Question

Explain
1. What powers does the executive branch (the president) have? What powers does the legislative branch (Congress) have? In what areas is the balance of power unclear or contested?
2. Why was the National Security Council created? What problems was it meant to solve?
3. Who is on the National Security Council?
4. What forces outside government can influence foreign policy? How do they exert this influence?
5. How are foreign and domestic policy related?
6. What is an executive agreement? How is it different from a treaty?

Analyze
1. What are the benefits of the division of power between the executive branch (the president) and the legislative branch (Congress)? What are the drawbacks?
2. What are the advantages of the National Security Council over the previous method of determining foreign policy? Are there any disadvantages?
3. How would outside influence function differently in a country more autocratic than the United States?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using executive agreements instead of treaties?
Evaluate
1. Should the United States approach foreign policy differently, considering how powerful it is compared to other countries?
2. Do you think the amount of power the president has gained overforeign policy is problematic? Why or why not?
3. Do you think the government is too open to outside influence? Not open enough? Why?
4. Given what you know about the relationship between foreign and domestic policy, and the effects of unequal vaccine distribution, do you think the domestic and global distribution of vaccines should have been different? If so, how
give a 2 sentence 9th grade response for each question

Answer 1

Explain
1. The president can direct foreign policy, act as commander-in-chief, make executive agreements, and veto bills, while Congress can declare war, fund or cut funding, approve treaties, and pass laws that shape policy. The balance is unclear when quick military action or long-term commitments are needed because presidents claim broad powers but Congress has constitutional checks.

2. The National Security Council (NSC) was created to coordinate defense, foreign policy, and intelligence across different agencies so the president would get faster, clearer advice. It was meant to solve problems of poor communication and rivalries between the State Department, Defense Department, and intelligence agencies.

3. The NSC includes the president, vice president, secretaries of state and defense, and the national security adviser, and often the secretaries of energy and homeland security and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other officials and agency heads can attend depending on the issue.

4. Outside forces like interest groups, businesses, media, foreign governments, and public opinion influence foreign policy by lobbying, donating to campaigns, shaping news, pressuring leaders, and using economic or diplomatic tools. They exert influence through meetings, advertising, protests, trade decisions, and public campaigns.

5. Foreign and domestic policy are linked because trade, immigration, security, and public health affect both home and international lives, so leaders must balance domestic needs with international obligations. For example, a pandemic or trade deal at home changes how the country deals with other nations.

6. An executive agreement is a deal the president makes with another country without Senate approval and can be changed by later presidents. A treaty is a formal agreement that requires two-thirds Senate approval and is harder to reverse.

Analyze
1. Division of power forces cooperation and prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful, which protects democracy. But it can also slow decision-making and create confusion during crises when clear, quick action is needed.

2. The NSC provides centralized, coordinated advice and faster decision-making than the old informal system where departments competed for the president’s ear. A downside is that the NSC can concentrate power, become politicized, or shut out other viewpoints and congressional oversight.

3. In a more autocratic country, outside influence usually comes from elites, state-controlled media, and foreign backers rather than many independent groups, and dissent is often suppressed. That means policy reflects the ruler’s interests more than public debate or diverse pressures.

4. Executive agreements are fast, flexible, and useful for routine or urgent matters because they don’t need Senate approval. The downside is they lack the stability and democratic oversight of treaties and can be overturned by future presidents.

Evaluate
1. Because the United States is very powerful, it should mix realism and responsibility by protecting its interests while working with allies and international institutions to solve global problems. Being too unilateral can make other countries resist U.S. goals, while thoughtful leadership can build lasting cooperation.

2. The president’s growing foreign policy power can be helpful for quick decisions and coherent leadership, but it is problematic if it bypasses Congress and weakens checks and balances. Strong oversight and transparency help prevent misuse of that power.

3. The government is sometimes too open to well-funded special interests and not open enough to ordinary citizens and independent oversight; this creates unfair influence and secrecy. More transparency, limits on money in politics, and better public input would improve the balance.

4. Given how connected the world is, vaccine distribution should have been fairer globally and prioritized high-risk people everywhere to save lives and stop variants from spreading. Policies like sharing doses, supporting COVAX, and easing patent restrictions would have helped both global health and U.S. interests.