Friday, March 15, 2013

Does the president have more or less power in domestic policy compared to foreign?


The President of the United States of America, by virtue of formally granted constitutional powers, has several significant leadership roles. While these roles are varied and diverse, they can generally be divided into two large areas of authority and responsibility: domestic policy and foreign affairs.

In the domestic arena, the President, as Chief Executive, has the formal constitutional authority to oversee the execution and implementation of the law. The President also has the ability to significantly influence the legislative and judicial branches. Through the exercise of these powers, the President can exert wide-spread and long-lasting influence on the domestic policies of the nation.

The Constitution grants the president three powers as to foreign policy. First of all, the President is the Commander in Chief of all the armed forces. He is also the head of the national security establishment. This power gives him the right to direct the military as well as the intelligence community and to appoint all high level officials. The President can also issue executive orders that affect both. The President is the head of State and the Government so when he goes on trips overseas he speaks for the country. The President has the power to make treaties with other nations and bring it to the Senate for ratification. They may choose to or not to pass the treaty just as the President has the authority to veto any bill the Congress passes (Murphy, 2007).

To sum up, the president has more power in foreign policy than in domestic policy. Because, when a president is abroad he represents the country. Furthermore, He can deploy troops without congress's approval. He can keep them there for 60 days unless congress declares war, or extends the time.

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