Connect with others across the political spectrum

Sign in / Sign up

National & World Issue

Should the U.S. President be able to bypass Congress in selling U.S. military weapons to other countries in conflict?

Score for this "No" opinion : 8.4

"Checks and balances exist for a reason!" Aug 12, 2024

According to the U.S. Constitution, Congress may declare war and control trade with other countries. But as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President can also make foreign policy decisions.

When it comes to selling U.S. military hardware to other nations engaged in conflict, the President should not bypass Congress. This is because these transactions can have far-reaching effects that impact not just the affected countries but also the United States and the global community. As the people's elected representatives, Congress is in a better position to assess the advantages and disadvantages of such transactions and make well-informed decisions that consider the interests of both the American people and the rest of the globe.

Furthermore, bypassing Congress in these affairs compromises the essential checks and balances built into the American political system. The Constitution was created to guarantee that the government is answerable to the people and to prevent any one branch from becoming excessively powerful. This balance would be disturbed, and power abuses may result if the President was permitted to sell American military weapons to other nations without involving Congress.

An essential component of the American political system is congressional oversight. It guarantees the protection of the interests of the American people and holds the President responsible for his or her actions. This oversight would be compromised if the President were to sell American military weaponry to other nations engaged in conflict without the approval of Congress, which would result in the misappropriation of public funds and violations of human rights.

In a democratic system of government, transparency is vital. It would be less transparent and possible for the American people to remain in the dark about significant foreign policy decisions if the President was permitted to circumvent Congress when selling American military hardware to other nations engaged in combat. This can damage people's confidence in the government and cause the government and people's relationship to fall apart.

An essential component of the global governance structure is international law. Permitting the President to sell American military equipment to foreign warring nations without the approval of Congress might violate international law and paint the U.S. as a renegade state. This might harm the nation's standing and make it more challenging to collaborate with other countries on critical issues like terrorism, climate change, and human rights.

In summary, even if the President is the head of state and can make foreign policy decisions, he or she shouldn't make the exclusive decision to sell American military weapons to other nations engaged in battles. As the elected representatives of the people, Congress is better equipped to make well-informed choices that consider the interests of the American people and the world. Ignoring Congress on these kinds of issues erodes the essential checks and balances in the American political system and opens the door to abuses of authority. In making any foreign policy decisions, it is critical that the United States respect the values of democracy, openness, and international law.


This website uses cookies
ViewExchange uses cookies to improve performance of the website, to personalize content and advertisements, and to overall provide you with a better experience. By clicking “Accept” or by continuing to use ViewExchange, you accept the use of cookies. You can control your data settings including opting out by clicking here.