Evaluate The View That The President Is Able To Dominate Foreign Policy. (30)

Question 1

Paragraph One ➡️ Foreign Policy Powers In The Constitution
- For: The President is Given Significant Foreign Policy Control in the
Constitution

Answer 1

–(Example): Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution gives the President the power of being Commander-In-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States
- President supreme command over military forces, deploy troops and respond to immediate threats without Congressional approval
–(Example): Biden withdraw US troops from Afghanistan 2021, end of America’s longest war
–(Example): Trump’s assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, no congressional approval

Question 2

Paragraph One ➡️ Foreign Policy Powers In The Constitution
– Against: Congress Has Significant Limits Over the President’s Foreign Policy
Control in the Constitution

Answer 2

• Congress has important foreign policy power of declaring war, given to it by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. This authority allows Congress to decide whether the US will engage in formal warfare
• Acts as a critical check on President’s power as commander-in-chief, ensuring that decision to go to war is a collective, representative one.
  – (Example): Congressional declaration of war against Japan in 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbour, leading the US into World War 2

Question 3

Para 2 - The Increase Of Presidential Power In Relation
To Foreign Policy Beyond The Constitution
- For: Presidential Power Has Grown Significantly Beyond the Constitution

Answer 3

• Presidents can exclusively direct when the US should involve itself in foreign conflicts and military engagements, stretching the power beyond Congress
  -(Example): Nixon authorised a covert bombing campaign in Cambodia, aimed at disrupting North Vietnamese supply lines, without Congressional approval.
  – (Example): Trump ordered airstrikes against Syrian gov targets in response to chemical weapon attacks on civilians in 2017 & 18 - executed without prior Congressional approval

Question 4

Para 2 - The Increase Of Presidential Power In Relation
To Foreign Policy Beyond The Constitution
- Against: Congress Has Attempted to Reassert Itself in Foreign Policy in
Response to Increase in President’s Control Beyond the Constitution

Answer 4

• Congress has sought to reassert itself in foreign policy by using its oversight and investigative powers to scrutinise and influence the executive’s foreign policy decisions
  –(Example): Congress played a significant role in investigating the circumstances surrounding the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump wanted to directly implicate Saudi leadership, but congress pushed for transparency and accountability
  –(Example): This investigation lead to sanctions against 17 saudis, but stopped short of penalising senior Saudi officials.

Question 5

Paragraph Three ➡️ The Influence Of Public Opinions And Crises
- Against: The President’s Foreign Policy is Significantly Limited by Public
Opinion

Answer 5

• Public opinion constrained the President’s ability to dominate foreign policy in relation to the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Rising cost of war and lives lost eroded public support
  – (Example): due to Obama’s early opposition to Iraq war, he became selected as presidential nominee for democrats in 2008, he reduced troop numbers and ended the official combat mission in Iraq.

Question 6

Paragraph Three ➡️ The Influence Of Public Opinions And Crises
- For: Crises and Public Opinion Can improve President’s Legitimacy to Control
Foreign Policy

Answer 6

• Public opinion can help the President dominate foreign policy rather than limit it. This is because strong public support for foreign military intervention can cause a president to engage in a conflict without Congressional approval
  –(Example): Initially wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were very supportive, due to 9/11, US population wanted decisive action against those responsible.
• Bush was able to secure Congressional authorisiation for these intervention with little domestic opposition