The dominant player in international politics is unmistakably the United States of America. U.S. economic, military and cultural superiority is shaping world politics and setting the stage for the next generation. U.S. foreign policy features the image of the United States President and to a lesser extent that of the Secretary of State and Defense. They are the predominant figures that drive U.S. foreign policy on the international stage. The system of checks and balances neatly involves two branches of government – executive and legislative – in a construct of interdependence. Congress is the government branch of ‘the people’. The two-year term cycles for House Representatives and the large number of districts make Congress the most ‘representative’ institution in the U.S. government. In contemporary political science the state of being represented is described by ‘Principle-Agent-Relationship’, in which the representative – the agent – closely represents his constituency – the principle. "It doesn′t pay off for my constituency"
said Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) when asked, why she wanted to get off of the House International Relations Committee (HIRC). This incident was my first impression of foreign policy in the U.S. Congress. Having heard that, I went to a HIRC oversight hearing to see how they conduct their business. What struck me most was the fact that the members devoted approx. half of their speaking time of total five minutes to the actual issue at stake and the other half to an issue that was absolutely irrelevant to the pending business. As I found out later, the irrelevant issues were important for the individual member to have been mentioned to the panel and C-SPAN. The subsequent past months I spent on ‘the Hill’, observing congressional (foreign) policy- and decision-making, with three leading questions bearing in mind:
1. Is the U.S. Congress important for U.S. foreign policy?
2. What factors influence decision making in foreign policy?
3. Does constituency play a role in the making and shaping of foreign policy?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Congress and its Role in Foreign Policy
- Constitutional Perspective
- Historical Perspective
- Institutional Perspective
- SUMMARY I
- Influences on Foreign Policy Decision Making
- Party
- Interest Groups
- Public Opinion
- Constituency
- Fellow Members of Congress
- Staff
- Ideology
- SUMMARY II
- GENERAL CONCLUSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the role of the U.S. Congress in foreign policy decision-making. It investigates whether Congress is a significant player in this arena, identifying the factors influencing congressional involvement and exploring the impact of constituency on foreign policy decisions.
- The constitutional role of Congress in foreign policy.
- The influence of various factors (party, interest groups, public opinion, constituency) on congressional decision-making in foreign policy.
- The extent to which constituency concerns shape foreign policy decisions by members of Congress.
- The level of congressional engagement in foreign policy issues.
- The balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in foreign policy matters.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: The introduction establishes the central research questions: Is the U.S. Congress important for U.S. foreign policy? What factors influence congressional decision-making in this area? And does constituency play a role? The author sets the stage by highlighting the dominance of the U.S. President in foreign policy, while emphasizing the role of Congress as a representative body, using the "principle-agent relationship" framework. A personal anecdote illustrates the seeming disconnect between congressional proceedings and the actual foreign policy issues under discussion, further motivating the study.
Congress and its Role in Foreign Policy: This chapter examines Congress's role in foreign policy through constitutional, historical, and institutional lenses. The author begins by questioning whether the low number of congressional votes on foreign policy issues (approximately 4% of all votes in the 107th Congress's first session) indicates a minor role for Congress. The chapter then delves into the constitutional perspective, highlighting the tension between the President's power as Commander in Chief and Congress's power to declare war and control funding. This section uses Senator Fulbright's quote to emphasize the constitutional ambiguity in foreign policy authority.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
U.S. Congress, foreign policy, decision-making, constituency, executive-legislative relations, checks and balances, war powers, principal-agent relationship, congressional oversight, voting behavior.
FAQ: U.S. Congress and Foreign Policy Decision-Making
What is the main topic of this document?
This document is a preview of a paper examining the role of the U.S. Congress in foreign policy decision-making. It investigates the extent of congressional influence, the factors affecting congressional involvement, and the impact of constituency concerns on foreign policy decisions.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the constitutional role of Congress in foreign policy; the influence of various factors (party, interest groups, public opinion, constituency) on congressional decision-making; the extent to which constituency concerns shape foreign policy decisions; the level of congressional engagement in foreign policy issues; and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in foreign policy matters.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper includes an introduction, a chapter on Congress's role in foreign policy (analyzed from constitutional, historical, and institutional perspectives), a chapter on influences on foreign policy decision-making (including party, interest groups, public opinion, and constituency), and a general conclusion. It also provides a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the central research question addressed in the paper?
The central research question is: Is the U.S. Congress important for U.S. foreign policy? Subsequent questions explore the factors influencing congressional decision-making and the role of constituency in this process.
What methodological approach is used?
The preview doesn't explicitly detail the methodology but suggests a primarily analytical approach, examining existing literature and frameworks (such as the principle-agent relationship) to understand the dynamics between Congress and the executive branch in foreign policy.
What are some of the key findings or arguments presented in the preview?
The preview highlights the apparent low number of congressional votes on foreign policy issues, contrasting with the President's dominant role. It emphasizes the constitutional ambiguity surrounding foreign policy authority and the tension between the President's power as Commander in Chief and Congress's power to declare war and control funding. The preview also notes the importance of understanding various influences on congressional decision-making, including constituency concerns.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include U.S. Congress, foreign policy, decision-making, constituency, executive-legislative relations, checks and balances, war powers, principal-agent relationship, congressional oversight, and voting behavior.
What is the significance of the "principle-agent relationship" framework?
The principle-agent relationship framework is used to understand the dynamic between the President (principal) and Congress (agent) in foreign policy. It helps analyze how Congress, as a representative body, interacts with the executive branch in this area.
What does the preview reveal about the level of Congressional engagement in foreign policy?
The preview suggests a potentially low level of direct Congressional engagement based on the limited number of votes on foreign policy issues. However, it also emphasizes the importance of understanding the indirect influences and various factors affecting Congressional involvement.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Karl Lemberg (Autor:in), 2003, All politics is local - congressional decision-making in foreign policy, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/45858
