Page 382 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers
P. 382
Beers with our Founding Fathers
The procedure for agreeing to international treaties is provided
for in our Constitution under Article Two, Section Two, empowering
the president “…shall have Power, by and with Advice and Consent
of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators
present concur…” Like amending the Constitution, a super majority
of two-thirds is required; passing of normal legislation is by a simple
majority. The ability for a country to make treaties with foreign
counties is as important as the ability to declare war. The president
can authorize military police action with allied countries, and
similarly can authorize by executive order non-treaty agreements.
Should these be permitted? That is a complicated issue, but I would
simply offer that based on observations of late twentieth century
extended ‘police actions’; it has not met the standard of success
needed or intended. The check and balance of the legislative and
executive branches with regards to treaties underscores the
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