Foreign Policy

Abstract

It is widely understood that the president’s power over foreign policy matters is greater than that over domestic policy, a relationship often referred to as the “two presidencies.” The Congress and the courts historically have been much more willing to accede to presidential wishes and preferences in this realm, and presidents have been quick to exploit this greater deference. Constitutionally, foreign policy powers are divided between president and the Congress, but the Congress, and the country as a whole, often defer to the president’s wishes because the office has come to represent the country as a whole when dealing with the rest of the world.