The Politics of United States Foreign Policy Chapter 10

1. The Politics of United States Foreign PolicyChapter 10

2. Role of Congress in US Foreign Policy • varies over time • up until late 1960s there was executive dominance in foreign policy realm • 1970s Congress curbs/checks presidential authority • 1980s Congress co-equal status with President • 1990s – Congress much more assertive in foreign policy realm

3. Foundations: Congress and Foreign Policy • Constitutional foreign policy prescription: • Article I • Article II • Judicial • The United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp • Youngston Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer

4. Congressional Power in Foreign Affairs • Multiple actors to influence policy • Multiple avenues of influence: • Legislative • Non-legislative • Direct • indirect

5. Potential conflict between Congress and President rooted in Constitution • system of checks and balances • President Commander in Chief • Congress declares war • treaties • President negotiates • Congress must approve by 2/3 votes • appointments • President nominates • Congress must approve • Policy • President in charge of overall policy • Congress passes appropriation bills • Therefore, Constitution provides invitation to struggle

6. The Study of Congressional Assertiveness • Periods: cold war, post-Vietnam, post-cold war • Behaviors: compliance, resistant, rejection, independence

7. Effects of new assertiveness • War Powers Act 1973 • legislative veto • Intelligence oversight • Human rights certification • controlling purse strings • treaties and executive agreements • Military and Police assistance • Nominations • Micromanagement of foreign policy • Biased hearings

8. What has brought about new assertiveness in Congress • decline of seniority system • increase in number of specialized sub-committees • larger more politicized staff • decline of party discipline • increase in technical expertise • youth and ambition • Television • air travel and increased communication • distrust of President

9. Four Phases of the Cold War: Legislative-Executive Relations • Accommodation (1944-1950) • Antagonism (1951-1955) • Acquiescence (1955-1965) • Ambiguity (1966-1969)

10. Post-Vietnam Congressional Resurgence • Eroding cold war consensus • Reduced threat perception, visible executive excess and abuses of power • Institutional changes

11. Post Cold War:Continued Congressional Assertion • Partisanship • Challenges • September 11 and Iraq • The rally and its end

12. Models: Congressional Behavior Level of activity High Low Level of assertiveness More Less

13. Factors Determining Which Model Prevails • Type of issues involved • Congressional implementation rather than initiation • Congress – the ultimate political institution • Divided government

14. Congressional Behavior and Power on Specific Issues • War Powers Act • Advise and consent • Appropriating funds and making legislation • Oversight and investigation

15. Future Congressional Behavior: the Continuation of Assertiveness • Institutionalized changes: environment and membership • Domestic environment: modern lack of consensus • International environment: a cold war consensus to modern complexity

16. Politics and Partisanship • parties matter in Congress because voting occurs along party lines and key positions given according to party affiliation • But, partisanship leads to gridlock • Why does Congress vote the way they do? Electoral self- interest.

17. Future • Precedent has been set for Congress to be coequal power in foreign policy realm with President. • Will Congress now move to capture and conduct foreign policy on its own?