Foreign Policy Flashcards
What does the constitution specifically say about the
responsibilities of the federal government, which are
‘enumerated’?
Foreign policy - International (and interstate) trade
International relations
Defence
Coining money
Many presidents often tend to be more successful with their foreign policy than domestic policy
This is called a ‘bifurcated’ president: successful on foreign policy, weak on domestic policy
obama FP
iraq qar
afgahnisatan war
bin laden
iran nuclear relations
new START
Cuban relations
syria civil war
libya civil war
Guantanamo Bay closure
Paris Climate Agreement
trump FP
Afghanistan War
Cuban relations
Paris Climate Agreement
North Korea
China trade war
Syria civil war
Capital of Israel
Iran nuclear relations
Yemen civil war
biden FP
Withdraw US troops from Afghanistan
End US support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen civil war
Rejoin Paris Climate Agreement
Support for Ukraine after invasion by Russia; sanctions on Russia - donated $18.51bn
key events
Trump vetoed Congressional bills to end US support for Saudi Arabia involved in this civil war; Biden ended US support - yemen
Obama and Trump did not manage to end US military involvement; Biden did, but in a chaotic way - afghanistahn
Obama struck a negotiated deal to avoid this country developing nuclear weapons; the deal was ended by Trump - iran
Biden asked Congress for $40 billion in support after invasion by Russia - ukraine
Obama re-established friendly diplomatic relations and opened an embassy after many decades; Trump closed it again - cuba
Obama ordered air strikes to support the local population to get rid of the dictator Gaddafi, ending in a civil war - Libya
Who controls foreign policy: president or Congress?
War Powers Act 1973
Executive agreements
War Powers Act 1973
President has to notify Congress about military
action within 48 hours of starting it.
Military action cannot lasts more than 60 days
without Congressional approval (or declaration of war).
Executive agreements
The foreign policy versions of ‘executive orders’.
Agreements with other countries made by the president, less formal than a full international treaty. They do not need ratification by Congress. This means that the executive will adhere to it in its policies – it is therefore implemented.
However, this means that future presidents can simply cancel them…
Advantages of the president on foreign policy
The president is commander-in-chief
The president negotiates and signs international treaties
The president can use executive agreements to bypass
Congress
commander in chief
The president is commander-in-chief
He has operational command of the military - obama administration said the Libyan action does not require congressional approval
The president negotiates and signs international treaties
The president negotiates and signs international treaties
The president (and his Secretary of State) negotiates with
other countries
executive agreements
The president can use executive agreements to bypass
Congress - Iran nuclear deal, paris climate agreement
Advantages of Congress on foreign policy
Congress has power to declare war
Congress has the power of the purse – foreign policy can
be expensive!
The Senate can ratify or block international treaties – only
1/3 of the Senate can block a treaty
Congress has power to declare war
In addition, the War Powers Act attempts to stop Presidents bypassing Congress by simply not declaring war
President has to notify Congress about military action
within 48 hours of starting it
Military action cannot lasts more than 60 days without
Congressional approval (or declaration of war)
The Senate has voted to stop U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. This is the first time ever that the Senate has voted to end an unauthorized war.
