The growing use of executive agreements by presidents over time has had the effect of
A)enhancing the importance of the Senate's constitutional treaty power.
B)diminishing the importance of the Senate's constitutional treaty power.
C)enhancing the importance of the House of Representative's constitutional treaty power.
D)diminishing the importance of the House of Representative's constitutional treaty power.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The growing use of executive agreements by presidents has reduced the need to use the constitutional treaty power of the Senate, thereby diminishing its importance. Executive agreements do not require the Senate's ratification, unlike treaties, which require a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate. As presidents have increasingly relied on executive agreements as a way to bypass congressional opposition or gridlock, the Senate's role in foreign policy has been diminished. This has led to a debate about the proper balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in foreign policymaking.

The Growing Use of Executive Agreements by Presidents Over Time