ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of Congress in the formulation and evaluation of US policy toward China and Taiwan. It provides an overview of the many pieces of legislation dealing with China and Taiwan introduced by Members of Congress. The chapter offers several examples of Congress at work: how the legislative branch actually affects policy adopted by the executive branch. Congress can express its views through non-binding resolutions or, as in the case of the Taiwan Relations Act, through major, stand-alone legislation enacted into law. Congress can exert enormous influence over American foreign policy: it declares war, pays the bills, authorizes extended use of force, approves personnel appointments, passes laws, commands the ear of the media and the public, holds hearings. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Minkowski's plan and the Senate as a whole included the Murkowski amendment in the Senate version of the FY 1994-1995 State Department Authorization Bill.
