AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY EXAM
OVERVIEW: PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS | COMPLETE AMERICAN
FOREIGN POLICY STUDY GUIDE, EXAM
PREP & REVIEW
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated Questions and Answers
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, President as Chief Diplomat The president represents the U.S. abroad, negotiates with other countries, and directs
diplomacy.
Congressional Foreign Policy Powers Congress declares war, controls funding, regulates foreign commerce, approves treaties
through the Senate, and conducts oversight.
Shared Foreign Policy Powers Foreign policy power is shared: presidents negotiate and command, while Congress
funds, regulates, approves, and checks.
Why Presidents Dominate After WWII Executive dominance grew after WWII because of global commitments, Cold War crises,
executive institutions, and congressional deference.
Executive Precedent Presidents use past presidential actions to justify expanding their own foreign policy
power.
Commander-in-Chief Expansion Presidents expanded the commander-in-chief role from conducting war to initiating
military action when they claim it is necessary.
Executive Agreements International agreements made by the president that avoid the full treaty approval
process.
Treaties Formal international agreements requiring approval by two-thirds of the Senate.
Executive Agreements vs. Treaties Executive agreements are faster and easier, but less stable because future presidents can
reverse them more easily.
Pure Executive Agreement An agreement based only on the president's constitutional authority.
Statutory Executive Agreement An agreement based on authority Congress has already given the president.
Why Executive Agreements Matter They let presidents make foreign commitments while bypassing the difficult treaty
process.
Paris Climate Agreement Example The U.S. entering, leaving, reentering, and leaving again shows both the flexibility and
instability of executive agreements.
OVERVIEW: PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS | COMPLETE AMERICAN
FOREIGN POLICY STUDY GUIDE, EXAM
PREP & REVIEW
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
, President as Chief Diplomat The president represents the U.S. abroad, negotiates with other countries, and directs
diplomacy.
Congressional Foreign Policy Powers Congress declares war, controls funding, regulates foreign commerce, approves treaties
through the Senate, and conducts oversight.
Shared Foreign Policy Powers Foreign policy power is shared: presidents negotiate and command, while Congress
funds, regulates, approves, and checks.
Why Presidents Dominate After WWII Executive dominance grew after WWII because of global commitments, Cold War crises,
executive institutions, and congressional deference.
Executive Precedent Presidents use past presidential actions to justify expanding their own foreign policy
power.
Commander-in-Chief Expansion Presidents expanded the commander-in-chief role from conducting war to initiating
military action when they claim it is necessary.
Executive Agreements International agreements made by the president that avoid the full treaty approval
process.
Treaties Formal international agreements requiring approval by two-thirds of the Senate.
Executive Agreements vs. Treaties Executive agreements are faster and easier, but less stable because future presidents can
reverse them more easily.
Pure Executive Agreement An agreement based only on the president's constitutional authority.
Statutory Executive Agreement An agreement based on authority Congress has already given the president.
Why Executive Agreements Matter They let presidents make foreign commitments while bypassing the difficult treaty
process.
Paris Climate Agreement Example The U.S. entering, leaving, reentering, and leaving again shows both the flexibility and
instability of executive agreements.
