Treaty

What treaty means

In short, treaty is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.

Where treaty comes up

The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.

Read the source: Supremacy Clause.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if treaty appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read treaty in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.

You can read the current federal court rules online for free.

Related legal terms

• Trading with the Enemy Act: a 1917 federal law (now 50 U.S.C. §§ 4301–4341) giving the President power over trade and financial transactions with enemy nations in wartime.
• Transfer: any way of disposing of or parting with property or an interest in property, such as a sale, gift, assignment or lien.
• Treasury: a government department or fund that manages public money. In the United States, it usually means the U.S. Department of the Treasury. A treasury can also be the fund in which public money is kept.
• Treasury notes: U.S. government debt securities that pay a fixed rate of interest every six months and mature in two, three, five, seven or ten years. The Treasury sells them at auction through TreasuryDirect and banks or brokers. They are different from Federal Reserve notes, which are paper currency.

Why precise terms matter

Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.