Question 1

American foreign policy is heavily influenced by interest groups based on ethnicity or national origin.

Accepted Answer

Many interest groups based on ethnicity or national origin play an active and influential role in shaping American foreign policy, including lobbying policymakers, advocating for specific policies, and providing financial support to political candidates who align with their interests. Examples include pro-Israel groups, Cuban-American groups, and Irish-American groups.

Question 2

When a special personal representative is sent abroad to represent the president, that envoy works under the direct supervision of the local ambassador.

Accepted Answer

Special personal representatives sent abroad to represent the president typically operate under the direct authority of the president or the sending state's foreign ministry, not under the local ambassador.

Question 3

The leaders of the various agencies of the intelligence community coordinate well and rarely struggle with each other for power.

Accepted Answer

While the leaders of the intelligence community agencies are expected to coordinate well, there have been instances in the past where agencies have struggled for power and influence. For example, the FBI and CIA have historically had a tense relationship, and there have been instances where the CIA has withheld intelligence from the FBI. The 9/11 Commission also highlighted problems with interagency coordination and communication prior to the attacks.

Question 4

The United States has a long-standing commitment to human rights and is a party to most major international agreements concerning human rights.

Accepted Answer

The United States has ratified and is party to most major international agreements concerning human rights, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, there have been critiques and controversies surrounding the U.S.'s human rights record, particularly in regards to issues such as racial inequality, police brutality, and treatment of migrants and refugees.

Question 5

The United States supports the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

Accepted Answer

The United States signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998, but never ratified it, meaning it was not a party to the agreement. In 2001, the U.S. announced that it would not ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

Question 6

Although it has numerous political parties, the UN General Assembly is basically dominated by three major political coalitions.

Accepted Answer

The UN General Assembly is not dominated by political coalitions in the way national parliaments might be; instead, it is a forum for member states to discuss and make decisions on international issues, with each member state having one vote, regardless of its political affiliations or the number of political parties within the country.

Question 7

Executive agreements have the force of treaties and thus require prior approval by the Senate.

Accepted Answer

Executive agreements do not require prior approval by the Senate, unlike treaties which do.

Question 8

The representation of a government to other foreign governments is called diplomacy.

Accepted Answer

Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states.

Question 9

The United States makes humanitarian considerations its first priority when setting foreign policy.

Accepted Answer

While the United States does prioritize human rights and humanitarian concerns in its foreign policy, it is not always the first priority. Other considerations such as national security, trade, and geopolitical interests can also influence foreign policy decisions.

Question 10

The World Trade Organization prohibits bilateral and regional trade agreements.

Accepted Answer

The World Trade Organization allows bilateral and regional trade agreements as long as they comply with the organization's rules and regulations.

Question 11

The United Nations has evolved into a major player on the world stage mostly because of its standing military.

Accepted Answer

The United Nations does not have a standing military. While it does have peacekeeping forces made up of troops from member countries, they are only deployed with the consent of those countries and are not under the direct control of the UN itself. The UN's influence on the world stage is largely due to its role in promoting international cooperation, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid.

Question 12

The United States generally avoids making foreign policy on the basis of economic considerations.

Accepted Answer

The United States often considers economic factors in its foreign policy decisions, such as placing sanctions on countries or negotiating trade agreements.

Question 13

The United States supports several international efforts to protect the environment.

Accepted Answer

The United States supports various environmental protection efforts such as the Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The U.S. has also implemented domestic policies and regulations to protect the environment, such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.

Question 14

The United Nations is so large and unwieldy that it is largely useless as a foreign-policy tool.

Accepted Answer

The United Nations plays a crucial role in global governance, peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and setting international standards, despite criticisms about its efficiency and political complexities.

Question 15

The global war on terror began when Congress formally declared war on Afghanistan in 2001.

Accepted Answer

The global war on terror began with the United States launching military operations in response to the September 11 attacks, but Congress did not formally declare war on Afghanistan. Instead, Congress authorized the use of military force against those responsible for the attacks.

Question 16

In the wake of 9/11, military and law enforcement agencies have increased their role in America's foreign-policy making.

Accepted Answer

Military and law enforcement agencies have played a larger role in America's foreign-policy making since 9/11, as their focus has shifted to combating terrorism and national security threats. This includes increased involvement in intelligence gathering, covert operations, and military interventions abroad.

Question 17

The Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have historically worked very well together to coordinate American foreign policy in the direction of a single, unified strategy.

Accepted Answer

Historically, there have been significant instances of disagreement and lack of coordination among these agencies, leading to conflicting strategies and approaches in American foreign policy. Coordination has been a challenge due to differing priorities, perspectives, and areas of expertise.

Question 18

The United States and Canada left Mexico largely out of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Accepted Answer

Mexico was included in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) along with the United States and Canada, which was signed in 1994.

Question 19

Congress has formally declared five wars in American history.

Accepted Answer

The five wars include the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.

Question 20

Because it is difficult to secure a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate, presidents often prefer to use executive agreements.

Accepted Answer

Executive agreements only require the approval of the president, whereas treaties require a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate for ratification. Therefore, presidents may opt for executive agreements as they are easier to secure without the need for Senate approval.

Quiz 17: Foreign Policy