Final answer:
No, President Clooney cannot unilaterally declare a treaty official. A treaty requires the advice and consent of the Senate and must be ratified by a two-thirds majority. Executive agreements can be implemented more quickly but are less enduring than treaties.
Step-by-step explanation:
Presidential Powers in Treaty Negotiation
Regarding the hypothetical situation where President Clooney negotiates a treaty with Iran to stop their production of nuclear weapons, the President cannot unilaterally declare a treaty official without the consent of the Senate. In the United States, international treaties require the advice and consent of the Senate and must be ratified by a two-thirds majority. This process is in place to ensure that not one branch of government has sole authority over foreign policy. The historical background of the Iran Nuclear Deal, negotiated as an executive agreement by the Obama administration, illustrates the complexities involved in such international agreements. Executive agreements do not require Senate ratification but are not as enduring as treaties since they can be reversed by a subsequent president.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the Iran Nuclear Deal) was an example of an executive agreement, which was later challenged by then-President Trump, who reinstated sanctions on Iran. The debate over whether such agreements should be formal treaties or executive agreements continues, with treaty ratifications providing a more durable solution but requiring a significant consensus in the Senate. This is contrasted by executive agreements that can be implemented more swiftly but are subject to reversal by future administrations.
In the case of the fictional President Clooney, he would need Senate approval to make the treaty with Iran official, which would include ratification and the establishment of enforcement mechanisms. A president acting alone cannot create an international treaty with binding force without adhering to the constitutional requirements.