Direct election and the foreign policy president
Illustration by J.S. Pugh, 1903. Illustration shows seven men as Roman senators labeled “T.C. Tillman, Lodge, Stewart, Morgan, Quay, [and] Hoar.” George F. Hoar is speaking to the others while… Read More
Oversight gone wrong
Congressional investigations of the executive branch are frequently dominated by partisanship and ideology. Even-keeled and methodical analysis is better. Turning serious inquiries into tendentious exercises weakens oversight. Recent revelations about… Read More
Three concrete steps to improve the relationship between Capitol Hill and Foggy Bottom
Source: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. “Cold.” “Toxic.” “Dysfunctional.” These are the words that come to mind when thinking of the relationship between Congress and the State Department, on… Read More
COVID-19 puts a damper on the presidential foreign policy show
TOPSHOT – US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un following a meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi on February 27,… Read More
Can congressional diplomacy work for grand strategy?
Back in 2017, I predicted that the “damage control” diplomacy Congress had started to exert in response to the Trump administration’s unorthodox shifts in US foreign policy would… Read More
Watchdog firings show Congress still feels effects of impeachment
Source: C-SPAN. While it may feel like the impeachment of President Trump was a lifetime ago, the effects of his acquittal linger in Congress, especially regarding matters of congressional oversight… Read More
Video: Foreign affairs: How Congress can play a constructive role
This video came from the May 12 gathering of the Legislative Branch Capacity Working Group. The Executive Branch is not the only voice in foreign policymaking. The Constitution gives Congress… Read More
Event: Panel on congressional oversight databases
RSVP Wayne Law Review and the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School are hosting a panel for scholars on “Congressional Oversight Databases” on Wednesday, May 27,… Read More
Today: Foreign affairs: How Congress can play a constructive role
Source: Defense.gov Click here to RSVP The Executive Branch is not the only voice in foreign policymaking. The Constitution gives Congress numerous foreign affairs responsibilities, including the power… Read More
Escaping the foreign policy dilemma
Source: Gallup.com. One of the reasons we have elections is for the sake of better synchronizing political leaders with the wishes of the public. Yet, in the realm of… Read More