The American president’s constitutionally enumerated powers as commander-in-chief provide the basis for rapid and effective decision-making and maintain the credibility of the USA’s foreign policy on the world stage. From countering terrorist attacks on American targets abroad to reacting quickly to intelligence that US citizens have been taken hostage, the president’s ‘war powers’ can be potent, far-reaching and protracted — as recent forays into both Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated.
Arthur Schlesinger referred to the Founding Fathers’ intentions as being both ‘ambiguous and unclear’ when framing the type of president that they wanted in the arena of foreign affairs. However, several important constitutional checks on presidential power exist:
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