President and Prime Minister - Foreign Policy

Question 1

Commander in Chiefs

Answer 1

• Both the president and prime minister act as commander-in-chief. While the president holds this role constitutionally, the prime minister only has this role through royal prerogative.
• The president has used this role to control foreign policy alone, as shown when Obama authorised airstrikes in 2011 without any congressional approval.
• Conversely, the convention in the UK is that Parliament should vote on such matters, meaning the prime minister should not be able to act alone

Question 2

Representative

Answer 2

• Both executives act as their country’s representative on a global stage. This allows them to influence foreign policy in a more peaceful sphere by, for example, being a representative of their country at international conferences.
• Obama and Cameron both attended the Paris Climate Change Summit in 2015, and both gave speeches and committed their countries to signing up to this agreement
• Treaties in the USA usually need Senate ratification, however Obama circumvented this with executive powers. Cameron passed the treaty in Parliament with no difficulties.