Lesson Report:
# Lesson Report: U.S. Foreign Policy Decision-Making and Presidential Advisory System
## Synopsis
In this lesson, students transitioned from discussing the historical progression of U.S. foreign policy to analyzing the mechanisms and actors involved in the policymaking process. The focus was on the President’s roles and limitations in foreign policy and the influence of advisors in shaping decisions. The session introduced a simulation activity where students, acting as policy advisors, developed policy recommendations related to the U.S. strategy in Ukraine. The goal was to prepare an outline of a policy memo, considering presidential powers, domestic and international reactions, and strategic framing.
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## Attendance
– One student, Hamdam, was mentioned as leaving the meeting. Other absences were not explicitly noted.
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## Topics Covered
### **Review of Presidential Roles in Foreign Policy**
– Recap of prior lesson discussing the misconception that the U.S. President acts unilaterally in foreign policy.
– Lecture on constitutional and practical limitations on presidential power, with emphasis on the balance of power with Congress and the judiciary.
– Review of five key roles the President holds in foreign affairs:
– **Head of State:** Represents the U.S. in international matters.
– **Chief Diplomat:** Sole authority to negotiate treaties and conduct diplomacy.
– **Commander in Chief:** Leader of the U.S. military with ultimate decision-making power.
– **Chief Executive:** Oversees executive branch agencies, intelligence, and national security organizations.
– **Chief Legislator:** Engages with Congress and influences foreign policy legislation.
– Discussion of legal checks, including Congress’s authority in declaring war and the judiciary’s role in reviewing executive actions.
### **Introduction to Presidential Advisory System**
– Explanation of presidential advisors, their role in influencing policy, and the tradition of appointing ideologically diverse cabinet members.
– Overview of how the advisory system provides Presidents with policy options and prevents ideological echo chambers.
– Introduction to the concept of policy memos, their purpose, and the typical structure:
– Addressed to the President.
– Background on the policy issue.
– Defined perspective and recommendations.
– Consideration of presidential powers/limitations and domestic/international reactions.
### **Policy Memo Simulation: Advising the President on Ukraine**
– Students assigned to three groups, each representing a different policy stance:
1. **Ending U.S. involvement in arming Ukraine.**
2. **Continuation of U.S. support for Ukraine through military aid.**
3. **A human rights-focused approach balancing diplomatic pressure and aid conditions.**
– Groups tasked with researching and formulating policy proposals using editorial articles and policy analyses.
– Instruction on crafting policy memos with clear, actionable recommendations.
– Groups developed initial outlines for policy actions but will refine arguments in the next session.
### **Preparation for Next Class**
– Brief mention of upcoming discussion on **Congress’s role in U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy.**
– Note that completed policy memos will be structured and refined in the following class session.
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## Actionable Items
### **For Next Class (High Priority)**
– Review readings on **Congress and diplomacy in U.S. foreign policy** (to be uploaded on e-course).
– Continue refining policy positions and recommendations for the memo simulation.
### **Assignments & Administrative Tasks (Medium Priority)**
– **Paper Submission Reminder:** Extended deadline approaching—students were reminded to seek help if needed.
– **Instructor Follow-Up:** Review Hamdam’s draft and respond to pending student e-mails.
### **Future Considerations (Lower Priority)**
– Ensure discussion materials on Congress’s diplomatic role are available before Monday’s session.
– Consider briefly recapping key takeaways from today’s lesson next class to reinforce understanding.
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**End of Report.**
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
No homework was assigned during this lesson, as the professor explicitly mentioned that the next session would continue the in-class activity of drafting policy memos rather than assigning an individual homework task. Additionally, the professor only mentioned posting readings on eCourse without instructing students to complete any specific assignment based on them.