Should The U.S. Senate Pass A New War Powers Resolution

The U.S. Capitol Building is lit at sunset in Washington, U.S., December 20, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Kurt Couchman, The Hill: The War Powers Resolution doesn’t let the president start wars

Congress is split on the legality of President Trump’s strikes on Syria. On Friday, 88 bipartisan members of the House sent him a letter stating that congressional authorization is required. Others say he has authority for one-off strikes, but not prolonged engagements.

Some even claim the president can make war for up to 60 days at his discretion. This argument is at best a misunderstanding of the War Powers Resolution and the Constitution, and at worst, it is a willful and negligent lie.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973, which Congress passed overriding President Nixon’s veto, was meant to implement the Constitution’s separation of powers between Congress and the president for the initiation and conduct of war. Congress alone has the power to declare war. Authority over the standards to “suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions” belongs to Congress as well.

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Update: Senators introducing new war powers resolution (AP)

WNU Editor: I am very sceptical that the US Senate .... in the end .... will change anything. In the end .... they really do not want this responsibility.