Question

3. Congress and the president both have a role in making foreign policy. Despite recent expansions in presidential power, there are still limits on presidential decision making in foreign policy.

(a) Describe two enumerated powers Congress has in making foreign policy.
(b) Describe two expressed powers the president has in making foreign policy.
(c) Explain how executive agreements expand the president's ability to implement foreign policy.
(d) Explain how one of the following can limit the president's ability to implement foreign policy.
x Elections
x Presidential approval ratings

Answer 1

Congress has enumerated powers such as treaty approval and declaring war, while the president has expressed powers such as making executive agreements and recognizing other countries. Executive agreements expand the president's ability to implement foreign policy by bypassing the need for Senate approval. Elections can limit the president's ability to implement foreign policy by bringing in new leadership with different priorities.

Step-by-step explanation:

a) Enumerated powers of Congress in making foreign policy:

1. The power to approve or reject treaties made by the president
2. The power to declare war

b) Expressed powers of the president in making foreign policy:

1. The power to negotiate and make executive agreements with other countries
2. The power to receive ambassadors and recognize other countries

c) How executive agreements expand the president's ability to implement foreign policy:

Executive agreements are pacts made by a president with heads of foreign governments. They allow the president to bypass the Senate approval required for formal treaties, making it easier and quicker to enact foreign policy initiatives.

d) How elections can limit the president's ability to implement foreign policy:

Elections can limit the president's ability to implement foreign policy through a change in leadership. If a new president is elected with different foreign policy goals or priorities, they may overturn or alter previous policies, impacting the president's ability to implement their desired foreign policy agenda.