- Joined
- Sep 6, 2022
There are several on going political and foreign policy debates and issues ongoing for the US. I thought it would be good to link to the most relevant US legal code for executive use of force overseas.
Something to bear in mind over the intent to limit the executive when this act was passed over a presidential veto.
A rather unanimous statement by Congress I would note.
The War powers act was passed at the end of the decade long police action in Vietnam. Congress saw the need to place limits on the executive use or force.
One could easily argue the Vietnam police action was a clear breech of executive authority. That some limits definitely had to be made clear.
Even in light of the cost, suffering, and division this police action caused in the country. Congress was wary of not removing all executive authority to act with military force in the future. They were cognizant that there would be situations in the future were an executive of either party would need to act unilaterally with speed and in secrecy. That it would be impractical or even detrimental to go to Congress for a declaration of war.
Congress may need to redefine what these situations are in today’s world.
Just keep in mind that even in the wreckage of the Vietnam war Congress still did not want to remove all unilateral use of force authority from the President.
www.britannica.com
Something to bear in mind over the intent to limit the executive when this act was passed over a presidential veto.
A rather unanimous statement by Congress I would note.
The War powers act was passed at the end of the decade long police action in Vietnam. Congress saw the need to place limits on the executive use or force.
One could easily argue the Vietnam police action was a clear breech of executive authority. That some limits definitely had to be made clear.
Even in light of the cost, suffering, and division this police action caused in the country. Congress was wary of not removing all executive authority to act with military force in the future. They were cognizant that there would be situations in the future were an executive of either party would need to act unilaterally with speed and in secrecy. That it would be impractical or even detrimental to go to Congress for a declaration of war.
Congress may need to redefine what these situations are in today’s world.
Just keep in mind that even in the wreckage of the Vietnam war Congress still did not want to remove all unilateral use of force authority from the President.
War Powers Act | Date, Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica
The War Powers Act is a law passed by the U.S. Congress on November 7, 1973, over the veto of President Richard Nixon. It sought to restrain the president’s ability to commit U.S. forces overseas by requiring the executive branch to consult with and report to Congress before involving U.S...
www.britannica.com