Which statement about treaties is true?

• A. They are informal understandings between individuals
• B. They are domestic laws that require no international consent
• C. They are newspaper editorials
• D. They are formal agreements between two or more sovereign states

Answer: (D)

Treaties are formal, binding agreements that create legal obligations among states (and sometimes international organizations). They’re negotiated at the international level, written, and require the explicit consent of the parties involved—usually through ratification or accession. This binding, negotiated nature is what makes them the instrument of international cooperation and law they are.

That’s why the statement describing treaties as formal agreements between two or more sovereign states is the best fit: it captures their official, legal status and the involvement of multiple states. In contrast, informal understandings between individuals don’t carry international legal force, domestic laws that require no international consent aren’t treaties, and newspaper editorials are opinion pieces rather than binding commitments.