I thought declaration of war had to come from Congress

[ProudLib72]

I thought that was written into that document the Rump likes to wipe his filthy ass with. Now all I hear about is how he is going to war in Venezuala and Iran. How is this even a topic up for discussion?

[rurallib]

1. Congress hasn't declared war since December, 1941

but we have had plenty of wars since then.

[ProudLib72]

5. The shrub's war went through Congress

I distinctly remember Powell standing before the UN and lying through his teeth. That got the joint action that Congress sort of had to act upon.

[TwilightZone]

6. 1942, actually.

"On June 4, 1942, the Senate approved a resolution declaring war with Rumania. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 73-0."

https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/WarDeclarationsbyCongress.htm

[rampartc]

2. congress has not declared war since 1941

no word yet from the founding fathers, whose original intent in any number of other issues can be miraculously channeled by "conservatives."

[TwilightZone]

7. 1942

"On June 4, 1942, the Senate approved a resolution declaring war with Rumania. The Senate unanimously approved the resolution, 73-0."

https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/WarDeclarationsbyCongress.htm

[rampartc]

11. ah, rumania, i forgot about them

congress probably forgot about them in 1941 as well.

[TwilightZone]

12. There were six declarations in '41-'42.

Three in each year.

[msongs]

3. congress has ceded its war declaration powers to presidents nt

[ProudLib72]

8. But the war powers act! What was that supposed to accomplish if not stop someone like the Rump?

Funny how things keep returning to the Nixon era.

[samnsara]

4. dont they fund it?

[elleng]

10. Yes, at least supposed to.

Sometimes, they're on someone's 'credit card.' Bush2?

[Rebl2]

9. Never

did it with the wars in Middle East. Congress seems to want to let the President do that anymore. I believe they don’t want to make constituents mad one way or other, so they are happy to let the President make that decision.

[spanone]

13. They won't declare war...they'll call it something else.

[ProudLib72]

14. "Police action"

Only for those without bone spurs.

[spanone]

15. last time we declared war was 1942

The last time Congress passed joint resolutions saying that a "state of war" existed was on June 5, 1942, when the U.S. declared war on Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. Since then, the US has used the term "authorization to use military force", as in the case against Iraq in 2003.

[sarisataka]

16. That is true

however entering a conflict has never required a declaration of war beginning with the Quasi-War in 1798

The US has only had eleven formal declarations of war, involving five different wars (both WW1 and WW2 saw multiple declarations of war)