Context: One significant part of treaty making is that signing a treaty implies recognition that the other side is a sovereign state and that the agreement being considered is enforceable under international law. Hence, nations can be very careful about terming an agreement to be a treaty. For example, within the United States, agreements between states are compacts and agreements between states and the federal government or between agencies of the government are memoranda of understanding.

Question: What are agreements between states within the United States called?
Answer: compacts

Question: What are agreements between states and the federal government called within the United States?
Answer: memoranda of understanding

Question: In the United States, what are agreements between agencies of the federal government called?
Answer: memoranda of understanding

Question: Nations can be careful about terming an agreement a treaty because it has the effect of recognizing that the other side is a what?
Answer: a sovereign state

Question: Under what do all parties to a treaty recognize the provisions of the treaty are enforceable?
Answer: international law