Mike Johnson Thinks Trump Should Have Even More of Congress' Warmaking Power
Presidents have chafed against the War Powers Resolution since it was first signed.
War Powers Act
Trump's Iran Air Strikes and the Constitution
The strikes violate both the Constitution and the 1973 War Powers Act. Whether they are good policy is a more difficult question. This could turn out to be a rare instance where one of Trump's illegal actions has beneficial results.
The Attack on Iran Is Unlawful
Trump's attack on Iran plainly violates the War Powers Act. Limits on executive power are most important when they are inconvenient.
War With Iran Should Be Determined by Congressional Debate, Not Presidential Whim
With lives on the line, whether to wage war shouldn’t be decided by one person.
'Evacuate Tehran'
Plus: A bipartisan effort to prevent American involvement in the war, ICE workplace raids to begin again, and more...
The Congressmen Who Stopped Caring About War Powers After Trump Left Office
Both Democrats and Republicans who opposed war with Iran in 2020 are looking the other way while Biden unilaterally sends Americans into one.
War Is a Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone
Washington risks Americans’ lives in wars of choice, then uses their deaths to justify more war.
Bipartisan Bill Would Limit Presidential War Powers and Emergency Declarations
The bill is the most far-reaching recent proposal of its kind.
America Is Back to Bombing Syria
Plus: Remembering Steve Horwitz, Oregonians can temporarily pump their own gas, and more...
The Constitution and Biden's Syria Air Strike
The strike was probably legal (as were similar small-scale strikes by Trump). But there are serious constitutional problems with the overall US military presence in Syria.
War Worries Transcend Trump
Even the president’s buddies understand the threat posed by the unconstrained use of military force.
No War With Iran, House Tells Trump. Next Up: Finally Forbidding Military Force in Iraq?
Plus: Tarriffs are killing U.S. wine, Vermont bill would ban cell phones for kids, and more...
Legal Scholars' Letter on Initiating a Congressional Lawsuit to End Illegal US Role in the Yemen War
A letter signed by a wide range of scholars with different political and jurisprudential views urges Congress to sue to end illegal US involvement in the Yemen conflict.
Yemen, Iran, and the War Powers Act
The US role in the ongoing war in Yemen violates the War Powers Act. Reasserting Congressional power here is vital to the more general purpose of ensuring legislative control over the initiation of war.
Trump's Syria Withdrawal Does Nothing to Restore Constitutional Limits on Presidential War Powers
While the Syria intervention lacked proper congressional authorization, constitutional considerations had nothing to do with Trump's withdrawal decision. Indeed, his administration has doubled down on Obama-era arguments asserting broad presidential authority to initiate military interventions.
Republican Leaders Sneak Support for Yemen War Into Farm Bill Vote: Reason Roundup
Plus: Google hearing once again reveals legislative ignorance on tech and IRS auditors target more low-income taxpayers.
Congress Needs to Reclaim Its War Powers, Argue Constitutional Scholars at Senate Hearing
The proposed new Corker-Kaine AUMF would give even more power to the president to wage war against whoever he wants with Congress essentially powerless to curb him.
Originalism, Living Constitutionalism, and the Power to Initiate War
You don't have to be an originalist to conclude that the Constitution requires congressional authorization for war.
The Constitution and Trump's Next Strike Against Syria
A small-scale strike might be constitutional even without congressional support. But it is also likely to be useless, much like last year's missile strike turned out to be. Large-scale military action of the sort that could make a real difference, requires advance congressional authorization.
Bruce Ackerman on the Need to Rein in Unconstitutional Warmaking Before it is Too Late
A prominent constitutional law scholar highlights the perils of wars waged without congressional authorization - a practice engaged in by Obama and now perpetuated by Trump.
Trump Needs Congressional Authorization for Pre-Emptive Strike on North Korea
But Congress has to assert its role if that's to mean anything.
Bipartisan Group Wants Congressional War Votes on ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Yemen
A letter from a bipartisan group of representatives calls on Paul Ryan to schedule votes on AUMF resolutions.
Obama on His Unauthorized War Against ISIS: I'm Not Hearing 'No'
The administration argues that Congress has implicitly consented to new military operations in Iraq and Syria.
The Permanent Security State
Presidents come and go, but the national security bureaucracy never leaves.
DARPA Unveils Latest Military Tech Weapon
Giving presidents the tools they need to wield the power they've already taken.
Ben Carson Weighs In on Limits to the President's Power
He's vaguely in favor of them because of things that Barack Obama has done.
Hillary Knows Something Most Democrats Can't Admit
Debate performance illustrates that civil liberties and executive-power abuse matter mostly when Republicans run the White House
War Powers Co-Author: President Obama Doesn't Have Authority to Strike in Syria Without Congressional Approval (So, Illegal, If That Matters)
Efforts still underway to de-escalate situation
UK Parliament Rejects Military Action in Syria; Enough to Pull US Back From Intervention?
No plan to bring Congress back to debate the issue
116 Lawmakers Say President Must Seek Congressional Approval for Syria Strike
Don't count on the president obliging
Bipartisan Coalition Urging Obama to Seek Congressional Approval for Syrian Action
81 members of Congress have signed
A Tale of Two Conservatives
Andrew C. McCarthy wants to give the government more power; Sen. Rand Paul doesn't.
