Foreign Policy

In broad terms, America's foreign policies are aimed at maintaining and promoting the favorable position and security of the United States in the international arena. The goals of American foreign policy, however, are not always clear. How involved should the United States be in the affairs of other nations? Should it only use its military might to defend its borders or should it be involved in peace-keeping efforts around the world? Should the United States attempt to trade "freely" with other nations, or should it enact restrictive tariffs to protect American companies and manufacturers?

As the United States faces the new millennium, there are familiar calls to become more isolated from the rest of the world while others argue that the nation must remain an active participant in the world community, even as the world becomes a more uncertain and dangerous place.

Who Makes Foreign Policy?

The Constitution of the United States gives the President the clear upper-hand in the conduct of foreign policy. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the nation's armed forces. As the single officer of the United States charged with receiving the leaders of other nations and with negotiating treaties, the President is also the nation's Chief Diplomat.

The President, however, does not have the authority to make foreign policy independently. The Constitution gives the Congress the power to check the President's foreign policy powers in important ways. While the President can order the United States military into action to respond to emergencies and threats to the security of the nation, only the Congress has the authority to officially "declare war." Ultimately, it is the Congress' power of the purse that allows it to cut off funding to presidentially ordered military ventures of which it does not approve.