First Strike

First Strike
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First Strike
The US constitution vests both executive and legislative branches the foreign relations powers (Masters, 2017). Powers such as the military command are exclusively granted to the president while the Congress is granted powers such as regularization of foreign commerce. However, some powers are divided among the two. Separation of power has however led to greater debates over the presidential and congressional powers on matters of foreign affairs. Further, the question of the authority limits for the two is at stake.
The constitution had only considered granting the power that affects the issue. That option was a sort of invitation to the current struggle on which branch has privilege over the foreign affairs (Daalder & Lindsay, 2003). Bush’ new doctrine against terrorism expanded the presidential power in the context of national security. According to experts, President Bush accumulated power edging the Congress during times of national emergency and times of war.
Congress is vested several powers on foreign affairs by article 1 of the constitution. These powers include the declaration of war, raising and supporting armies, regulation of commerce, and provision and maintenance of navy among others (Masters, 2017). The constitution vests the president two roles in the foreign affairs: appointing diplomats and making treaties. These two roles are dependent on the Senate for approval. However, the constitution bestows the president the role of commander in chief (Daalder & Lindsay, 2003).

The role springs an array of implied powers such as the use of military force during times of terror.
The first attack doctrine seems to be one such incidence. Vesting more power to the president while the Congress power appears to be limited. The president can order US forces to attack without the consent of the Congress. According to Masters (2017), though there exists a general agreement that allows the president to use the military in times of an attack, a heated debate still exists on who has the power to initiate the military force.

References
BIBLIOGRAPHY Daalder, I. H., & Lindsay, J. M. (2003). The Bush Revolution: The Remaking of America’s Foreign Policy. The Brookings Institution.
Masters, J. (2017). U.S. Foreign Policy Powers: Congress and the President. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-foreign-policy-powers-congress-and-president