Can Congress Be The Dominant Force In Foreign Policymaking Without Congress Approval?

I believe foreign policymaking between the President of the United States, and Congress is very challenging, both the President and Congress have to come to an agreement along with compromise; this struggle is a balancing act. Can the President ultimately be the dominant force in foreign policymaking without Congress approval? Or does Congress play a big part in foreign policy?

The president has the power under the Constitution to serve as head of the state and head of government. The president having both these roles puts him in a unique position by being seen as the spokesperson to foreign countries; along with the ability to create foreign policy. The President also has the power to initiate and apply foreign policy through Commander in

When the Founding Fathers put together the Constitution, they believed not just one person or one group of people should hold all the power. This system has worked well for the democracy in the United States. Congress is a main part in the foreign policy making process, and nothing can be law without Congress approval when it involves money.

If the president held all the power and there were no checks-and-balances in place, Congress would have very little authority, if any, to put forth what is in the best interest of the citizens of the United States. One person (the president) cannot possibly have the knowledge or the ability to know what is best for the country. If this was the case, the United States would be run more like a dictatorship.

Our government is one of the most powerful in the world; it has made it a point to insert our values, beliefs and ideas into other foreign countries through foreign policy making. Congress is very important and should always be. Since Congress controls how the money is to be spent, and how much they should spend, they should have a say in foreign policy making. Congress has asserted itself in foreign policy, and over the past couple of decades seems they are taking on a more visible role in doing

Even though Congress and the president are pretty much evenly split (49% Congress & 51% the president) with their powers, the president holds powers that Congress does not. He is the Chief Diplomat and the Commander in Chief. The president also holds an inherent power with executive orders. Executive orders give the president the ability to make some policies without the approval of Congress. Executive orders can be used to force Congress into making foreign policy by the president, through treaties.

When the president is acting as Chief Diplomat, he has the ability to use an executive agreement, which is an international agreement with foreign countries that are not considered treaties. Whereas, a treaty needs to have two-thirds approval from Congress to be policy, the president does not need any approval from Congress with an executive agreement.

Commander in Chief gives the president the authority to take action when he feels the need to or when it is the best interest for the country in foreign affairs. The president does not like to use his authority unless necessary. The Chief Diplomat and Commander in Chief are the two roles that give the President of United States his or her power over foreign affairs. These two are what sets the president ahead of Congress when it comes to foreign