Question

Which of the following BEST characterizes how Congress and the President share power in the fields of foreign affairs, war, and national defense?

A. Congress' war and foreign policy powers defer to the President's expressed powers in these areas.
B. The Constitution grants all of the war powers to the President, and all of the foreign policy powers to Congress.
C. The President can use military forces in response to an attack, but only Congress can declare war.
D. The War Powers Resolution granted equal war and foreign policy powers to Congress and the President.

Answer 1

Congress and the President share power in foreign affairs, war, and national defense, with Congress having the authority to declare war and the President having the power to use military forces in response to an attack. The War Powers Resolution attempted to strengthen congressional war powers, but ultimately reinforced the President's authority in the initial stages of a military conflict.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the fields of foreign affairs, war, and national defense, the power is shared between Congress and the President, but each has distinct roles. The President has the power to use military forces in response to an attack, but only Congress has the authority to declare war.

However, the President's role in these areas has been strengthened over time through the use of executive orders and executive agreements. The War Powers Resolution granted some war and foreign policy powers to Congress, but ultimately clarified and solidified the President's authority in the first sixty days of a military conflict.