What is the vice president’s constitutional role in foreign policy? What advantages do vice presidents bring to support the president’s foreign policy agenda? How have modern vice presidents (since the Cold War) played a role in the foreign policy process?

What will be an ideal response?

Answers should identify how the Constitution does not address the vice president’s role in foreign policy. Answers should acknowledge how vice presidents’ skills and personal backgrounds can work to support the sitting president’s foreign policy agenda, including previous foreign policy experience, legislative experience and relationships with other members of Congress, and in the relationship with the president (for example, the president may give the vice president much responsibility and a wide berth in pursuing foreign policy goals). Answers should identify the drastic changes in the vice president’s role in foreign policy beginning with Al Gore. Gore used his expertise in national security (gained from both his status as a veteran as well as sitting on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee) to earn congressional support for NAFTA and negotiating with Russia to reduce its nuclear arsenal. This trend continued with Dick Cheney’s prominent role during the war on terror following the 9/11 attacks, which used his previous experience as defense secretary. Answers should also address how Joe Biden used his relationships with both members of Congress and world leaders (from traveling abroad) to advance the president’s foreign policy goals, as well as to influence the president on important foreign policy issues.