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How can heads of government influence foreign policy and national defense?
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political system
Delegates attending a League of Nations meeting, c. 1930.
Heads of government influence foreign policy and national defense by exercising their role as the chief executive of a sovereign state. Their specific powers vary by political system, but they generally utilize the following mechanisms:1
- Military Command: Many heads of government serve as the commander in chief of the armed forces, granting them authority to direct military movements and operations.21
- Diplomacy: They set major foreign policy goals and possess the power to negotiate and enter into treaties or agreements with other nations and international organizations.1
- Appointments: They appoint key officials, such as cabinet members and heads of defense agencies, who oversee the administration of national security and military departments.231
- Policy Direction: By appointing military advisers—such as the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the United States—and directing executive agencies, they shape the strategic concepts and defense doctrines of the state.23
In some systems, these powers may be shared with or reserved for a separate head of state, or constrained by legislative bodies that must approve treaties or appointments.21