International conventions - sustany/dvg GitHub Wiki

International conventions are �treaties�or agreements between countries. The term international convention is often used interchangeably with terms like "international treaty," "international agreement," "compact," or "contract between states."�

Conventions may be of a general or specific nature and between two or multiple states.� Conventions between two states are called bilateral treaties; conventions between a small number of states (but more than two) are called plurilateral treaties (such as the GPA); conventions between a large number of states are called�multilateral treaties.

Bilateral Investment Treaties

A�bilateral investment treaty�(BIT)�is a common type�of international convention. A BIT is�an international agreement establishing the terms and conditions for private investment by nationals and companies of one state in another state.

Binding Nature

In�Medellin v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008), the�U.S. Supreme Court�held�that even if the United States signs and agrees to be bound by an international convention, the convention is not actually binding law unless it is�self-executing, or unless�Congress�passes�legislation�making the convention binding.

For more on international conventions, see this�Harvard Law Review article.