executive agreement

American  

noun

U.S. Government.

1. an agreement, usually pertaining to administrative matters and less formal than an international treaty, made between chiefs of state without senatorial approval.

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Etymology

Origin of executive agreement

First recorded in 1940–45

Compare meaning

How does executive-agreement compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• executive agreement vs. treaty

Example Sentences

"Plenty of international agreements are concluded in forms other than treaties," said Josh Chafetz, a professor at Georgetown Law, but "I'm sceptical that something of this magnitude could be concluded as a pure executive agreement."

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Such an executive agreement would not be legally binding and would lack the reciprocal benefits of a full trade pact, according to Goodman.

From Washington Post • Jan. 27, 2023

The State Department also has to determine whether it must ask the Senate for its advice and consent or whether it can simply join Kigali as an executive agreement.

From Scientific American • Nov. 29, 2017

Unlike a treaty, an executive agreement does not require ratification by the Senate.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2016

It is altogether apparent in view of developments like these that the executive agreement power, especially when it is supported by Congressional legislation, today overlaps the treaty-making power.

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Corwin, Edward Samuel