War Powers Resolution: After Twenty-Eight Years (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (74 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
Nov. 15, 2001 |
| Report Number |
RL31185 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Richard F. Grimmett, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
In the post-Cold War world, Presidents have continued to commit U.S. Armed Forces to potential hostilities without specific authorization from Congress, and the War Powers Resolution has come under new scrutiny. On June 7, 1995 the House defeated, by a vote of 217-201, an amendment to repeal the central features of the War Powers Resolution that have been deemed unconstitutional by every President since the law's enactment in 1973.Section 3 requires that the "President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing" U.S. Armed Forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities. President Ford submitted four reports, President Carter one, President Reagan fourteen, and President George H. W. Bush six reports. The reports cover a range of military activities from embassy evacuations to full scale combat military operations, such as the Persian Gulf conflict, the intervention in Kosovo or the anti-terrorism actions in Afghanistan.
