WRIGHT— CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITATIONS. 221 



A too rigid application of the doctrine of separation of powers 

 will inevitably produce friction between the departments and impair 

 the ability of the government rapidly and efficiently to meet inter- 

 national responsibilities and to decide upon and carry out national 

 policies. This difficulty may be greatly reduced through the regular 

 observance by each organ of certain constitutional understandings, 

 directing the method by which discretionary power ought to be 

 exercised. Thus before making a decision each independent organ 

 ought to consider the views of other independent organs whose 

 cooperation will be necessary in order to carry out such decision ; 

 and after a decision has been made by any organ acting within its 

 constitutional powers, all other independent organs ought to con- 

 sider themselves bound to so exercise their powers as to give that 

 decision full effect. The development of and adhesion to these 

 understandings is most essential if foreign relations are to be carried 

 on effectively by a government guaranteeing the separation of 

 powers by its fundamental law.^® 



PART IV. 



The Power to Conduct Foreign Relations under 

 THE Constitution. 



CHAPTER IX. 



The Position of the Foreign Relations Power in the 

 Constitutional System. 



A. Source of National Powers. 



70. Distribution of Powers Between States and National Govern- 

 ment. 



The Constitution establishes a federal government, certain 

 powers being expressly or impliedly delegated to the national gov- 

 ernment, the rest, unless prohibited to the states, being reserved to 

 the states respectively or to the people. Now the control of foreign 



1* Infra, sec. 249. 



