What is the difference between treaties and conventions?

Treaties and conventions are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle, but important, distinction between them. In international law, treaties are legally binding written agreements between two or more countries that are negotiated, signed, and ratified. Conventions, on the other hand, are international agreements that are voluntary and not necessarily legally binding. In Washington, international treaties are usually enacted by the U.S. government after approval by the Senate. These treaties become part of the body of U.S. law and are then enforced by domestic laws. Conventions, in contrast, are non-binding agreements and do not become part of U.S. law, although they are often used as a benchmark for setting policies. In fact, they are usually adopted by consensus and not ratified by individual governments. The main difference between treaties and conventions is that treaties are legally binding documents, while conventions are simply guidelines that may or may not be adopted by governments. Treaties are negotiated by nations, while conventions are decided by consensus and are not required to become law. In Washington, treaties are regulated and enforced by the U.S. government, while conventions are voluntary and may or may not be adopted by the government.

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