Will Bush be impeached??

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Ned
But the problem in all this is that Congress was asking the president and his people to testify publicly about secret foreign policy initiatives. They were trying to influence, control and/or stop US foreign policy and were treading where they have no legal right to tread even though they have the power because they control the purse. There is a reason foreign policy is under the president and Iran Contra illustrates why perfectly.

There's a reason it was a secre initiative: it probably violated the Arms Export Conrol Act, but at any rate definitely violated US government policy. Pray, Ned, who is responsible for holding the Executive Branch accountable under those circumstances?

[Ned]

One of these days, Rufus, the Supremes are going to have to decide just how far Congress can go in directly interfering in foreign policy. Until then, the two branches are going to have to do an elaborate dance.

[Kontiki]

Forgive the ignorant foreigner, but by my reading of the US Constitution, how on Earth is the Congress not involved in foreign policy? Perhaps someone could point out the flaw in this as well:

The Making of U.S. Foreign Policy

Congress
Congress most clearly shares its powers with the executive branch in the area of foreign affairs. The Constitution presupposes that the two branches will maintain a delicate balance in exercising their foreign policy prerogatives. Nonetheless, both branches still debate vigorously the scope of and limits on Congress's power in the formulation of U.S. foreign and defense policies. The extent of Congress's involvement in and influence over foreign policy has varied throughout American history. Congress shapes foreign policy through regular oversight of executive branch implementation of foreign policy. This involves such mechanisms as hearings and investigations. In particular, hearings on annual authorizations and appropriations of funds for executive branch agencies carrying out foreign policy provide an opportunity for committee members to question and influence activities and policies.

Certain specific foreign policy powers granted to Congress are not disputed. These include the power to raise, support, and regulate the armed forces; the power to declare war and, through its power of the purse, to finance or withhold financing for U.S. participation in foreign wars; and the requirement that the Senate give its consent to all treaties and executive branch nominations of diplomatic officials. Although these powers have been important in ensuring that the legislative branch remains an independent force in U.S. foreign affairs, its role in some cases has been altered or diminished by international developments since World War I.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee oversees most aspects of the relations of the United States with other countries. Historically, it has been one of the most important forums for congressional influence in the field of international affairs. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has jurisdiction over foreign aid and legislation concerning the operations of the State Department, which carries out most US foreign policies. Foreign Relations also has the right to recommend Senate approval or rejection of foreign policy nominations and treaties submitted by the president.

The House International Relations Committee has broad responsibility for legislation dealing with relations between the United States and other countries. The most important legislative topics that fall under its jurisdiction are foreign aid programs, which provide economic assistance to poor and developing countries, and military training and equipment for US allies around the world.

The Senate Foreign Relations and House International Relations Committees oversee the Department of State and other foreign affairs agencies; the Armed Services Committees oversee the Defense Department; the Intelligence Committees oversee the Central Intelligence Agency, and other parts of the intelligence community.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Congress most definately is involved, Kontiki. Ned just wants to blast Democrats again. The President has most power in foriegn policy, but Congress decides on funding (and military funding in particular), on declarations of war, on treaties, on diplomatic posts, and can hold hearings due to bunglings on foriegn policy which may (or may not) have violated the law.

[chequita guevara]

IIRC, I don't recall anything in the Constitution saying the Pres makes foreign policy, just that he is the chief diplomat. It is conceivable that Congress could set foreign policy and that the President's job would be to enact it.

It seems pretty clear that the Framers intended Congress to be the most powerful branch of the Federal government, but checked to keep it from being all powerful.

[chequita guevara]

The question is: why does the right want a King?

[Arrian]

Indeed.

-Arrian

[TCO]

Bush is not going to be impeached. He hasn't done illegal things. He has done stupid things. Note that the damage from his misguided things has been more than Clinton's illegal things.

[Ned]

I said, "directly interfering in foreign policy." I have also said that Congress has "indirect" influence over foreign policy for all the reasons cited about. Only Che has gone so far as to support a theory that Congress has the right to directly interfere by reducing the president to a minister of Congress. I would suggest that Che's position is way beyond the constitutional pale.

Which gets us to the issue at hand. Can Congress dictate military strategy once a war has started?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Originally posted by Ned
Can Congress dictate military strategy once a war has started?

That's not the issue at hand; the issue at hand is whether Congress can investigate and impeach Bush for lying our way into armed conflict, among other things.

And we're not at war, remember? We haven't been at war since 1945. And that was Bush's choice, too.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ned
Can Congress dictate military strategy once a war has started?

Yes.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ned
Which gets us to the issue at hand. Can Congress dictate military strategy once a war has started?

The power of the purse is a lot of power.

[Ned]

Yeah, Che et al. We disagree on this.

The Supremes have been ducking the issue as well. It seems the dance will just continue.

Back during the Civil War, didn't Lincoln go so far as to implement a draft without asking Congress?

[chequita guevara]

The question you asked, Ned, was can Congress do so. The answer is clearly yes. However, historically, Congress has not chosen to do so.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Ned
The Supremes have been ducking the issue as well. It seems the dance will just continue.

The dividing line between the powers of the Executive and the powers of the Legislature is a political question. The Supremes will avoid it like the plague.