As soon as the language draft is agreed in the Convention, it is open to signature. Participating states that then sign the treaty agreed in principle to the document. In addition, a state that does not participate in the signing of the document may later formally adhere to the document. As a result, this state of principle is also bound by the agreement. Signatures normally have to be ratified for the treaty to enter into force. Ratification is carried out by the relevant bodies which accept the contractual limit. The treaty itself will enter into force when the minimum number of ratifications set is formally exchanged or tabled. It should be noted that states have the option of ratifying a treaty with reservations. A state may opt for a reservation if it refuses to accept a particular obligation or condition in the contract. A reservation results in the state accepting the obligations of the treaty, which excludes the party mentioned in the reserve. In other cases, such as New Zealand with the Maori and Canada with its First Nations and First Nations, treaties have allowed Aboriginal people to maintain a modicum of autonomy. Such agreements between colonizers and indigenous peoples are an important part of the political discourse of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the treaties that are being discussed have an international reputation, as indicated by a UN treaty study.

[26] [27] Contracts may be considered “autonomous” since only the party implements the contract and all its obligations. Other contracts cannot be self-sustaining and require “enforcement provisions” – a change in the domestic law of a State Party that guides or allows it to fulfil contractual obligations. An example of a treaty imposing such legislation would be one that would impose local prosecutions by a party for certain crimes. The distinctions are mainly related to their method of authorisation. Contracts must be advised and approved by two-thirds of the senators present, but executive agreements alone can be executed by the President. Some contracts give the president the power to fill gaps through executive agreements rather than additional contracts or protocols. Finally, agreements between Congress and the executive branch require the approval of the House of Representatives and the Senate before or after the president signs the treaty. An essential part of treaty drafting is that the signing of a treaty implies recognition, that the other party is a sovereign state and that the agreement, considered to be under international law, is applicable. Therefore, nations can be very cautious when it comes to qualifying a treaty agreement.