How do the foreign policy powers of Congress compare to the foreign policy powers of the president?

Question

A) Congress can command the military, while the president appoints diplomats.
B) Congress can appropriate money, while the president approves diplomatic appointments.
C) Congress can declare war, while the president can make treaties.
D) Congress can regulate trade, while the president can use judicial review.

Answer 1

The best comparison of foreign policy powers between Congress and the president from the options given is:

C) Congress can declare war, while the president can make treaties.

In the U.S. system, Congress has the power to declare war, as outlined in the Constitution. On the other hand, the president has the authority to negotiate and sign treaties, although such treaties must be ratified by a two-thirds majority in the Senate to take effect.

The other options provided do not accurately reflect the distribution of foreign policy powers. For example, the president commands the military (not Congress), and while Congress does appropriate money, it is the president who appoints diplomats (subject to Senate confirmation, but not as part of the approval process). Moreover, the president does not possess judicial review, which is a power of the judiciary.