In 1979, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, requiring presidential and congressional consultation for diplomatic recognition of Taiwan

After the Carter administration severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China and terminated the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1979, the U.S. Congress drew up the Taiwan Relations Act within two to three months, stipulating as domestic law that diplomatic recognition of Taiwan must be jointly negotiated by the President and Congress, and the Carter administration was forced to sign it. Senator Barry Goldwater raised a challenge over the constitutionality of the procedure for terminating the Mutual Defense Treaty, but the court declined to hear it.