Foreign Relations Committee, House

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, more commonly called the House Foreign Relations Committee, is among the weaker actors in the defense and foreign policy–making processes. Previously known as the House International Relations Committee, it was founded by a congressional resolution in 1822 and has played a role in pivotal moments in U.S. diplomatic history. Its primary roles are to provide oversight to the executive agencies that conduct diplomacy and to draft and pass legislation related to foreign policy. The chair and ranking member have considerable clout, however, and are consulted by the president and often participate in delegations to foreign countries. The House Foreign Relations Committee subsumes seven subcommittees organized by region or theme (e.g., trade, human rights, global environment) that manage the minutiae ...