Law
Treaty Reservations: Balancing Domestic Sovereignty and International Commitment
Quick fact
The United States ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights with a reservation stating that free speech protections do not go beyond what the U.S. Constitution already guarantees, effectively shielding its domestic law from stricter international standards.
Why this is interesting
When a country joins an international treaty, it can say 'yes' to the whole package — but what if one clause clashes with its constitution or domestic laws? International law has a clever solution that allows states to opt out of just that part.