What Was the Last Treaty the U.S. Senate Actually Ratified?

[Jim_B]

I don’t have exact data before me. But it seems the U.S. Senate rarely ratifies treaties. This is probably because it takes a two-thirds majority for a treaty to be ratified by the Senate. Then it becomes the supreme law of the land, according to the Constitution.

My question is simply this: What is the last treaty the Senate actually ratified? What did it involve? And as long as I’m asking, about what percentage of treaties the President signs does the Senate actually ratify?

Thank you in advance to all who reply

[Ravenman]

@Jim B.

My question is simply this: What is the last treaty the Senate actually ratified? What did it involve?

The latest was a protocol amending the tax convention with Germany and a tax convention with Belgium, which were approved on December 14, 2007. The Senate has approved eight treaties during the 110th Congress.

And as long as I’m asking, about what percentage of treaties the President signs does the Senate actually ratify?

That’s a really good question, and it is a little difficult to answer. Unlike bills, which expire at the end of a Congress and have to be reintroduced each Congress, treaties remain pending in the Senate until they are disposed of. It can often take years for the Senate to reach a decision on treaties, and there are certainly treaties that have been pending for decades. If I had to guess, I’d say more than 80% of treaties are approved by the Senate, but very few of them most people would have any interest in at all.

[rbroome]

@Ravenman

The latest was a protocol amending the tax convention with Germany and a tax convention with Belgium, which were approved on December 14, 2007. The Senate has approved eight treaties during the 110th Congress.

That’s a really good question, and it is a little difficult to answer. Unlike bills, which expire at the end of a Congress and have to be reintroduced each Congress, treaties remain pending in the Senate until they are disposed of. It can often take years for the Senate to reach a decision on treaties, and there are certainly treaties that have been pending for decades. If I had to guess, I’d say more than 80% of treaties are approved by the Senate, but very few of them most people would have any interest in at all.

another example of why I like the Dope! Like the OP I would have asserted that the Senate rarely approves treaties. And clearly that is not the case-because the vast majority of treaties are not considered newsworthy. Something I didn’t realize.
Thanks