Presidential Maneuvers: Overcoming Senate Disapproval

What measures can the President take when the Senate does not approve a treaty?

Provide an example from the reading to support your answer.

Answer:

When the Senate does not approve a treaty, the President can modify the treaty, renegotiate it, or implement it as an executive agreement. An example of this is President Obama's approach to the Paris Agreement.

When facing Senate disapproval of a treaty, the President is not without options. The President can take several measures to maneuver around this check and balance of power in the U.S. government.

One key step the President can take is to modify the treaty to address the concerns raised by the Senate. By making changes to the treaty based on Senate feedback, the President can increase the likelihood of approval upon resubmission.

Another option available to the President is to renegotiate the treaty entirely. By presenting a new version of the treaty to the Senate, the President can seek approval for a revised agreement that may better align with Senate preferences.

Additionally, the President can choose to implement the provisions of the treaty as an executive agreement. In this scenario, the President can bypass the need for Senate approval if the treaty falls within the scope of executive agreements.

An illustrative example of this maneuver can be found in President Barack Obama's approach to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Faced with Senate resistance, President Obama opted to enter into the agreement as an executive agreement rather than a treaty. This decision allowed him to advance efforts to combat climate change without requiring Senate ratification.

By utilizing these strategies, the President can navigate through challenges posed by Senate disapproval and continue to pursue important policy objectives on the international stage.