Congress and the president play an important role in foreign policy in the United States. The constitution gives both branches of government specific powers and also has areas where they need to work together. Both the legislative and executive branches have informal powers that they can use for political gain. Congress and the president share the role of foreign policy from the principle of Codetermination.
The constitution gives the president three powers in relation to foreign policy. First of all, the President is the Commander of all the armed forces. He is also the head of public security. This power gives him the right both to direct the military intelligence community and to appoint all high officials. The president can also issue executive orders that affect both. The president is the head of state and government, so when he travels overseas he speaks for the country. The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and bring it to the Senate for ratification. They can choose to pass the treaty or not, as the President has the authority to veto any bill Congress passes.
With the Constitutional Powers of the President, they are informal powers that come naturally with the position but vary from person to person. One source of power is the simple fact that he is the President of the United States of America, great and complete. a powerful nation on earth. It only comes with great dignity to speak and be heard by the world. That figure also helps to increase domestic popularity. A president can rely on his past experience when making a decision that will also help his power. In his time, political allies will come forward and help support particular policies over the years. Being the President and having many allies gives you a powerful pulpit from which to speak your mind. One of the most important sources of vital power is that the President can speak your mind, as other high-ranking officials echo your views.
Congress has also delegated many duties and responsibilities from the Founding Fathers in foreign policy. The first thing that some people wonder about is the power of war. It is the legislative branch that actually declares war on another nation, not the President. Congress also has the power of the budget authority to ensure that all foreign expenditures of the President are accounted for. Another way Congress can exercise its external power is by using each of its legislative staffs to test the executive’s actions, as well as through the information they find through inspections and hearings on foreign policy by the President. The Senate body has the right specifically in the Constitution to confirm or deny all treaties approved by the President as well as political and military institutions. Having this power, they can influence the President’s decision regarding his election. One power granted to Congress that was not included in the Constitution was the War Powers Act of 1973. This Act of Congress did much more He gave power in foreign policy, not allowing the President to keep the troops in combat for 60 days without the approval of the Congress and gave him the power of the legislature at any time to withdraw the forces.
Congress has less informal powers than the executive, but they use them more often, especially if the executive and legislature are controlled by different parties. Because there are so many legislators, they can go back to their representative roles and make a lawsuit. If a majority of them agree in a suit, they have a legitimate representative, which makes their decision well heard. If members of Congress believe the White House is acting on its authority, then it has the power to hold public hearings on issues and use those hearings for its own political gain. They can even talk on the floor of their bedrooms about various topics that many will watch on C-SPAN or the local evening news.
The President’s relationship with Congress has changed many times throughout our history. The type of relationship is divided from submission to resistance to rejection and independence all according to the constitutions and activities of the day. The transition can be explained in many ways. The Executive can have more license and power in foreign policy when things are going well and Congress is more focused on domestic affairs. Since so many legislatures are all concerned about their own countries, sometimes they don’t have the nations best interest in mind and can’t pay attention to foreign affairs.
Fear of incidents in our history is also changing the relationship between the President and Congress. The history of changing things like Pearl-harbor and 9-11 gave the President more power without looking at his faith that in it is in the country’s best interest to quickly and unambiguously declare war on Japan or pass the Patriot Act against suspected terrorists. When the President fails in a major action or intervention, the Congress will then try to assume more power and control. policy of foreign affairs. This happened after Vietnam when the President was forced into an act of Congress. Finally, the attitude and relationship between the two governments will help pass or reject the policy. When Bill Clinton prevailed in the Congressional lobby and NAFTA aid was passed by the Senate. But on the other hand, where they are ignored, they are easily bent and decided in the CTBT treaties.
