Acts, Agreements, Diplomacy & Treaties – Page 4 – The Constitution • Constitution.com

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 November 29, 1947 The General Assembly, Having met in special session at the request of the mandatory Power to constitute and instruct a Special Committee to prepare for the consideration of the question of the future Government of Palestine at the second regular session; Having constituted a Special Committee […]

Establishment of an Interim Committee of the General Assembly

Resolution of the General Assembly, November 13, 1947 The General Assembly, Conscious of the responsibility specifically conferred upon it. by the Charter in relation to matters concerning the maintenance of international peace and security (Articles 11 and 35), the promotion of international co-operation in the political field (Article 13) and the peaceful adjustment of any situations likely to impair […]

United Nations Day

Resolution of the General Assembly, October 24, 1947 The General Assembly, Declares that 24 October, the anniversary of the coming into force of the Charter of the United Nations, shall henceforth be officially called “United Nations Day” and shall be devoted to making known to the peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the […]

United Nations Flag

Resolution of the General Assembly, October 20, 1947 The General Assembly, Recognizes that it is desirable to adopt a distinctive flag of the United Nations and to authorize its use and, therefore, Resolves that the flag of the United Nations shall be the official emblem, adopted by the General Assembly, under the terms of its […]

Convention of the World Meteorological Organization, October 11, 1947

With a view to coordinating, standardizing, and improving world meteorological activities and to encouraging an efficient exchange of meteorological information between countries in the aid of human activities the contracting States agree to the present Convention, as follows: PART I – ESTABLISHMENT ARTICLE 1 The World Meteorological Organization (hereinafter called the Organization) is hereby established. […]

Convention on Universal Postal Union, Revision of July 5, 1947 (Excerpts)

UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONVENTION CONCLUDED BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN, THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA, THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA, GERMANY, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE WHOLE OF THE POSSESSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA, THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, THE COLONY OF THE BELGIAN CONGO, THE BYELO-RUSSIAN […]

Headquarters of the United Nations

(a) Agreement Between the United Nations and the United States Regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, Signed June 26, 1947, and Approved by the General Assembly October 31, 1947 The General Assembly, Whereas the Secretary-General pursuant to resolution 99 (1) of 14 December 1946 signed with the Secretary of State of the United States […]

Constitution of the International Refugee Organization, December 15, 1946

PREAMBLE The Governments accepting this Constitution, Recognizing: that genuine refugees and displaced persons constitute an urgent problem which is international in scope and character; that as regards displaced persons, the main task to be performed is to encourage and assist in every way possible their early return to their country of origin; that genuine refugees […]

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, December 2, 1946

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, December 2, 1946 The Governments whose duly authorized representatives have subscribed hereto, RECOGNIZING the interest of the nations of the world in safeguarding for future generations the great natural resources represented by the whale stocks; CONSIDERING that the history of whaling has seen over-fishing of one area after […]

Acceptance of Compulsory Jurisdiction of International Court of Justice, August 2, 1946

Senate Resolution 196-Seventy-ninth Congress Resolved (two-thirds of the Senators present concurring therein), That the Senate advise and consent to the deposit by the President of the United States with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, of a declaration under paragraph 2 of article 36 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice recognizing as compulsory ipso […]

Constitution of the World Health Organization, July 22, 1946

The States parties to this Constitution declare, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, that the following principles are basic to the happiness, harmonious relations and security of all peoples: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The enjoyment of the […]

Convention on the Priviledges and Immunities of the United Nations, February 13, 1946

Whereas Article 104 of the Charter of the United Nations provides that, the Organization shall enjoy in the territory of each of its Members such legal capacity as may be necessary for the exercise of its functions and the fulfillment of its purposes and Whereas Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations provides that the Organization shall […]

United Nations Participation Act, December 20, 1945

AN ACT To provide for the appointment of representatives of the United States in the organs and agencies of the United Nations, and to make other provision with respect to the participation of the United States in such organization Be it enacted by the Senate arid House of Representatives of the United States of America in […]

International Organizations Immunities Act, December 9, 1945

AN ACT To extend certain privileges, exemptions, and immunities to international organizations and to the officers and employees thereof, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, TITLE I SECTION 1. For the purposes of this title, the term “international organization” means […]

Proclamation of United Nations Charter and Statute of the International Court of Justice

BY PRESIDENT TRUMAN, OCTOBER 31, 1945 WHEREAS the Charter of the United Nations, with the Statute of the International Court of Justice annexed thereto, was formulated at the United Nations Conference on International Organization and was signed in San Francisco on June 26,1945 by the Plenipotentiaries of the United States of America and the respective Plenipotentiaries of forty-nine […]

Statute of the International Court of Justice, June 26, 1945

ARTICLE 1. The International Court of Justice established by the Charter of the United Nations as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations shall be constituted and shall function in accordance with the provisions of the present Statute. CHAPTER I. ORGANIZATION OF THE COURT ARTICLE 2 The Court shall be composed of a body of independent […]

Charter of the United Nations; June 26, 1945

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of […]

Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, November 16, 1945

The Governments of the States parties to this Constitution on behalf of their peoples declare that since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed; that ignorance of each other’s ways and lives has been a common cause, throughout the history […]

Privileges and Prerogatives Granted by Their Catholic Majesties to Christopher Columbus – 1492

FERDINAND and ELIZABETH, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of Castile, of Leon, of Arragon, of Sicily, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Minorca, of Sevil, of Sardinia, of Jaen, of Algarve, of Algezira, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, Count and Countess of Barcelona, Lord and Lady of Biscay and Molina, Duke and Duchess of Athens and Neopatria. Count and Countess of Rousillion and Cerdaigne, Marquess and Marchioness of Oristan andGociano, &c. For as much […]

The Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted unto John Cabot and his Three Sonnes, Lewis, Sebastian and Sancius for the the Discouerie of New and Unknowen Lands – February 3, 1498

Henry, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue and grant for vs and our heiress to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of Venice, to […]

Letters Patent to Sir Humfrey Gylberte June 11, 1578

Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, &c. To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Know ye that of our especiall grace, certaine science and meere motion, we have given and granted, and by these presents for us, our heires and successours, doe give and graunt to our trustie and […]

General Charter for Those who Discover Any New Passages, Havens, Countries, or Places – March 27, 1614

The States-General of the United Netherlands, to all those who shall see these presents or hear them read, greeting. Be it known, whereas we understand it would be honorable, serviceable, and profitable to this country and for the promotion of its prosperity, as well as for the maintenance of seafaring people, that the good inhabitants […]

Great Britain : Parliament – The Declaratory Act; March 18, 1766

An act for the better securing the dependency of his majesty’s dominions in America upon the crown and parliament of Great Britain. Whereas several of the houses of representatives in his Majesty’s colonies and plantations in America, have of late against law, claimed to themselves, or to the general assemblies of the same, the sole […]

Great Britain : Parliament – The Currency Act; April 19, 1764

WHEREAS great quantities of paper bills of credit have been created and issued in his Majesty’s colonies or plantations in America, by virtue of acts, orders, resolutions, or votes of assembly, making and declaring such bills of credit to be legal tender in payment of money: and whereas such bills of credit have greatly depreciated […]

The Mecklenburgh Resolutions – May 20, 1775

I- Resolved: That whosoever directly or indirectly abets, or in any way, form, or manner countenances the unchartered and dangerous invasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this country — to America — and to the inherent and inalienable rights of man. II- Resolved: That we do hereby declare ourselves a […]

Exchange of Notes Referring to Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France of February 6, 1778

Versailles 27th August, 1784. SIR: You have communicated to me an extract from the instructions which Congress addressed to you the 11th May last, which imports that the United States will in no case treat any other nation, with respect to commerce, more advantageously than the French. This disposition is much the wisest, as it […]

Explanatory Article to Article 3 of the Jay Treaty, Signed at Philadelphia May 5, 1796

Explanatory Article. Whereas by the third Article of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation concluded at London on the nineteenth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety four, between his Britannic Majesty and the United States of America, it was agreed that it should at all times be free to his Majesty’s subjects and […]

Explanatory Article to Article 5 of the Jay Treaty, Signed at London March 15, 1798

Explanatory Article. Whereas by the Twenty Eighth Article of the Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation, between His Britannick Majesty, and the United States, signed at London on the Nineteenth day of November, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Four, it was agreed, that the contracting Parties would from Time to Time, readily treat of and […]

Declarations for Suspension of Arms and Cessation of Hostilities, signed at Versailles January 20, 1783

Both original declarations in French, and American declaration also in English. We the underwritten Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of North America, having received from Mr Fitz-Herbert, Minister Plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty, a Declaration relative to a Suspension of Arms to be establish’d between his said Majesty and the said States, of which the […]

Declaration of the Rights of Man – 1789

Approved by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789 The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration […]