CH. 14-3 DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY POWERSADVANCED AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

THE POWER TO MAKE TREATIES

TREATY—formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

The Secretary of State represents the President during most negotiations

Senate must give “advice and consent” with a 2/3 vote.

Treaty is ratified when documents are exchanged between the various parties involved.

Congress may pass a law to repeal a treaty

A 2/3 vote means that a relatively small group of senators could kill a treaty

EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS

EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT—a pact between the President and the head of a foreign state, or between their subordinates

Example:

Destroyers-for-bases deal of 1940

USA gave Great Britain 50 “over-age” U.S. Destroyers that Britain needed

The United States received 99-year leases to a string of air and naval bases extending from Newfoundland to the Caribbean

THE POWER OF RECOGNITION

RECOGNITION--The President receives the diplomatic representative of another sovereign state

This act acknowledges the legal existence of that state.

The USA does not have to agree with the policies or conduct of the other state (ex.—China)

The President can show displeasure with another country by asking for that country’s ambassador to leave the country

The person removed is now called “persona non grata”

Or “an unwelcome person”

COMMANDER IN CHIEF

Leader of all American armed forces

President’s powers as commander in chief are almost without limit

President has the finally authority and responsibility on all military decisions

MAKING UNDECLARED WAR

Does the Constitution give the President the power to make war without a declaration from Congress?

Some people say “No” but history says otherwise

1798—John Adams had the Navy fight and win battles against the French

Early 1800s—Thomas Jefferson and James Madison used the military against Barbary Coast pirates

Others include Korea, Panama, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan

CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS

No declared war since WWII

Congress has authorized the President to use force under certain conditions

1957-58—Marines sent to Lebanon to stop a Soviet-backed coup

1962—Cuban Missile Crisis—Soviets began installing nuclear missiles in Cuba

1962—Sanctioned military action dealing with erection of the Berlin Wall

1964—Defeat communist aggression in Southeast Asia (American forces finally withdrawn in 1973)

1991—Military campaign to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait (Operation Desert Storm—approx. 6 weeks)

2001—War in Afghanistan begins

2002—War in Iraq begins

OTHER USES OF MILITARY POWER

Invasion of Grenada in 1983 to stop a coup

1989—Invasion of Panama to oust the dictator and protect American interests

Use of force in the Balkans: 1995—Bosnia; 1999—Kosovo in response to civil war and ethnic cleansing

THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION

Enacted in 1973

Initially vetoed by President Nixon

Congress overrode the veto with a 2/3 vote

1) President must report to Congress within 48 hours of committing troops to combat with details about the operation

2) Commitment of troops can last no more than 60 days unless Congress agrees to a longer period. The deadline may be extended for 30 days to allow for the safe withdrawal of troops

3) Congress may end the combat mission at any time by passing a concurrent resolution

The constitutionality of the War Powers Act remains in dispute

THE END