The administration of U.S. foreign policy has traditionally been viewed as being within the power of the executive branch with Congress performing an advisory role. However, the Committees’ specific foreign policy powers include the power to declare war, regulate commerce and U.S. sales of nuclear materials, as well as regulate U.S. foreign territory and marine law. Both committees also oversee policy regarding international institutions such as the United Nations.

Often, issues arise in other nations that the United States has no legal authority over but which Congress deems to be important. When such events occur, the Committees can express their opinions through resolutions. They are thus a means for Congress members to have a public record of their views on foreign policy. Furthermore, members may use the Committees as forums to express their opinions on Presidential Actions (this includes the activities of the Secretary of State and his/her staff).

The following specific responsibilities are within the scope of the House and Senate committees on International and Foreign Relations:

(1) General relations of the United States with foreign nations:

With the President, the Congress shapes U.S. relations with foreign countries and influences foreign policy through its war, commerce, and general powers (covered in greater detail below). Beyond specific legislation, the Committees make use of resolutions to express Congressional opinion, such as the support or opposition to presidential policies — or even to attempt to initiate a policy.

(2) Establishment of boundary lines between the U.S. and foreign nations:

The Committees have jurisdiction over border disputes and maintenance of boundary lines between the U.S. and neighboring countries. The committees have special oversight functions with respect to customs administration and international fishing agreements.

(3) Foreign loans:

The "power of the purse" has given Congress the power to directly affect U.S. foreign and defense policies, and jurisdiction over legislation authorizing foreign aid programs is a potent weapon. Such bills set overall policy guidelines and spending limits for foreign aid programs providing countries with economic and/or military assistance. In addition, the Committee can cut off or place restrictions on aid to specific countries.

(4) International conferences and congresses and United Nations organizations:

Both committees have jurisdiction over policy toward such international organizations as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and they contribute to the shaping of the role of the United States as a member of these groups and as participant in related international initiatives.

(5) Intervention abroad and declarations of war:

The war power of the Congress limits Presidential power to wage undeclared war. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the termination of a troop commitment within sixty days after the President submitted his initial report to Congress

(required under the Resolution within 48 hours of troop deployment), unless Congress declared war or specifically authorized continuation of the commitment. Such war related bills fall within the purview of the Committee, as do questions regarding neutrality issues.

(6) Measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safeguard American business interests abroad:

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has played an active role regarding economic relations with foreign nations through legislative proposals, resolutions and other initiatives. An example was encouragement of the Bush Administration’s negotiations with Japan over such issues as U.S.-Japan semiconductor trade and U.S. efforts to press Japan to liberalize the workings of its domestic economy.

(7) Measures relating to international economic policy:

The Committee has jurisdiction over such important issues as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the extension of Most Favored Nation status to foreign trading partners with the U.S.

(8) Export controls, including nonproliferation of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware:

The Committee has jurisdiction over the sensitive issue of arms control, including proposals involving tighter controls on exports of potentially dangerous technology, especially those related to nuclear, biological, and chemical weapon systems.

(9) International commodity agreements (other than those involving sugar), including all agreements for cooperation in the export of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware:

The Senate Foreign Relations committee has power in the area of international trade relations, including the transfer of arms.  This is similar to the power possessed by the House Committee on International Relations.  An example is the power to provide for the establishment of an international arms suppliers regime to limit the transfer of arms to nations in the Middle East (H.R. 2315). Issues such as subsidies, economic sanctions, and commodity transfers also fall under the Committee's jurisdiction.

(10) Restrictions on committee activities:

The Senate Committee possesses sole authority over nominations and treaty ratification. It is, however, limited by the traditional delegation of foreign policy administration to the executive branch.

(9) International commodity agreements (other than those involving sugar), including all agreements for cooperation in the export of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware

The Senate Foreign Relations committee has power in the area of international trade relations, including the transfer of arms.  This is similar to the power possessed by the House Committee on International Relations.  An example is the power to provide for the establishment of an international arms suppliers regime to limit the transfer of arms to nations in the Middle East (H.R. 2315). Issues such as subsidies, economic sanctions, and commodity transfers also fall under the Committee's jurisdiction.

(10) Restrictions on committee activities

The Senate Committee possesses sole authority over nominations and treaty ratification. It is, however, limited by the traditional delegation of foreign policy administration to the executive branch.

SUBCOMMITTEES:

African Affairs

East Asian and Pacific Affairs

European Affairs

International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion

International Operations

Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs

Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, Narcotics and Terrorism

COMMITTEE BACKGROUND:

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was established in 1816 as one of the original eleven standing committees. Given that the Constitution allocated responsibility of treaty approval and confirmations of nominations to the Senate, this committee has a history of being in the midst of controversy surrounding foreign policy. At the end of the nineteenth century, U.S. territorial expansion had led to its greater role in foreign affairs, followed by a period of isolationism in the early twentieth century. Following the emergence of the U.S. as a world power at the end of World War II, the Reorganization Act of 1946 sought to give the Foreign Relations Committee a clear role in the postwar era. The committee’s jurisdiction was expanded to include growing international issues: nuclear weapons and disarmament, trade, international energy and investment, security agreements, international organization, foreign aid, and world environment.

The expansion of powers exercised by the Executive Branch during the second half of the twentieth century affected the Senate Committee. Vietnam — the undeclared war — posed a direct challenge to the Constitution’s allocation of the distribution of powers. Congress responded with the War Powers Resolution, the essential purpose of which was to remind the president that only Congress held the power to officially declare war. However, in general, there was a decline in Congress’ role in making foreign policy during the 1980s as foreign policy decisions shifted to the Executive Branch. Foreign aid programs also suffered a period of unpopularity during this decade. With the change in attitude towards the congressional role in foreign policy, the Committees in both chambers of Congress were affected. Nonetheless, these committees remained responsible for oversight of Presidential policy and for monitoring events world wide.

In 1992, the jurisdiction of the Senate committee was again revised. This time, it was stipulated that the concerns of the committee included: foreign economic, military, technical and humanitarian assistance; international aspects of nuclear energy; national security; oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs as they relate to foreign policy; and international law as related to foreign policy.

CURRENT TOPICS OF LEGISLATION:

Iraq Stabilization and Reconstruction: International Contributions and Resources

The Future of U.S. Economic Relations in The Western Hemisphere

North Korea & Indonesia

Fighting Aids in Uganda

The Department of State's Office of Children's Issues: Responding to International Parental Abduction

U.S. Energy Security: Latin America and West Africa

U.S. Energy Security: Russia and the Caspian

An Enlarged NATO: Mending Fences & Moving Forward on Iraq

Trafficking in Women and Children in East Asia and Beyond

Global Energy Security Issues

MEMBERS:

Senator Richard G. Lugar-Indiana

Senator Chuck Hagel-Nebraska

Senator Lincoln Chafee-Rhode Island

Senator George Allen-Virginia

Senator Sam Brownback-Kansas

Senator Michael Enzi-Wyoming

Senator George Voinovich-Ohio

Senator Lamar Alexander-Tennesse

Senator Norm Coleman-Minnesota

Senator John Sununu-New Hampshire