The Role of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees in Use of Force Policymaking 1975-1991.
Abstract
This dissertation demonstrates that from 1975-1991, the House Foreign Affairs (HFAC) and House Armed Services (HASC) Committees played unique, consistent, and identifiable roles in the four decisiontaking phases of use of force policymaking: the deployment of force; regulation of the sustainment of force; the recall of force, and retrospective assessment. Furthermore, these roles constituted a pattern that was primarily the result of three factors: institutional and organizational characteristics of Congress; nature of the conflict; and public support for the involvement of US forces. The two Committees did not, however, perform the same acts in every event. Instead, they engaged in general activities including oversight, investigation, and passing legislation which constituted a pattern unique to use of force policymaking. The pattern, moreover, changed most notably when the conflict's nature intensified, and when the employment assumed the trademarks of the Vietnam War. In addition to explaining what roles Armed Services and Foreign Affairs performed in use of force policymaking, this dissertation: (1) develops a more comprehensive explanation of legislative-executive relations in use of force policymaking that clarifies events from 1975 through 1991; (2) identifies the context in which the HFAC and HASC exercised the most influence with respect to the executive branch; and (3) demonstrates the effect of roles played by the HFAC and HASC in other areas of foreign policymaking on their role in force employment policymaking.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 09, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA322156
Entities
People
- Christopher B. Howard
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology