How to Think About Foreign PolicyHow to Think About Foreign Policy

StructureStructure•OrganizationOrganization

ProcessProcess•How Decisions are madeHow Decisions are made

PolicyPolicy•Substance of policySubstance of policy

US National InstitutionsUS National Institutions

US Constitution

EXECUTIVE

Legislative Judicial

Institutional PowersInstitutional Powers Article One:Article One:

Congressional PowersCongressional Powers Declare WarDeclare War Raise and support Raise and support

armed forcesarmed forces Regulate armed Regulate armed

forcesforces Senate: approve Senate: approve

executive branch executive branch officialsofficials

Senate: advise and Senate: advise and consent on treatiesconsent on treaties

Tax and Spend Tax and Spend moneymoney

Article Two: Article Two:

Executive PowersExecutive Powers Make treatiesMake treaties Appoint officials Appoint officials

and ambassadorsand ambassadors Commander-in-chief Commander-in-chief

of armed forcesof armed forces

The Struggle for PowerThe Struggle for Power

Modern deference to PresidentModern deference to President

Public Opinion: Foreign policy is Public Opinion: Foreign policy is a presidential powera presidential power• When presidents ignore congress When presidents ignore congress

on foreign policy matters: public on foreign policy matters: public supports presidentsupports president

Congressional Power: $$$$$$$Congressional Power: $$$$$$$

Cabinet-Style Government Government(standard organizational structure)(standard organizational structure)

PresidentSecretary of… Secretary of… Secretary of…

Deputy Sec of…

Undersecretary of…

Undersecretary of…

Assistant Secretary of…

Assistant Secretary of…

Assistant Secretary of…

Career vs. AppointeeCareer vs. Appointee

Transition 2008-2009Transition 2008-2009

BushBush ObamaObama

CareerCareer

What is US Foreign Policy?What is US Foreign Policy?

White House National Security Council Presidential DirectivesPresidential Directives (from (from

Federation of American Scientists)Federation of American Scientists) US National Security Structure

State Department (1789)State Department (1789)

State Dept home page

Organization Embassies Careers Nations (includes (includes

background notes)background notes)

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/99494.htm

Department of Defense (1947)Department of Defense (1947)The PentagonThe Pentagon

http://odam.defense.gov/omp/Functions/Organizational_Portfolios/Organization_and_Functions_Guidebook.html

Joint Chiefs of Staff

Joint Staff

DoD StructureDoD Structure DoD Organization The Department of Defense The Office of the Secretary of DefenseThe Office of the Secretary of Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

• JCS Structure United States United States Army United States United States Navy

• Navy Structure United States United States Marine Corps United States United States Air Force Unified Command Plan Defense Intelligence Agency National Security Agency (NSA) Defense Science BoardDefense Science Board publications publications

Intelligence CommunityIntelligence Community Director of National Intelligence (2005) (2005)

• ODNI Structure• DNI National Intelligence Strategy (2005)DNI National Intelligence Strategy (2005)• National Intelligence Council

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) President’s Intelligence Advisory Board President’s Intelligence Advisory Board

(PIAB). Central Intelligence Agency (1947) (1947)

• World Factbook• CIA list of CIA list of World Leaders and Cabinet Members of and Cabinet Members of

Foreign GovernmentsForeign Governments• CIA-sponsored page of CIA-sponsored page of links on intelligence issues• Freedom of Information Act details for CIA documents

http://www.intelligence.gov/about-the-intelligence-community/structure/

Department of Homeland Security2003

Secretary of Homeland Security Structure

Congressional OversightCongressional Oversight• House Armed Services Committee• House Committee on Foreign AfairsHouse Committee on Foreign Afairs• House Select Committee on Homeland SecurityHouse Select Committee on Homeland Security• House Permanent Select Committee on House Permanent Select Committee on

IntelligenceIntelligence

• Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Committee on Armed Services • Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senate Committee on Foreign Relations • Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and

Government AffairsGovernment Affairs• Senate Select Committee on IntelligenceSenate Select Committee on Intelligence

• Congressional Budget Office (CBO)Congressional Budget Office (CBO)• Government Accountability Office (GAO)Government Accountability Office (GAO)• CRS Reports through the Federation of American CRS Reports through the Federation of American

ScientistsScientists

National Security CouncilNational Security Council

Members of NSCMembers of NSC PresidentPresident Vice PresidentVice President Secretary of StateSecretary of State Secretary of DefenseSecretary of Defense Secretary of Energy (2007)Secretary of Energy (2007) Any others the President wishes to addAny others the President wishes to add

Advisors to NSCAdvisors to NSC Chair JCSChair JCS DNIDNI

Current NSC Committee Structure

NSC

NSC Principals Committee

NSC Deputies Committee

NSC Interagency

Policy Comm.

NSC Interagency

Policy Comm. NSC

InteragencyPolicy Comm

NSC Interagency

Policy Comm

Evolution of NSC System

Statutory Design of NSC But sometimes

President

National Security Advisor

Trusted Advisor

Trusted Advisor

NSC Staff

Models of Decision Making

1. Analytical Model (Rational Actor)2. Organizational Process Model3. Bureaucratic Politics Model4. Presidential Management Model

1. Competitive Model2. Formalistic Model3. Collegial Model

1. Analytical Model (Rational Actor)1. Analytical Model (Rational Actor)

Cost Benefit AnalysisCost Benefit Analysis

OptionsOptions CostsCosts BenefitsBenefits

AA ?? ??

BB ?? ??

CC ?? ??

2. Organizational Process 2. Organizational Process ModelModel

State Defense Treasury

CommerceHomeland

Security

Advice to the President?Advice to the President? Solution to foreign crisisSolution to foreign crisis?? State: NegotiateState: Negotiate Treasury: SanctionsTreasury: Sanctions Commerce: TradeCommerce: Trade DNI: Need better intelligenceDNI: Need better intelligence CIA: Covert OperationsCIA: Covert Operations Defense: Use forceDefense: Use force

• Army: Ground troopsArmy: Ground troops• Navy: Carrier air powerNavy: Carrier air power• Marines: Amphibious landingMarines: Amphibious landing• Air Force: BombingAir Force: Bombing

3. Bureaucratic Politics Model3. Bureaucratic Politics Model

A7

A6

A5 A4

A3

A2

A1

PRES

4. Presidential Management 4. Presidential Management Model (PMM)Model (PMM)

What Structures, if any, are used in decision making?

Who is actually making the decision?

Who does the president trust the most?

PMMs

Competitive Formalistic Collegial