War Powers Resolution, 1973
Congressional Checks on Presidential War-Making
The War Powers Resolution is a US federal law enacted to check the President's ability to commit US armed forces to hostilities without congressional authorization, passed over a presidential veto in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
- Requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of introducing armed forces into hostilities or situations of imminent hostilities
- Triggers a 60-day clock (extendable by 30 days for safe troop withdrawal) within which the President must terminate the use of armed forces unless Congress has declared war or specifically authorized continued action
- Its constitutionality has never been definitively tested before the US Supreme Court; presidents of both parties have generally disputed its binding force while still filing the required reports
- Distinct from a formal Congressional declaration of war under Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution, which the US has not issued since World War II
● Tracked since March 04, 2026 · last seen July 22, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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