In addition, the Senate also has the power of advise and consent in the appointment of ambassadors and other public ministers by the President. Again, this means that the Senate can effectively oppose policies advocated by the President by rejecting ministers who would enforce these policies (Great Decisions, 1996, pp. 3-6).
Moreover, Congress as a while has the power to indirectly influence the President's policymaking. First, individual legislators command great respect and attention, which means that their speeches or comments receive considerable publicity from the press. Hearings and debates conducted by Congress are usually publicized and frequently televised; consequently, the attitudes of American citizens can be shaped by Congress. In turn, these attitudes necessarily affect the policies of the President. Second, Congress can pass non-binding resolutions stating what it thinks American policy ought to be. Although these resolutions have no legal effect, their passage can influence the attitudes of foreign leaders who are negotiating with the President. In this way, the President may be circumscribed in his ability to effectively negotiate an agreement which would be unpopular in Congress (Great Decisions, 1996, p. 5).
Within the Executive Branch are numerous bureaucratic agencies charged with implementing the policies established by the President and Congress. In the arena of national security policy, the two most important of these agencies are the State Department and the Defense Department. The State Department evolved from the Department of Foreign
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