Unit #8 Foreign Policy

Making Foreign Policy

The President sets foreign policy, deals directly with heads of state, and makes treaties with other nations.

The Executive

Branch

Presidential Powers:Commander in Chief- the President may send troops, ships, planes, or even use nuclear weapons anywhere in the world, w/out congressional approval.

Congressional Powers

• Power to declare war• Power to approve or reject treaties• Appropriate Money

The Department of State: advises the President on foreign policy. It has nearly 16,000 officials working in other

countries. They are called Foreign Service officers.

Secretary of State: Works closely with the president and

represents the US in diplomatic meetings. The secretary is assisted by experts on

different parts of the world.

Foreign Service

• more than ½ of the employees of the State Department serve in other countries. • The officials that are assigned to serve abroad in foreign

countries belong to the Foreign Service.

Foreign Service

• College graduates who seek a career in the F.S. must pass an extremely demanding civil service exam. • Successful applicants then receive training in special schools. • Foreign Service Officers (FSO) usually spends several years

abroad in a diplomatic post. • Then they may be recalled to DC to be a part of foreign policy

discussions at the State Department.

Embassy—the US maintains embassies in the capital cities of

foreign countries. • includes the official residence and offices of the ambassador

and his/her staff. • primary function is to make diplomatic communication

between govts easier. • Currently we have about 150 embassies.

US Embassy in Manila

US Embassy in Prague

Ambassadors

• appointed by the President and must be confirmed by Senate. • Most ambassadors come from the ranks of foreign services as

experienced and highly qualified professional diplomats. • Some ambassadors may be political appointees selected for

reasons other than their diplomatic knowledge or experience.

Louis Susman US Ambassador in the UK

US Consulates• not normally involved in diplomatic negotiations w/foreign governments. • function primarily to promote American business interests in

foreign countries and to serve as safeguards for American travelers.

US Consulate in Jerusalem

US Consulate in Istanbul

Consuls

• Heading each consulate is a consul• In the course of a routine day, the consul and staff handle

individual problems and inquires about such matters as shipping schedules, business opportunities, and travel needs.

Niels Marquardt Consul of Australia

US Passport-issued by the State Department

• person holding the passport is entitled to certain privileges and protection established by an international treaty. • an American citizen can expect to be granted entrance into

many countries with a passport

How do you get a passport?

• Most can be done at a US Post office• Get a picture taken there or at any place that does passport

photos (ie. Costco)• Fill out the on line application and make an appointment at your

local post office.• Bring cash (around $165)• Don’t forget to bring your birth certificate!

Visas

• In some cases you will need a visa- a special document issued by the govt of the country that a person wishes to visit for a specific time. • American immigration law requires nearly all foreign visitors

to obtain visas prior to entering the US. • The countries of Western Europe do not require Americans to

carry visas only passports.

The Department of Defense: Supervises the armed forces of the US. This department is the largest. Its headquarters is located in the Pentagon. It has more than 800,000 civilian employees and about 1

million military personnel on active duty.

Joint Chiefs of Staff: President, the National Security Council, and the secretary of

defense rely on the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) for military advice.

This group is made up of the top ranking officers of the armed forces, and other personnel.

All appointed by the President following Senate confirmation.

General Martin Dempsey Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

National Security Council

• Advises the President on the country’s safety. • The NSC includes the President, VP and Sec. of State and

Defense.