The President, Congress, and the Making of Foreign PolicyTo understand the power struggle involved in making foreign policy, it is crucial to understand what the policy entails foreign. The U.S. State Department's Foreign Policy Agenda states that the goals of foreign policy are to "build and maintain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community." Although this definition is quite vague, the actual tools of foreign policy include diplomacy, foreign aid, and military force. When it comes to foreign policy making, the government's primary goal is to “speak with one voice” (p. 336). that our nation will be seen as a united and unwavering force. This notion was enshrined in law in 1799 by the Logan Act, which prohibited unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. Even with such laws in place, having a central foreign policy decision-making body is easier said than done. The system of checks and balances provides great stability to our national government, but it can also create a struggle between who has what power and who has the final say on this issue. Many individuals, departments, and agencies retain some influence in the area of ​​foreign policymaking, but for many reasons which will be discussed in more detail, the president is the dominant force and ultimate decision-making resides between his hands, and his alone. The first issue that will be discussed will concern the power that the president holds, inherently and expressly. Next is how our presidents have used and challenged their powers throughout history. Finally, we will turn our attention to Congress. We will see how Congress has taken power in its policy, particularly in matters of budget and treaties, the president remains the dominant power in decision-making in matters of foreign policy development. This power is demonstrated by the authority given to the president by the Constitution and how it is interpreted and how presidents have used their powers and defied Congress to gain more power. The power of Congress has been asserted in many ways and will continue to be asserted as long as our nation stands. The balance of power will also remain in flux, due to events that change the course of history. I believe Congress should play an important role in shaping foreign policy because it is crucial to our system of checks and balances. If one branch holds too much power, the work of our ancestors to create a system different from the parliamentary system in England would be in vain..