The President of the United States is also the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Military. The constitution grants the president the power to preside over the Army and Navy of the United States. However, the constitution also grants the power to declare war to the Congress of the United States. Because the constitution grants these two very similar powers to two different branches, much controversy has arisen. The President has often found ways to use military power without an actually congressional declaration of war. Examples of this include: the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in Vietnam under President LBJ, the Persian Gulf War under the first President Bush, and the War in Iraq under the second President Bush. This controversy led to congress passing the War Powers Act of 1973 which limited the President’s power to utilize the military without congressional approval.
In a time of war, the constitution does not grant the President any specific powers except for that he is Commander in Chief. One of the President’s most important roles in the military is to surround himself with the best supporting cast, because he gets to appoint officers and generals of the military. An important role for the president during a time of war is often to communicate with American civilians the status of the war. During the Vietnam War, Lyndon Johnson was caught alerting and distorting facts and figures about the war in order to gain public support for the war. The President also has the power to negotiate treaty’s even though he needs two-thirds support in the Senate.
The President of the United States carries the role of Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. The President may also call into federal service the state units of the National Guard. However, in times of war or national emergency, the Congress has the power to grant the president even broader powers to manage the national economy and protect the security of the United States, but these powers are not mentioned nor granted in the Constitution. The President's power was weakened during the Vietnam War when Congress passed the War Powers Act. It limited the ability of the President to conduct warfare without Congressional approval. In Article 1 Section 8, the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, but if the president needs to send the troops to other countries for hostile reasons, he will have to seek congressional approval. For any time past 60 days, the President will need to seek further congressional confirmation. Yet, the president retains the sole right to authorize the use of nuclear weapons.
Congress has not declared war since WWII but the president has sent troops for extended periods.
The Gulf of Tonkin resolution sailed through Congress with only two dissenting votes. Congress later regretted this decision.
The War Powers Act(Resolution)of 1973 requires the President to inform Congress if he sends troops. If Congress does not approve, the troops must be removed within 60 days.
All presidents claim that this act/resolution is unconstitutional; however, no president has challenged Congress to the point of a court case.
Presidents Bush obtained resolutions from Congress authorizing use of force in Iraq in 1991 and 2002.
The President of the United States is also the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Military. The constitution grants the president the power to preside over the Army and Navy of the United States. However, the constitution also grants the power to declare war to the Congress of the United States. Because the constitution grants these two very similar powers to two different branches, much controversy has arisen. The President has often found ways to use military power without an actually congressional declaration of war. Examples of this include: the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in Vietnam under President LBJ, the Persian Gulf War under the first President Bush, and the War in Iraq under the second President Bush. This controversy led to congress passing the War Powers Act of 1973 which limited the President’s power to utilize the military without congressional approval.
ReplyDeleteIn a time of war, the constitution does not grant the President any specific powers except for that he is Commander in Chief. One of the President’s most important roles in the military is to surround himself with the best supporting cast, because he gets to appoint officers and generals of the military. An important role for the president during a time of war is often to communicate with American civilians the status of the war. During the Vietnam War, Lyndon Johnson was caught alerting and distorting facts and figures about the war in order to gain public support for the war. The President also has the power to negotiate treaty’s even though he needs two-thirds support in the Senate.
The President of the United States carries the role of Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. The President may also call into federal service the state units of the National Guard. However, in times of war or national emergency, the Congress has the power to grant the president even broader powers to manage the national economy and protect the security of the United States, but these powers are not mentioned nor granted in the Constitution.
ReplyDeleteThe President's power was weakened during the Vietnam War when Congress passed the War Powers Act. It limited the ability of the President to conduct warfare without Congressional approval. In Article 1 Section 8, the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, but if the president needs to send the troops to other countries for hostile reasons, he will have to seek congressional approval. For any time past 60 days, the President will need to seek further congressional confirmation. Yet, the president retains the sole right to authorize the use of nuclear weapons.
Congress has not declared war since WWII but the president has sent troops for extended periods.
ReplyDeleteThe Gulf of Tonkin resolution sailed through Congress with only two dissenting votes. Congress later regretted this decision.
The War Powers Act(Resolution)of 1973 requires the President to inform Congress if he sends troops. If Congress does not approve, the troops must be removed within 60 days.
All presidents claim that this act/resolution is unconstitutional; however, no president has challenged Congress to the point of a court case.
Presidents Bush obtained resolutions from Congress authorizing use of force in Iraq in 1991 and 2002.