National Security and Foreign Policy: The President’s Powers Professor Jonathan Day The Presidency (POLS 318)

Outline 1. Attendance 2. Powers of the President 3. Next Class

Powers of the President Where do presidents derive their powers? Article II gives the president: The power to receive ambassadors and ministers The power to negotiate treaties, The designation as commander in chief of the armed forces, The general grant of executive power The power to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”

Powers of the President Appointment of personnel Conducting International Agreements Recognition / Non-Recognition of Governments Use of Military Force

Appointment of Personnel The most important appointments: Secretary of State – Hillary Clinton Secretary of Defense – Robert Gates Director of National Intelligence – James Clapper Director of CIA – Leon Panetta Why are appointments so critical to presidents?

Conducting International Agreements The president can: 1) Negotiate treaties Why is this an important power? Why is the president usually successful at getting treaties ratified? What can the president do if the Senate doesn’t ratify the treaty? 2) Sign Executive Agreements Why is this an important power? 3) Unilaterally withdraw or terminate a treaty

Recognition / Non-Recognition of Governments Examples of controversial recognition / non-recognition of governments: 1789 – recognition of the new French Republic 1918 – non-recognition of Soviet Union 1933 – recognition of Soviet Union 1948 – recognition of Israel 1979 – recognition of People’s Republic of China

Use of Military Force Presidents can send troops into combat. War Powers Resolution of 1973

Announcements Please Read, Chapter 10, “The Politics of National Security”