PPO- Foreign Policy and the National Defense Lesson

Foreign Policy and the National Defense

Formation of Foreign Policy

Formation of Foreign Policy according to the Constitution -Article 2 of the Constitution grants the President of the United States commander in the chief of the armed forces and chief diplomat. It also gives the President the power to appoint ambassadors and negotiate treaties. -Article 1 of the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, support, and maintain an armed force through appropriations, and approve foreign aid allocations. Article 1 also gives the Senate the power to approve appointments and ratify treaties.

The president relies on the State Department and the Department of Defense when directing foreign policy. The State Department heads the diplomatic portion of the executive branch and supervises foreign service officers. The Department of Defense is in charge of the defense budget and four branches of the military. The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of representatives from each of the military branches and is responsible for direct military command.

Other important agencies that are an integral part of the foreign policy arena include:

National Security Council (NSC): Executive level department and major part of the foreign policy agenda. The NCS advises the President on national security and foreign policy.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): The USCIS oversees lawful immigration to the United States and enforces U.S immigration policy.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): The CIA is under the direction of the NSC and coordinates gathering of information related to foreign affairs and analyzes and evaluates gathered information. The CIA reports to the president and NSC.

Selective Service System: The Selective Service System is an independent organization within the Executive Branch. The Selective Service agency that registers men and maintains a system to provide talent for national security in case of a national emergency. The Selective Service System is not a part of the Department of Defense.

 

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