Travaux Preparatoires Law and Legal Definition
The literary meaning of this French term is preparatory works. It constitutes the materials used in preparing the ultimate form of an agreement or statute, especially of an international treaty. The materials constitute a legislative history. Travaux preparatoires contain the various documents including reports of discussions, hearings and floor debates that were produced during the drafting of a Convention, treaty or an agreement. Travaux preparatoires of a statute or treaty are usually recorded so that it can be used later in order to interpret that particular statute or treaty. This is a secondary form of interpretation and is used to clarify the intent of the makers of the statute or treaty.
