GOV 312L Lecture 5 Outline of Current Lecture I. TMFPQII. War and expansion of executive authorityIII. The Constitution, Congress, and Foreign PolicyIV. The War Powers ActV. The practical politics of Congress in FPVI. Debating the readingsCurrent Lecture- Obama’s program: Up to 3000 troops to help containment of Ebola; 17 healthcare facilities for Ebola with many beds; training more than 300 doctors in Ebolao In Liberia, there is no healthcare for anyone other than those with Ebolao Liberian president is worried that basic order will collapse: food shortages, limited economic activity, limited police presence, limited healthcare, etc.- Ethical dilemma presented by this public health crisis (Ebola)o What is the US ethical obligation with this?o US as an indispensible nation is trueo Many would argue that US should help. If you are the only actor that can solve a problem, you have an obligation to help.o Competing practical ethics framework Utilitarian-weighing harms vs benefits of any action to come to the aggregate good of that action (5 lives vs 1 life, like philosophy, rather save 1 good person than 5 bad people)- Application to Ebola: o primary benefit is saving lives, preventing deaths, preventing spread of disease, safeguarding against social/economic breakdown, preventing more civil war, improving US image abroado US risking innocent lives by sending military in and exposing them to virus, Ebola aid will cost lots of money, cost burden on American public, mission is outside of whattroops are used to. Political costs: whatever the US does it is bound to disappoint someone, setting a precedent-where do our obligations stop, US can’t be world doctorThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. Rights based-emphasize protection of each individual persons right regardless of cost Fairness-fair treatment of all victims- Application to Ebolao Forced to choose between who gets treatment Western aid workers vs. African victims Most severe cases or most likely to survive? Social categories: young vs old, rich vs poor Utility: urban vs rural, educated vs. uneducated Common good-interconnectedness of all of us Virtue-one should make ethical decisions to promote ethical habits- US should help, just to be a better country- Is it still ethical if for the moral good of oneself or for self-interest such as not wanting Ebola to spread to the US- War and expansion of presidential authority: o Does war help to expand presidential authority? The president is constrained in legal terms on war; at the same time, new technology can strengthen the presidential and government power Using congressional powers to limit president Recent research finds that expansion of presidential influence goes beyond just the execution of the war More executive powers during wars Importance of different constituencies- Generate different compositions of social interest- Its easier to find a smaller number of people to agree than a lot of people to agree Congress has national and distinct interests, sometimes compete- The end of the cold War created a national interest War changes/elevates the importance of national goals in political calculations of congressional officials Move closer to the presidential position- The Constitution, Congressional authorityo There needs to be a two thirds majority for president to pass treaties- The War Powers Resolution (1973)o Laws the may infringe on presidential authority is justified by Congress that they can check these powers of the president, gave them lots of leverage on foreign policy- Fight against ISIS: Does President need Congressional approval for his plan?o Must reach a consensus that the mission is worth it if we’re risking lives- Republicans vs Democrats- Bush Administration and the war in Iraqo Republican support for the 2003 invasiono Conventional wisdom getting challenged by the emergence of the Tea partyo Congressional oversight Partisanship and party id Congress officials can rely on committees to call a debate on matters of foreign policy- These hearings can provide a forum for the opposing party to criticize the president- Provisions allow some things of the legislation to expire, forcing the president to come back and get new authorization from Congress—Congress’ decision can change- Practical politics of Congressional role in FPo Divided government leads to more Congressional oversight Electoral incentives to increase when opposing party controls White House Presidential information advantage: more likely to share info with members of his own party; opposing party can use this to make presidentlook bad by trying to access the info through their committees When there is more opposing party, the president doesn’t try to wage war or send out military Congressional officials can use their influence to change the debate to make it more challenging to the president; hold hearings critical to the president; media is more likely to pick up on this criticism- Ethical issue on Ebola virus and US intervention: class survey results- yes US should intervene