The role of congress in the making of foreign policy

Abstract

The article examines the functions of Congress as a representative and legislative body and its influence over the foreign policy of the United States of America. The U. S. Constitution initially vested considerable powers in Congress to enable it to control the executive branch. The author shows that changes that occurred over recent decades in the highest echelons of power in the United States are related to the strengthening of the influence of Congress over foreign policy and have contradictory results. Remaining formally the most influential political figure in the country, the U. S. President is forced to seek mutual understanding with Congress in order to get support on the key issues of the country’s foreign policy. The author underlines the idea that the role of the U. S. Congress and the degree of its influence over U. S. foreign policy are subject to fluctuations depending both on the general domestic political situation and the determination of the incumbent President to defend his line in foreign policy, on his ability to seek and find mutual understanding with the Congress. Refs 9.