US Political Institutions and Their Role in U.S. Foreign Policy

Date

TOPIC

READINGS

Mar

1

Foreign and National Security Policy.

How explain foreign policy (or any other) decision? (Graham Allison’s Essence of Decision)

What does the Constitution and Madison’s “Theory” of American Government Have to Do with Policy?

1. Madison’s constitutional theory (Federalist 10 and 51)

2. Basic principles: republicanism, separation

of powers, federalism, checks and balances, national

supremacy

3. Consequences of separation of powers for governance and

foreign policy

4. Amending the Constitution: the eternal problem

Read carefully

1) U.S. Constitution (internet)

2) Federalist Papers numbers 10 and 51,

found at many internet sites including:

https://www.congress.gov/resources/display/content/The+Federalist+Papers

http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1786-1800/the-federalist-papers/

Federalism’s influence on foreign policy making

1. Division of powers and responsibilities

2. How states and the federal government interact –

consequences for budgets and security policy

3. Federalism’s effects on foreign policy

Read:

Constitution, article 4 and Amendments 9, 10, 11, 14 (section 1)

https://www.americanforeignrelations.com/E-N/Judiciary-Power-and-Practice-Federalism-and-foreign-policy.html

Mar

2 – 3

The American Public, Elections, and Foreign Policy:

1. American Public Opinion and Foreign Policy

2. Interest Groups and Foreign Policy

3. Political Parties, Partisanship, and Foreign Policy

4. Elections and Foreign Policy: Process and Consequences

Read

Constitution Article II, Section 1; and

Amendments 12, 25

Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_95I_1rZiIs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUS9mM8Xbbw

Mar 3

The Judiciary and Foreign Policy

1. Organization and functioning of the judicial system

2. Power of the judiciary; judicial review

3. Judicial decision-making; why controversial?

4. Judiciary involvement in foreign and security policy

Read:

Constitution, articles 3, 6

https://www.americanforeignrelations.com/E-N/Judiciary-Power-and-Practice-The-courts-and-foreign-policy.html

Mar

6-7

The Presidency, The Executive Branch, and Foreign Policy

1. Presidential Functions and roles:

2. Presidential powers and resources –

(a) Constitutional, legal (delegated), inherent powers

(b) Structure of the Presidential Government (E.O. P.)

3. Presidential pressures and constraints

4. Problems of decision-making

5. The foreign policy bureaucracy, policy process, and problems

Read

Constitution, article 2, amendments

12, 20, 22, 25

Mar

8