Omar Bennett
Foreign policy is the collection of strategies a country uses to guide its relationships with other countries. In the United States, the president is granted the power of foreign policy, including the ability to command the military, negotiate treaties, and appoint ambassadors. However, the Department of State, which carries out the president's foreign policy, is often pulled between the wishes of Congress and the president. This has led to debate and criticism of US foreign policy, with some arguing that unilateral presidential control of foreign relations poses a threat to the nation's welfare and is unconstitutional. This essay will explore the constitutional framework of American foreign policy, including the roles of the president, Congress, and the State Department, and how they interact to shape the country's international relations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Powers of the President | Negotiating and signing treaties, commanding the military, and appointing ambassadors |
| Powers of the Senate | Ratifying treaties |
| Powers of the Department of State | Carrying out the President's foreign policy |
| Jurisdictional goals of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs | Export controls, fostering commercial interaction with foreign nations, safeguarding American businesses abroad, international education, protection of American citizens abroad, and expulsion |
| Foreign aid objectives | Fostering closer relations with foreign nations, strengthening potential allies and trading partners, providing assistance to people in need, and promoting human rights |
| Guiding principles | Security, democracy, prosperity, and development |
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What You'll Learn
The role of the president
The Treaty Clause of the US Constitution outlines the president's role in negotiating and signing treaties with other countries or political entities. For a treaty to be ratified, it must be approved by two-thirds of the US Senate. The Supreme Court has ruled that the power to make treaties is separate from other federal powers, allowing the federal government to use treaties to legislate in areas that would otherwise be under state authority.
The president's role in foreign policy also extends to issues of national security and counterterrorism. The president can restrict the entry of foreign nationals to protect against national security threats, as seen in Executive Order 14161, which aimed to protect the US from foreign terrorists and other security risks. The president can also shape foreign policy through the use of foreign aid, fostering relations with potential allies and assisting countries in need.
While the president has substantial powers, some scholars argue that unilateral control of foreign relations by the president can pose a threat to the constitutional balance of powers. They contend that Congress must provide more than a "rubber stamp" for the president's agenda, and that the executive branch should not dominate foreign policy-making. The relationship between the president and Congress in foreign policy is described as a "delicate partnership" that requires cooperation and consideration of each other's roles and responsibilities.
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The role of Congress
The United States Constitution grants power over foreign policy to the president of the United States, including the powers to command the military, negotiate and sign treaties, and appoint ambassadors. However, the role of Congress in foreign policy is also significant and plays an important role in maintaining a balance of powers.
Congress has the power to ratify treaties negotiated by the president. For a treaty to be ratified, it must be approved by two-thirds of the United States Senate. Typically, treaties are first discussed and voted on by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Congress also has the power to pass legislation that impacts foreign policy, such as laws governing export controls, international commerce, and the protection of American citizens abroad.
Congress also plays a crucial role in overseeing and influencing the implementation of foreign policy. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, for example, has jurisdiction over matters such as export controls, non-proliferation of nuclear technology, fostering commercial interaction with foreign nations, and protecting American citizens abroad. Congress can also use its power of the purse to influence foreign policy by allocating or withholding funds for specific initiatives or programs.
Additionally, Congress has the power to conduct oversight and hold the executive branch accountable for its foreign policy actions. This includes holding hearings, conducting investigations, and requesting information from the executive branch. Congress can also play a role in shaping public opinion and debate around foreign policy issues, and its members can serve as a check on the president's foreign policy agenda.
While the president has significant powers in foreign policy, the role of Congress is crucial in providing a check and balance on those powers and in shaping and implementing the country's foreign policy direction.
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Treaties and negotiation
The process of treaty negotiation and ratification reflects the delicate balance of powers between the president and Congress in shaping American foreign policy. The president, as the head of state and commander-in-chief, has significant influence over foreign affairs, including the power to appoint ambassadors and direct the military. However, Congress also plays a crucial role in providing oversight and checks and balances on the president's powers.
The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs outlines several jurisdictional goals that guide its foreign policy decisions. These include export controls, fostering commercial interaction with foreign nations, protecting American citizens abroad, and expulsion. Additionally, foreign aid has been used as a tool to foster closer relations, strengthen potential allies, and provide assistance to countries in need. Since the 1970s, human rights considerations have also become an important aspect of American foreign policy, influencing the distribution of foreign aid.
The historical context has also shaped the evolution of American foreign policy. In the early years of American independence, foreign policy involved balancing relations with Great Britain and France. The Federalist Party, under John Adams, supported close ties with Britain, while the Democratic-Republican Party favoured France, leading to the Quasi-War with France. George Washington's farewell address also expressed key foreign policy themes, including cultivating peace and harmony with all nations, steering clear of permanent alliances, and advocating trade with all nations.
In conclusion, treaties and negotiation are central to American foreign policy, with the president playing a leading role in treaty-making. However, the Senate's approval is essential for treaty ratification, highlighting the checks and balances within the constitutional framework. American foreign policy has evolved over time, influenced by historical contexts and a growing emphasis on human rights and global responsibilities.
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Human rights and foreign aid
The US Constitution grants the power of foreign policy to the president, including the power to command the military, negotiate treaties, and appoint ambassadors. Treaties must be ratified by two-thirds of the US Senate and are governed by the Treaty Clause of the Constitution.
Foreign aid has been used to foster closer relations with other nations, strengthen potential allies and trading partners, and provide assistance to those in need. American foreign aid has contributed to significant historical events, such as the Green Revolution in the 1960s and the democratization of Taiwan and Colombia. Since the 1970s, human rights have become an increasingly important aspect of US foreign policy. Congress has passed several acts to restrict foreign aid to governments that engage in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. In 2011, President Obama instructed agencies to consider LGBT rights when providing financial aid to foreign countries.
Despite the US's espoused commitment to human rights, there have been criticisms of inconsistency in defending human rights abroad, with allegations of complicity in serious abuses. Human Rights Watch has offered 12 priorities for the US administration to create a rights-focused foreign policy. They argue that the US has the power and influence to create positive change for human rights globally. They recommend that the US president should commit to a foreign policy that consistently prioritizes human rights, addressing human rights concerns in meetings with world leaders and making human rights a key consideration when providing military aid or weapons sales.
The Trump administration's State Department reorganization plan has been criticized by Human Rights Watch as potentially detrimental to human rights-related work, eliminating several human rights-focused offices and senior positions. This includes the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which Secretary Rubio criticized as a platform for "left-wing activists" to pursue their political agenda. The creation of a new Office of the Director for Foreign Assistance and Human Rights, which includes a Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, has raised concerns about the future of human rights in US foreign policy.
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Historical context
The historical context of American foreign policy is a complex and multifaceted narrative that dates back to the country's early years. From the American Revolution to the present, the United States' foreign relations have evolved and adapted to changing global dynamics.
During the nation's formative years, American foreign policy was heavily influenced by the idea of political isolation from European powers during peacetime and strict neutrality during periods of war. This stance, articulated by Benjamin Franklin and President George Washington in his 1796 Farewell Address, emphasised minimising political connections with other nations, particularly Europe. This perspective guided American diplomats in securing recognition of American independence and favourable terms in the Treaty of Paris in 1783, allowing for westward expansion.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, foreign policy debates centred around the role of diplomats and the balance of powers between the president and Congress. Federalists supported a broad diplomatic presence, arguing it was essential for peace, while Republicans favoured limiting diplomatic appointments, prioritising trade over diplomacy. The Federalist government of John Adams led the United States into conflict with France in the Quasi-War, while the rival Jeffersonians favoured France and declared the War of 1812 on Britain.
The early 19th century also saw the emergence of themes that would shape American foreign policy for decades to come. These included becoming an "Empire of Liberty", promoting democracy, expanding across the continent, and supporting liberal internationalism. The United States' first foreign policy doctrines, the Monroe Doctrine, and later the Eisenhower Doctrine, reflected these evolving priorities.
From the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, the United States was characterised by a regional focus, with limited direct involvement in global affairs. However, this changed with the outbreak of World War I, which saw the United States form military and financial alliances with France, Spain, and the Netherlands, turning the conflict into a world war.
The interwar period and World War II marked a significant shift in American foreign policy. The nation emerged as a global superpower, and its foreign policy became increasingly shaped by the Cold War dynamics with the Soviet Union. The Vietnam War, which was the longest in the nation's history, also played a pivotal role in shaping foreign policy discourse, leading to intense debates and modifications in nationalist interpretations of American foreign policy.
In more recent decades, issues of human rights have taken centre stage in American foreign policy. Acts of Congress have restricted foreign aid to governments that engage in consistent patterns of gross human rights violations, and presidents have instructed agencies to consider human rights criteria when issuing financial aid.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States Constitution grants power over foreign policy to the president, including the power to command the military, negotiate treaties, and appoint ambassadors. However, some critics argue that Congress must provide more than a rubber stamp for the president's agenda.
American foreign policy goals include export controls, fostering commercial interaction with foreign nations, safeguarding American businesses and citizens abroad, international education, and expulsion. Since the 1970s, issues of human rights have also become increasingly important in American foreign policy.
The State Department carries out the president's foreign policy. The State Department must balance the wishes of Congress and the president.
American foreign policy has evolved from non-interventionism before and after World War I to its growth as a global hegemon during World War II and the Cold War. Early foreign policy in the years following American independence focused on balancing relations with Great Britain and France.
American foreign aid has been used to foster closer relations with potential allies, strengthen countries that could become future trading partners, and provide assistance to those in need. American foreign policy also includes restricting the entry of foreign nationals to protect national security and counterterrorism goals.
