A simple definition of US foreign policy is the goals,decisions, and actions that govern the nation's relationship withthe rest of the world. The primary goals of US foreign policy is toprovide security, economic prosperity, and a better world. Notethat these are generally always in flux. There are a number ofactors that influence US foreign policy. These include 1) formalshapers: the president, Congress, the National Security Council,the State Department, the Department of Defense, the intelligencecommunity (CIA, FBI, etc.), the department of Homeland Security,and so on along with 2) the informal shapers: the public, variousinterest groups, and the media. Which group or entity is the mostsignificant when it comes to US foreign relations? Why?
