Role and power of Presidents in foreign policy X powers of Congress
C-in-C powers – President
Libya – ignored Congressional dissent
Bin Laden – no approval
Soleimani – no approval
Clinton Yugoslavia
Trump dropped MOAB bomb
Power of the purse e.g. cut funding for Vietnam War
War Powers Resolution and AUMF Authorisation for use of Military Force constricts actions
Denied Obama bombing of Assad in form of no giving AUMF
Congressional investigations e.g. Benghazi embassy
Soft power – President
Executive agreements
o NAFTA, Paris Climate Accords
Treaties
o Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, New START
NAFTA is a congressional-executive agreement
Treaties have 2/3 supermajority
o TPP and Kyoto never ratified
Executive agreements can be undone
o Paris Climate Accords
Appointment powers – President
Lloyd Austin – Defence Sec – Afghanistan
Anthony Blinken – Ukraine
Scott Pruit – head of EPA
Rex Tillerson – met with Putin and Lavrov, Mike Pompeo – three summits of Trump and Kim
Jong Un
Have to be confirmed by Senate
o Jim Mattis resigns as Defence Sec, Trump announces Dep Sec Patrick Shanahan,
withdraws after allegations of domestic abuse
Oversight hearings
o Hilary Clinton Benghazi
o Anthony Blinken Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Ukraine
C-in-C powers – President
Libya – ignored Congressional dissent
Bin Laden – no approval
Soleimani – no approval
Clinton Yugoslavia
Trump dropped MOAB bomb
Power of the purse e.g. cut funding for Vietnam War
War Powers Resolution and AUMF Authorisation for use of Military Force constricts actions
Denied Obama bombing of Assad in form of no giving AUMF
Congressional investigations e.g. Benghazi embassy
Soft power – President
Executive agreements
o NAFTA, Paris Climate Accords
Treaties
o Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, New START
NAFTA is a congressional-executive agreement
Treaties have 2/3 supermajority
o TPP and Kyoto never ratified
Executive agreements can be undone
o Paris Climate Accords
Appointment powers – President
Lloyd Austin – Defence Sec – Afghanistan
Anthony Blinken – Ukraine
Scott Pruit – head of EPA
Rex Tillerson – met with Putin and Lavrov, Mike Pompeo – three summits of Trump and Kim
Jong Un
Have to be confirmed by Senate
o Jim Mattis resigns as Defence Sec, Trump announces Dep Sec Patrick Shanahan,
withdraws after allegations of domestic abuse
Oversight hearings
o Hilary Clinton Benghazi
o Anthony Blinken Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Ukraine
