1. “Domestic policy can only defeat us. Foreign policy can kill us.”
- J O H N F. K E N N E D Y

2. American Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy: Strategies and goals that guide a nations relations with other countries and groups in the world. The American Goal: Protect America and American Interests In 2014, what does that look like? Where have we been and where are we going?

3. What is foreign policy? What are the strategies?
Diplomacy, economic aid, technical assistance or military intervention
What is our National Security Policy?
Designed to primarily protect the US
Focused on defense of the US “homeland” or potential enemies both foreign and domestic.

4. How does the President make foreign policy decision?
The President works with his advisors and listens to their advice, but he ultimately makes many decisions on his own.
Secretary of State
Secretary of Defense (*NOT an active member of the military)
National Security Advisor
CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

5. The President’s Top Advisors Which advisors need Senate confirmation?
Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough
Secretary of State
John Kerry
Secretary of Defense
Chuck Hagel
National Security Advisor
Tom Donilon
Vice President
Joe Biden
No Senate confirmation needed!
Senate confirmation needed
Senate confirmation needed!
No Senate confirmation needed!
Chosen by
President to be
his running mate

6. Who makes foreign policy?
Constitutional Powers of the President:
Article II vests the executive power of the government w/ the president and the role of Commander in Chief
Article II – Section 2: power to make treaties & executive agreements, appoint ambassadors
Informal Techniques of the President:
Open access to information (CIA, State Dept., Defense Dept.)
“Power of the Purse” Influence Congress to appropriate funds that are allocated for different programs/countries.
Influence on public opinion – “going public”
Scare tactics

7. Other sources of foreign policymaking
Department of State: (Executive Agency)
Supervises US international relations
Staffs embassies and consulates
Power is in decline since FDR
National Security Council: (NSC, 1947)
Advises President on integration of “domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to the national security”
Consists of President, VP, Secretaries of State & Defense, directory of emergency planning, chairperson of the joint chief of staff, and the director of the CIA
Diplomacy
Military
Develop options

8. Raid on Osama Bin Laden 5/2011
Situation Room the night of the Osama Bin Laden raid by the Navy Seals

9. Other sources of foreign policymaking
The Intelligence Community
Department of Defense
Consists of the 40+ gov’t agencies that are involved in intelligence activities.
CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)
NSA (National Security Agency)
DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency)
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Army Intelligence
Air Force Intelligence
DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)
Military-Industrial Complex:
Relationship between the defense establishment and arms manufactures
All military actives under the jurisdiction of a single department head
Secretary Defense Panetta and *Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (*High ranking military officer)

10. Domestic Sources of foreign Policy
Elite and Mass Opinion – public opinion influences the making of foreign policy through a number of channels
Elites in American business, education, communication, labor, and religion try to influence presidential decision making through several strategies.
Influence foreign policy through the general public by encouraging debate over foreign policy positions, publicizing the issues, and using the media.

11. Congress Can Check the President
The Senate ratifies treaties (2/3 vote) and approves cabinet members
Only Congress can declare war (only 5x!)
War Powers Act 1974 (The President can send troops for 60 days, can extend for 30 days, but then needs Congress to approve)
Power of the Purse $$$ – Congress
Public Opinion & The Media