For research purposes, treaties can be classified in various ways, perhaps most usefully into three groups: multilateral treaties (treaties with three or more parties); bilateral treaties (two party treaties) involving the U.S. as a party; bilateral treaties not involving the U.S. as a party.
The purpose of this guide is to introduce U.S. treaty sources, i.e., those sources that provide access to bilateral treaties involving the U.S. as a party and multilateral treaties involving the U.S. as a party. Any time you are researching one of these treaties, you will have to cite one of these sources. If the treaty is a multilateral treaty with four or more parties, you will also have to cite an international source. (Bluebook, 18th ed., Rule 21.4.5) International sources are discussed in another research guide, Multilateral and Non-U.S. Treaties.
Of course, you will also have to cite an international or foreign national treaty source if you are researching a multilateral or bilateral treaty not involving the U.S. as a party. Foreign national treaty sources are also covered in the other treaty research guide.
