The Basics of Treaty Ratification in the U.S. Senate
Mar 25, 2010

•    The Senate does not actually ratify treaties—that is the job of the President

o    The Senate provides advice (on the substance) and consent (with two-thirds of the Senate required to approve a treaty)

o    The Senate considers on the Senate floor resolutions of ratification rather than the treaty itself

•    To ratify a treaty, the President signs and deposits the instrument of ratification

•    The resolution of ratification of a treaty can be as short as a paragraph or many pages long.  The resolution of ratification of the 2002 Treaty of Moscow was longer than the treaty itself.