CONGRESSIONAL FOREIGN POLICY BEHAVIOR: PERSISTENT PATTERNS OF THE POSTWAR PERIOD

In: Presidential studies quarterly, Band 16, Heft 2, S. 329-358

Abstract

THE CONVENTIONAL VIEW OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ROLE IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICYMAKING HAS LONG BEEN THAT CONGRESS IS A MINOR ACTOR AT BEST. THE CONGRESSIONAL ROLE IS TO FOLLOW THE PRESIDENT'S LEAD. IF THAT PATTERN HAS CHANGED AT ALL, IT IS PRESUMED TO HAVE CHANGED ONLY RECENTLY AS A RESULT OF THE UNPOPULARITY OF THE VIETNAM WAR. THE PRESENT STUDY COMPARES THAT CONVENTIONAL VIEW AGAINST THE ACTUAL POSTWAR RECORD. THE CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF A SYSTEMATIC, RANDOM SAMPLE OF 668 CONGRESSIONAL FOREIGN POLICY CASES, DRAWN FROM THE 1946-1982 PERIOD, INDICATES SOME SERIOUS FLAWS IN THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM. CONGRESS HAS BEEN FAR LESS PASSIVE AND ACQUIESCENT TO THE NEEDS OF THE PRESIDENCY THAN MOST HAVE ASSUMED. MOREOVER, THIS LACK OF DOCILITY IS NOT MERELY A FUNCTION OF THE POST-VIETNAM PERIOD BUT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE 1950S. IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THOSE WHO SEE A PASSIVE CONGRESS IN ITS FOREIGN POLICY ROLE FOCUS TOO EXCLUSIVELY ON THE "HIGH POLITICS" OF WARMAKING AND CRISES AND DO NOT APPRECIATE THE BROADER RANGE OF FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES FACING CONGRESS.