Understanding Presidential Treaty-Making Powers

Very Hard Unit 2: Branches Of Government Presidential Powers

The Constitution grants the President various powers that are instrumental in the functioning of the U.S. government. Among these powers is the authority to negotiate treaties, which requires the majority approval of the Senate. However, the President also possesses certain informal powers that can be pivotal in foreign policy decisions. Consider the following statement regarding presidential powers: 'The President's ability to unilaterally withdraw from a treaty without Senate approval represents an informal exercise of executive power that has been supported by historical precedent but remains a contentious issue among political theorists.'

Based on this understanding, which of the following options best describes the nature of presidential treaty-making powers and their implications?

The President can negotiate treaties but must have them ratified by Congress within a specific timeframe.

The President has the unilateral power to negotiate and withdraw from treaties, as this is considered an informal power.

The President can only negotiate treaties with explicit authorization from Congress.

The President's treaty-making power is constrained by the need for a two-thirds Senate majority to block any subsequent action.

Hint

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