.