congress has power over foreign policy

• Article I of the Constitution outlines a clear role for Congress in foreign policy

  Able to declare war, to regulate trade with foreign nations, to provide common defence, to raise and support armies, to confirm ambassadors and ratify treaties
• War Powers Act 1974 - supports the constitutional idea of Congress having the power to declare war
• While the president can deploy troops, without the backing of Congress the president must withdraw troops

  • Clinton was forced to withdraw troops from Somalia
  • War Powers Act 1974 - tried to reduce presidential power in sending troops
• Power of the purse significance

  • Senate’s refusal to fund the Vietnam war lead to its ending
  • Senate Republicans block funding bill that included aid for Ukraine and Israel
• President's appointments must be approved by the Senate
• In times of no immediate crisis/threat to the nation, Congress will assert itself in foreign affairs

  • The period of detente in the 1970s or the post-Cold War period of the 1990s ESPECIALLY if there is divided government
• In periods of detente - Congress will challenge president/attempt to run an alternative foreign policy

  • In the visits of Speakers Dennis Hastert to Columbia in 1999 and Nancy Pelosi to Syria in 2007
• The Senate must ratify treaties / act on them or they will be withdrawn
• President Zelenskiy to visit USA to persuade Congress to allow aid - clearly suggesting Congress has authority over foreign policy
• 1994 Republican Senate which was active in passing legislation such as the Iraq Liberation Act which was at odds with the wishes of POTUS
• Parochial concerns can demand a foreign policy expression so Congress is likely to be at odds with official policy and undermine the executive’s foreign powers

  • Twice in recent years, most recently in 2010, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed a resolution condemning the deaths of over a million Armenians by Turkey during WWI as genocide DESPITE requests from the administration to refrain for fear of damaging their relationship with Turkey. The relatively small Armenian-American population was concentrated in these districts of House members pressing for the resolution’s approval
• Youngstown ruling - 1952 limits President’s role