Determining the Need for an Army Liaison Staff to Congress for Strategic Matters

<p>This paper investigates the need for an Army liaison staff to Congress for strategic matters. The historical and descriptive approaches are used to evaluate pertinent documentary evidence. The Congressional process as it pertains to military policy is illustrated with two different models. In recent years Congress has displayed a strong desire to curb the powers of the President and to reassert Congressional prerogatives. However in attempting to reassert control Congress may be ignoring the greater impact of its actions upon military strategy. Without close coordination and cooperation between Congress and the Administration on development of military policy the strategic effort can be degraded. It is evident from the history of the Army legislative liaison effort that liaison between the Army and Congress has developed in response to a need for better communication between the two bodies. The determination of many members of Congress to reassert Congressional prerogatives particularly in the area of the war powers has underscored the need to once again improve communications. A good professional understanding between the Army and Congress is needed to implement wise legislation. Although strategy is developed and implemented within the executive branch Congress controls the structural means for carrying any strategy into effect. The Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison has been very effective in dealing with the structural factors needed to carry out Army decisions on strategic matters. However there appears to be a need to increase the emphasis upon providing Congress with a clear and consistent rationale for strategic programs as they pertain to the Army. The conclusion of this study indicates that an Army liaison staff to Congress for strategic matters should be established. This could be accomplished in several ways.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>