The POTUS: Making Foreign Policy Mr. Leasure 2014 – 2015 Harrison Career Center

How does the POTUS influence foreign policy in the United States? Key Question #1

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Foreign policy is a nation’s overall plan for dealing with other nations.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The basic goal of American foreign policy is national security, the ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? International trade is another goal and is vital to economic prosperity.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Trade can create markets for American products and jobs for American workers.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? A third goal is prompting world peace. Even distant wars can disrupt trade and endanger U.S. national security.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? A fourth goal is to promote democracy and human rights around the world.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The executive branch includes a large foreign-policy bureaucracy.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? It includes the State Department, Defense Department, Central Intelligence Agency, and National Security Council.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The president and Congress share the power to conduct foreign affairs.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The president is the chief diplomat and commander in chief, but Congress has the power to declare war, prohibit certain military actions, and spend—or withhold—money for defense.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The Constitution does not make clear how the executive and legislative branches can use their powers.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? As a result, the branches compete for control of foreign policy.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Treaties are formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Some, such as NATO, are agreements among nations for mutual defense. The Senate must approve a treaty by a two- thirds vote.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The Senate must approve a treaty by a two- thirds vote.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? However, the president can make an executive agreement with the leader of another country without Senate approval.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? An ambassador is an official representative of a country’s government.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The president appoints ambassadors, with Senate approval.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Ambassadors are sent only to countries where the United States accepts the government as legally in power.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The United States gives foreign aid in the form of money, food, military assistance, or other supplies to help other countries.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? The president makes agreements with other nations about what products may be traded and the rules of trade.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Sometimes the rules include trade sanctions, or efforts to punish another country by imposing trade barriers.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Another punishing tool is the embargo - an agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with the target nation.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? Congress takes the lead in imposing tariffs on imported goods and in joining international trade groups.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? One such trade group is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? As commander in chief, presidents may use the military to carry out some foreign policy decisions that could involve deploying armed forces or launching missile attacks.

..the POTUS influence foreign policy?? This powerful tool must be used with care.