Evaluate The View That The President Is Able To Dominate Foreign Policy. (30)

AGREE 1

The constitution gives the president the power of being commander in chief (CiC) for the Army and the Navy of the US. President can deploy troops and respond to threats without congressional approval.

·   Biden’s decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan 2021.

·   Trumps assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani had no congressional approval.

US airstrikes against Houthis in march 2025 to prevent them from threatening ships in the Red Sea. Trumps CiC power allowed him to make decision

DISAGREE 1

Congress has significant limits over the Presidents Foreign Policy control in the constitution.

Congress has foreign policy power of declaring war.

Congressional declaration of war against Japan in 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, leading the U.S. into World War II

AGREE 2

President can make executive agreements with other countries without formal ratification by congress

Obama exec agreement with Cuba to restore their relationship, including reopening embassies, allowing more travel and easing trade restrictions

Done without senate approval.

DISAGREE 2

Congress can challenge executive agreements and demand a role in foreign policy

Iran Nuclear Deal (Obama) treated as an exec agreement so didn’t require Senate ratification like a treaty however Congress demanded the right to review the agreement and attempted to block it.

AGREE 3

Congress’ attempt to limit this Presidential bypassing of Congress through the War Powers Resolution was largely unsuccessful

Trump ordered airstrikes against Syrian government targets in response to chemical weapon attacks on civilians in 2017 and 2018. These unilateral actions

were executed without prior Congressional approval

DISAGREE 3

Congress has attempted to reassert itself in foreign policy by pushing back against the presidents attempts to unilaterally decide on military interventions, through the wars power act

2013 Obama considered military action in Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons but he sought congressional approval first. Congress refused to authorise action. Obama refrained from intervening.

AGREE 4

Crises and Public Opinion can Bolster the Presidents ability to dominate foreign policy.

Although public opinion eventually turned, Initially the Iraq war was supported in the US, due to fear and security concerns following the 9/11 attacks.

Enabled Bush to secure Congressional authorisation with little domestic opposition

DISAGREE 4

The President's Foreign Policy is Significantly Limited by Public Opinion

Public opinion constrained the President’s ability to dominate foreign policy in relation to the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan due to rising cost of war and lives lost reduced support.

Obama became selected as the Democratic presidential nominee in 2008 due to his early opposition to the Iraq War. he reduced troop numbers and ended the official combat mission in Iraq.