Right of Reception

The Right of Reception: Scope of the Power

“Ambassadors and other public ministers” embraces not only “all possible diplomatic agents which any foreign power may accredit to the United States,” 1 but also, as a practical construction of the Constitution, all foreign consular agents, who therefore may not exercise their functions in the United States without an exequatur from the President.2 The power to “receive” ambassadors, et cetera, includes, moreover, the right to refuse to receive them, to request their recall, to dismiss them, and to determine their eligibility under our laws.3 Furthermore, this power makes the President the sole mouthpiece of the nation in its dealing with other nations.

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References

This text about Right of Reception is based on “The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation”, published by the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Notes

[Footnote 1] 7 Ops. Atty. Gen. 186, 209 (1855).

[Footnote 2] 5 J. MOORE, INTERNATIONAL LAW DIGEST 15-19 (1906).

[Footnote 3] Id. at 4:473-548; 5:19-32.