Presidential and Congress Powers Over Foreign Policy

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A Comparison between Presidential and Congressional Powers over Foreign Policies
Introduction
Both the president and Congress have powers to act on foreign policy in different capacities. The president is given the mandate to protect the US citizens in ideological, cultural, legal, economic and military terms. Protecting national interest comes with a set of guidelines provided by the constitution, with the president’s office working alongside Congress. This paper critically analyzes the limitations to the presidential powers in Foreign policy, by Congress.
Comparison Between Presidential and Congress powers
The constitution grants the president powers over the foreign policy in a number of ways. The president is able to make and sign any treaties with foreign nations that serve the interests of the nation Subject to Senate’s consent (Masters n.p). Additionally, through Senates’ consent, the president can appoint international ambassadors that represent the nation’s interests in foreign countries. The president has a constitutional right to sign any executive agreements with any other government without the interception of any other legislative power coming into play, unlike treaty’s signing.
Additionally, the Commander in chief is the highest commander over the armed forces of the United States. He has limited powers to send troops on foreign soil to protect national interest without congressional approval. Sometimes, sending troops outside the borders serves as a show of strength to the outside world.

However, the President has no ultimate power to declare war. In fact, the United States has not declared war since World War II.
In addition, Congress exists to oversee the presidential powers. It has the sole mandate to declare war. Congress also controls the costs allocated to foreign aid and foreign defense projects (Masters n.p). They possess the capacity to deduct or add to the stipulated budgets for foreign aid as well as defense projects. As much as the president can deploy troops in foreign soil, the Congress has powers to restrict the period of time through which the troops may be deployed. This is done through cutting down their budgets while abroad. Congress, therefore, must always be consulted anytime the president has plans to deploy soldiers abroad, as stipulated in the 1973 War Powers Act.
Possible changes
The policy placing war declaration on Congress is utmost welcome. Congress has sole powers to declare war. The president’s powers are limited to diplomatic agenda between states since the president is the first the State’s diplomat followed by his ambassadors. This policy serves the national interests since Congress, a household of policymakers, can observe and vote with amnesty, the need for a war declaration. Consider a situation where the president was the sole custodian of war declaration. The chances are that the Vietnam War in 1973 would have influenced the United States’ declaration of war on Vietnam. However, Congress is present to ensure war is declared with the utmost need for the interests of the State. I also concur with the policy to include the Senate in the signing of foreign treaties and appointment of ambassadors. This indicates accountability since treaties and ambassadors alike are vetted before being signed or appointed respectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Presidential powers over foreign policy are limited by Congress and the Senate. Congress limits presidential powers to send troops abroad through careful vetting of the budget and making deductions to suit their operations. Senate also holds the President accountable for the nominees of ambassadorship before they can be appointed. Similarly, any Treaty signed off must go through Senate before signing.

Work Cited
Masters, Jonathan. “U.S. Foreign Policy Powers: Congress and the President.” Council on Foreign Relations. N.p., 2017. Web. 6 Dec. 2018.