Who Is Responsible for US Foreign Policy?

Keith Porter, About.com's Guide to Globalization, has written a dynamite new article series on "An Overview of How America Relates to the World - Who Makes US Foreign Policy ?"

Articles in the series include....
-- Role of the Executive Branch
-- The Role of Congress
-- The Role of State and Local Governments
-- The Role of Think Tanks and Non-Governmental Organizations

George Bush believes in a far more powerful Presidential role than did any of his predecessors in modern times, and believes that the legislative and judicial branches of federal government should be less powerful than the Executive branch. Many have facetiously dubbed this Bush doctrine of expansive Executive Privilege to be an imperial presidency.

Bush Administration actions over the past five years have blurred American citizens' understanding of the US Constitutional system of checks and balances set forth by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the remainder of our country's founders. Many charge that Bush and Cheney have violated the Constitution by overstepping their authority in dozens...perhaps hundreds...of situations and policies.

As the New York Times points out today, a major concern about Judge Alito's fitness to be a Supreme Court Justice is his view of presidential power. In 2001, Judge Alito gave a speech arguing for broad expansion of executive power at the expense of Congressional authority.

In regard to foreign policy, Keith Porter writes, " The Constitution of the United States doesn't say anything about foreign policy, but it does make clear who is in charge of America's official relationship with the rest of the world. "

Who authorizes war? Who authorizes US occupation of or withdrawal from a foreign land? Is the President or Congress responsible for trade treaties? These are all urgent questions today.

Read up so you can understand and be part of the conversation about the present and future of our country. "An Overview of How America Relates to the World - Who Makes US Foreign Policy " by Keith Porter, About.com's Guide to Globalization. I highly recommend this excellent series for everyone, not just liberals.
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