As the Commander in Chief, the President has the ability to send US armed forces into combat without Congressional approval – as long as he informs Congress within 48 hours – like former President George W. Bush did when he authorized the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Another formal power granted to the President by the Constitution as the Chief Diplomat is the exclusive ability to negotiate treaties with other nations such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which President Clinton signed in 1993, and the TPP which Obama signed last year.

Congress has the actual formal powers to declare wars and ratify any treaties negotiated by the President. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to happen.

The President’s informal powers include Executive Agreements with other countries – military cooperation to Colombia, for instance, and the ability to send Emergency Aid or assistance to foreign countries or regions like Syria, Libya or Somalia if there is an international crisis or dire need.

Both of these examples would potentially contribute to the President’s advantage in that his or her standing in the eyes of the world would be elevated, and their image as a humanitarian would be greatly enhanced.

These informal methods of handling important Foreign Policy relations are much preferred because they do not need Congressional approval and crucially: they can be secret.