BELLRINGER Chapter 7 Section 3 Making Foreign Policy

BELLRINGER

Chapter 7 / Section 3: Making Foreign Policy

I. The President and Foreign Policy • A. Foreign policy is a nation’s overall plan for dealing with other nations. The basic goal of American foreign policy is national security, the ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm. • B. International trade is another goal and is vital to economic prosperity. Trade can create markets for American products and jobs for American workers.

• C. A third goal is promoting world peace. Even distant wars can disrupt trade and endanger U. S. national security. • D. A fourth goal is to promote democracy and human rights around the world. • E. The executive branch includes a large foreign-policy bureaucracy. It includes the State Department, Defense Department, Central Intelligence Agency, and National Security Council.

• F. The president and Congress share the power to conduct foreign affairs. The president is the chief diplomat and commander in chief, but Congress has the power to declare war, prohibit certain military actions and spend – or withhold - money for defense. • G. The Constitution does not make clear how the executive and legislative branches can use their powers. As a result, the branches compete for control of foreign policy.

• H. Treaties are formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries. Some, such as NATO, are agreements among nations for mutual defense. The Senate must approve a treaty by a two-thirds vote. However, the president can make an executive agreement with the leader of another country without Senate approval.

• I. An ambassador is an official representative of a country’s government. The president appoints ambassadors, with Senate approval. Ambassadors are sent only to countries where the United States accepts the government as legally in power. • J. The United States gives foreign aid in the form of money, food, military assistance, or other supplies to help other countries.

• K. The president makes agreements with other nations about what products may be traded and the rules of trade. Sometimes the rules include trade sanctions, or efforts to punish another country by imposing trade barriers. Another punishing tool is the embargo – an agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with the target nation.

• L. Congress takes the lead in imposing tariffs on imported goods and in joining international trade groups. One such trade group is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). • M. As commander in chief, presidents may use the military to carry out some foreign policy decisions that could involve deploying armed forces or launching missile attacks. This powerful tool must be used with care.

GROUP WORK: • Essay: What are four main goals of American foreign policy?

ANSWER Protect national security, promote international trade, world peace, and democracy!

EXIT STRATEGY: