Foreign Policy “The answer to everything is not dropping a bomb…..or a firing squad……Just kidding that is always the answer.” –Coach Das (my brother)

The Constitution Who has the institutional framework for foreign and defense policy? The Federal Government The Constitution divides powers between the President and Congress

Presidential Powers What powers does the president have in Foreign Policy? Head of State Appointing and receiving ambassadors Signing Treaties Representing the U.S. Abroad Wage War Negotiate Treaties

Reasons the President should have power in Foreign Policy Need an accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the world Steady Systematic adherence to the same view Uniform sensibility to the national character Decision, secrecy, and dispatch He wages war but CONGRESS declares war

Congress Congressional Leadership Congressional Oversight While the president usually takes the lead on foreign policy, Congress can develop and implement policy too NASA and National Defense Education Act Congressional Oversight Since the 1960s Congress has used oversight more often Investigate policies like Iran-Contra Controversial weapons systems

Non-Constitutional concepts which influence Foreign Policy The President is powerful but not omnipotent. He must still deal with domestic constraints and international pressures Treaty and Executive Agreements War Powers Act Media

Treaties and Executive Agreements Constitution gives the president power to negotiate treaties and the Senate the power to approve them Only rejected 17 treaties in history Test Ban Treaty of 1999 How does the president avoid the senate role in treaties? Executive Agreements All the force of a treaty but it is only valid during the President’s term

War Powers Act What was the point of the War Powers Act? Was designed to reassert congressional war powers The Last Declared war was WWII (2) The WPA was an attempt by Congress to prevent future foreign interventions without out their approval

News Media Press can check the foreign policy powers Investigate policies, expose scandals and affect public opinions Most Importantly, the media can place an issue on the public radar screen