War Making Power The Executive and the Legislative

War Making Power: The Executive and the Legislative Branches

Constitution • Read Articles I and II and find passages that refer to war making

Questions: Part I • How were the actions taken by President Roosevelt similar to and different from those taken by President Johnson? • How were the actions taken by Congress in 1941 similar to and different from the actions taken by Congress in 1964? • In what ways was the bombing of Pearl Harbor similar to and different from the events in the Gulf of Tonkin? • Was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution an implied declaration of war, or was it something different? • What Constitutional issues arise as a result of the events of 1964? • What might have happened if the Congress had not passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? • How have the nature of war and the role of the United States in the world changed since World War II?

War Powers Act Questions • Is the War Powers Act consistent with the Constitution? • Why do you think President Nixon vetoed the act? (Congress subsequently overturned his veto)

Iraq War • Is the Iraq War Resolution consistent with the Constitution? • Is the Iraq War Resolution consistent with the War Powers Act? • What might have happened if the Congress had not passed the Iraq War Resolution? • What recourse is left to Congress should it decide that the war in Iraq should be brought to an end? • What constitutional and political challenges would Congress face should it decide to make use of its “power of the purse”? • How have the nature of war and the role of the United States changed since Vietnam?

Final Questions • Is the war-making power balanced between the executive and legislative branches of government? • If not, which branch possesses the greater power? • Should it be more balanced? • Evaluation • Defend or reject the following statements: The United States needs to develop a new and betterbalanced way of deciding whether to make war.