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The president makes the key decisions about our relations with other countries.
The President and Foreign Policy
SS.7.C.3.3, SS.7.C.3.8, LA.7.1.6.1, LA.7.1.7.3
What are the goals of foreign policy?
A nation’s plan for dealing with other nations is called its foreign policy. In making this policy, presidents hope to achieve
several goals.
The main goal of American foreign policy is national security. This means the ability to keep the country safe from attack or
harm. No government can meet other goals, such as educating children, if the nation is under attack.
Another major goal is to build trade with other nations. Trade is important to a strong economy. It creates markets for
American products. It also provides jobs for American workers.
A third goal is to promote world peace. Any war, even one far away, can disrupt trade and put the nation’s safety at risk.
When other nations are at peace, there is less risk that the United States will be drawn into war.
A fourth goal of foreign policy is to advance democracy around the world. Promoting democracy and human rights in other
countries encourages peace. This also helps protect our own national security.
The Foreign Policy Team
The president leads the way in trying to achieve these goals. He or she does not work alone, though. The president is
helped by close aides in the White House like the National Security Advisor. This official studies foreign policy questions.
Then he or she gives advice to the president.
A large team also works on foreign policy. The State Department, the Defense Department, and the National Security
Council are all part of this team. Officials in these organizations give their ideas to the president. The Office of the Director of
National Intelligence (ODNI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) also serve on this team. They provide important
background information.
In the end, though, the president must make the final decisions. President Harry S. Truman noted,
"No one who has not had the responsibility can really understand what it is like to be President, not even his closest aides. . .
. [H]e is never allowed to forget that he is President.”
—Harry S. Truman
The Truman Memoirs Volume II by Harry S. Truman. Life Magazine, January 23, 1956, p. 77.
Copyright 1956 The Picture Collection Inc. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
Once the president decides on a policy, this foreign policy team works to carry it out.
Congress Versus the President
As you read in Lesson 2, the president is the commander in chief. Congress has certain war powers, too. Only it can declare
war. It can stop the president from using the armed forces in certain ways. Finally, Congress alone can spend—or hold back
—money for defense.
The Constitution does not clearly state how the legislative and the executive branches should work together in this area. As
a result, Congress and the president have often competed over who controls the war powers.
One branch or the other has had more control over the war powers at different times. In the first 20 years or so after World
War II, presidents had more power in this area. Congress lost much of its control. Then, near the end of the Vietnam conflict,
Congress took back some of its war powers. The situation has changed again in recent years. With the war on terrorism, the
balance of control has moved back again toward the presidency.
Identifying What executive agencies help the president in making and carrying out foreign policy?
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The Tools of Foreign Policy
SS.7.C.3.3, SS.7.C.3.8, SS.7.C.4.3
What are the tools the president uses to carry out U.S. foreign policy?
The president and Congress carry out foreign policy in several ways. These methods, or procedures, include reaching
agreements with other countries and naming ambassadors. Other methods include giving foreign aid, making trade policy,
and, when needed, using the military.
Treaties and Executive Agreements
Formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries are called treaties. Some treaties concern defense.
One of the most important is the treaty that formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In this pact, the United
States, Canada, and many nations in Western Europe promised to defend one another if attacked.
The Senate must approve any treaty by a two­thirds vote. The president can work around the Senate by making an
executive agreement. This is an agreement between the president and the leader of another country. Many of these
agreements deal with matters like trade. Some are about having the armed forces of nations work together.
Appointing Ambassadors
The president appoints about 150 ambassadors. Each of them must be confirmed by the Senate. Ambassadors represent
our nation to other nations. They are sent only to those countries that have governments whose right to exist we recognize,
or accept. Sometimes the foreign policy team thinks that the government of a certain country has gained power illegally. In
that case, the president can refuse to recognize it.
Foreign Aid
Foreign aid is a powerful tool to help carry out foreign policy. Foreign aid consists of money, food, military help, or other
supplies given to other countries. One of this nation’s greatest examples of foreign aid was the Marshall Plan. The program
helped Western Europe rebuild after World War II.
International Trade
The president has the power to make economic agreements with other nations. These agreements cover what products may
be traded and the rules for this trade.
Sometimes the president chooses to block trade with a nation to try to convince it to change its policies. One way to block
trade is to use trade sanctions. These trade barriers stop or slow trade with another nation in order to punish it. One kind of
sanction is an embargo. This is an agreement by a group of nations to stop trading with a target nation.
Congress plays a role in other economic areas. For instance, it sets tariffs. These are taxes on goods that are imported, or
bought from other countries.Congress also must approve the treaties that allow the United States to join trade groups. The
members of these groups agree to trade with one another without barriers. They include the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Military Force
As commander in chief, presidents sometimes decide they must use the armed forces to carry out a foreign policy decision.
Many times they have sent troops to trouble spots around the world. This has been done even when Congress has not
declared war.
The president’s war powers are an important tool of foreign policy. President Bill Clinton called for attacks on bases used by
terrorists in 1998. In 2003 President George W. Bush ordered American armed forces to invade Iraq and remove that
nation’s dictator, Saddam Hussein. In 2009 President Barack Obama increased the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Describing What is an executive agreement?
21st Century SKILLS
Recognize Quality Sources
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Search the Web for information about NAFTA. Identify at least six sources. Evaluate each source by answering questions such
as:
Who is the author of the site?
Is the information accurate?
Is the site up­to­date?
Does the site show bias?
LESSON 3 REVIEW
Review Vocabulary
1. Write a sentence explaining how trade sanctions and embargoes are used.
LA.7.1.6.1
2. Write a sentence using two of these terms: foreign policy, national security, treaty.
LA.7.1.6.1
3. Identifying What are the four main goals of American foreign policy?
SS.7.C.3.3
4. Making Connections What foreign policy tools does the president have that could be used to deal with international terrorism?
SS.7.C.3.8
5. EXPOSITORY WRITING Which goal of American foreign policy do you think is most important? Write a paragraph explaining
why.
SS.7.C.3.8
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