An agreement between the President and a foreign head of state that does not require Senate consent is called a

• A. Treaty
• B. Executive Agreement
• C. Executive Order
• D. Congress Resolution

Answer: (B)

An executive agreement is an agreement between the President and a foreign head of state that does not require Senate consent. The Constitution gives the Senate the power to ratify treaties (typically needing two-thirds), but presidents can lawfully enter into executive agreements to handle diplomatic or administrative matters without going through Senate approval. These are often used for routine or sensitive issues where a formal treaty would be too cumbersome or time-consuming. They can be quicker and allow flexible diplomacy, but they may be less durable than treaties because they can be changed by future administrations or constrained by later legislation. Conversely, a treaty requires Senate consent, an executive order is a directive to the domestic bureaucracy, and a Congressional resolution expresses Congress’s position rather than creating an international agreement.