How do executive agreements differ from treaties?

a. the senate ratifies treaties that were executive agreements from the previous administration
b. a treaty requires approval by the senate an executive agreement does not***
c. executive agreements are valid across administrations treaties are not
d. the president negotiates treatise senate makes executive agreements.

Correct, b.

The correct answer is b. A treaty requires approval by the senate, while an executive agreement does not.

To determine the correct answer, let's break down the characteristics of executive agreements and treaties:

Executive agreements:
1. They are agreements made between the President of the United States and the leader of another country or international organization.
2. They do not require approval by the Senate.
3. They can be used to address various issues, such as trade, defense, or diplomatic relations.
4. They are not explicitly mentioned in the U.S. Constitution but derive their authority from the President's constitutional powers.

Treaties:
1. They are formal agreements between two or more sovereign nations.
2. They require approval by the Senate by a two-thirds majority vote before they can be ratified and become legally binding.
3. Treaties cover a wide range of topics, including alliances, arms control, human rights, environmental conservation, and more.
4. The process for approving treaties is specifically outlined in Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which grants the President the power to make treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Now, let's evaluate the given options:

a. Incorrect. The Senate does not ratify executive agreements from previous administrations. Senate approval is only required for treaties.

b. Correct. One of the main differences between executive agreements and treaties is that while treaties require approval by the Senate, executive agreements do not.

c. Incorrect. Both executive agreements and treaties can be valid across administrations. However, executive agreements, unlike treaties, do not require Senate approval, which allows them to be more flexible and easier to negotiate.

d. Incorrect. The President negotiates both treaties and executive agreements. However, executive agreements do not involve Senate participation or approval.

Based on the explanations above, the correct answer is b. A treaty requires approval by the Senate, while an executive agreement does not.