Executive agreements are agreements made between the President of the United States and the head of a foreign country without requiring the approval of the Senate. They are important tools for the President to exercise his or her foreign policy powers. In this article, we will discuss how executive agreements are an example of presidential freedom of action as discussed on Quizlet.
Presidential freedom of action refers to the President`s ability to act without having to seek approval from another branch of government, typically the legislative branch. The President has this freedom because of the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution, which grants the President certain powers to act independently in matters of national security and foreign policy.
Executive agreements are one way in which the President can exercise this freedom of action. Unlike treaties, which require Senate approval, executive agreements do not require the approval of Congress. The President can negotiate and enter into an executive agreement with another country without having to go through the traditional process of treaty ratification.
This ability to make executive agreements is an example of presidential freedom of action because it allows the President to act quickly and decisively on foreign policy matters. The President can negotiate with foreign leaders and reach agreements that are in the best interest of the United States without having to worry about the approval of Congress.
However, it is important to note that not all executive agreements are created equal. Some executive agreements may be more controversial or consequential than others. For example, the executive agreement reached between the United States and Iran in 2015, which aimed to limit Iran`s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions, was highly controversial and drew criticism from many lawmakers.
In conclusion, executive agreements are an important tool for the President to exercise his or her foreign policy powers and are an example of presidential freedom of action. While not all executive agreements are without controversy, the ability of the President to negotiate and enter into agreements with foreign leaders without having to seek approval from Congress is a critical component of our system of government.