Text 3. What is treaty? part I

Treaty is a formal agreement between two or more independent governments. It is usually a written document, but it may be a verbal statement agreed to by representatives of the countries. The history of treaty making goes back many hundreds of years. As early as 3000 B.C, rulers of ancient countries signed treaties with neighbouring kingdoms. The treaties served various purposes. Some treaties ended wars, and others settled boundary disputes. But throughout the history of the world, treaties have played an important part in the relations between countries.

Today, only sovereign states are able to make treaties. A sovereign state is one that is free from outside control. For example, Great Britain is a sovereign state because its government is free to make its own decisions. But the British colony of Gibraltar is not free to make its own decisions. It is therefore not a sovereign state, and cannot make its own treaties.

A treaty is much like a contract between private individuals. In both cases, the signing parties promise to do or not do some act. But there are important differences between treaties and contracts. A contract is not binding if one of the parties has forced the other party into agreement. But the use of force does not make a treaty void unless the force is actually used against the government representative who is working out the treaty terms. Unlike a private contract, a treaty does not go into effect until it is ratified (given formal approval). For example, a treaty between the United States and Great Britain is not official until it is approved by the United States Senate and by the British Crown.

There are several kinds of international agreements that have the force of treaties. One of these is called a convention. This is usually an agreement between states relating to a single topic, such as extradition. A concordat is an agreement between the pope and a sovereign state. An agreement between two monarchs on a private matter is not a treaty.

Kinds of treaties. Treaties may be divided into several classes according to their purposes, although international law recognizes no formal distinctions among treaties. A single treaty may include clauses under several classes. Some of the classes are described below.

Political. A peace treaty is one kind of political treaty. For example, the Treaty of Ghent in 1814 ended the War of 1812 in the United States. Others deal with alliances between countries and settle disputes. The Clayton-Bulwer Treaty in 1850 gave the United States and Britain equal protection rights in a future canal through Central America.

Commercial. These treaties include agreements on tariffs, navigation, fisheries, and consular services.

Confederation. Confederation treaties set up such international organizations as the Universal Postal Union.

Extradition. These treaties deal with escaped criminals. For example, let us suppose that two countries have signed an extradition treaty. If a criminal from one country flees to the other for safety, the criminal must be returned, or extradited, to stand trial for the crime.

Civil Justice. These treaties protect a country's trademarks, copyrights, and patents in foreign countries. Some civil-justice treaties deal with the rights of aliens.

1. Match the synonyms.

to ratify to study law to adopt to be returned

to sign to give formal approval to extradite to read law

2. Match the words on the left with the correct definition on the right.

1) treaty 2) a sovereign state 3) convention 4) concordat 5) commercial treaty 6) extradition 7) civil justice 8) confederation treaties

a) an agreement between the pope and a sovereign state b) usually a written document c) includes agreement on tariffs, navigation, and consular services d) deals with escaped criminals e) free from outside control f) protects a country’s trade-marks, copyright and patents in foreign trade g) an agreement between states relating to a single topic h) set up such international organization as the Universal Postal Union

3. Fill in the gaps with a suitable verb in the proper tense: to serve, to go back, to sign, to settle, to end, to play.

The history of treaty making 1) ... many hundreds of years. As early as 3000 B.C, rulers of ancient countries 2) ... treaties with neighbouring kingdoms. The treaties 3) ... various purposes. Some treaties 4) ... wars, and others 5) ... boundary disputes. But throughout the history of the world, treaties 6) ... an important part in the relations between countries.

4. Say whether these statements are true or false.

1. Treaties have played a minor part in the relations between countries.

2. A contract is binding if one of the parties has forced the other party into agreement.

3. A treaty does not go into effect until it is ratified.

4. Treaty is an agreement between two monarchs on a private matter.

5. Treaties are usually divided according to international law.

5. Answer the following questions.

1. What is treaty?

2. What are the purposes of the treaties?

3. Who is able to make treaties?

4. What are the differences between treaties and contract?

5. What kinds of international agreements do you know?

6. Sum up all information about.

Kinds of treaties