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45 Pol. Sci. Q. 1 (1930)

handle is hein.journals/pclscceqry45 and id is 1 raw text is: Volume XL V] POLITICAL SCIENCE QUARTERLY WAR POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES I. GENERAL POWERS T HE recent acceptance of the Kellogg Pact by the nations of the world has focused attention upon the powers of the President of the United States with reference to the formulation of American foreign policy. The rble of Congress in this program for world peace has been a definitely secondary one: a mere acquiescence in the decision already reached by the Executive. But if the President, through his control of foreign relations, can effect international peace, he can also involve the United States in such difficulties with other nations that war will necessarily result despite the anxious efforts of Congress to preserve peace. The much-vaunted doctrine of the separation of powers, a doctrine hailed by our founding fathers as a political panacea par excellence, was not given rigid application in the Constitu- tion of the United States, and at times it has been difficult exactly to de'imit the respective jurisdictions of the executive and legislative departments. In recent years the r6le of President of the United States has assumed a heightened im- portance, and to many acute observers it appears as though Congress were being pushed farther and farther into the back- ground. America's increasing interest in the region of the Caribbean has demanded effective governmental support which has been extended mainly through the executive department. [ Number r March, i93o I