Evaluate the view that the President, not Congress, dominates foreign policy

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