To: The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Donald Trump
Join @RepPeterDeFazio, @RepMarkPocan: tell @realDonaldTrump he has 48 hours to report on Syria
Just Foreign Policy
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Donald Trump has 48 hours to report to Congress about his unauthorized military attack on Syria, including legal basis, scope, and duration.
Why is this important?
On Thursday, April 6, President Trump attacked Syria without Congressional authorization, violating the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. [1]
Following Nixon's unauthorized escalations of the Vietnam War, the Congressional Framers of the War Powers Resolution knew that it was likely that future Presidents would try to use military force without Congressional authorization. That's why they put multiple mechanisms in the WPR to help future Congresses defend their war powers.
One of those mechanisms was the requirement that the President report in writing to Congress within 48 hours of using military force without a declaration of war, stating: "(A) the circumstances necessitating the introduction of United States Armed Forces; (B) the constitutional and legislative authority under which such introduction took place; and (C) the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or involvement." [2]
On April 7, Reps. Peter DeFazio [OR-4], Mark Pocan [WI-2], Barbara Lee [CA-13], and James McGovern [MA-2] sent a letter to Trump reminding him that under the War Powers Resolution, he has 48 hours to report to Congress on his unauthorized strike.
Add your voice to that of DeFazio, Pocan, Lee and McGovern by signing our petition.
UPDATE: "With six hours to spare before the 48-hour deadline in section 4 of the War Powers Resolution, the White House has sent the President's report to Congress on Thursday evening's missile attacks on Syria." [4] You can still show your support for President Trump's compliance with the War Powers Resolution by signing our petition.
References:
1. https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/us-strikes-syria-are-illegal-response-atrocity; https://www.lawfareblog.com/constitutionality-syria-strike-through-eyes-olc-and-obama-administration
2. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp
3. http://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-defazio-lawmakers-urge-president-trump-to-outline-scope-of-syria
4. https://www.lawfareblog.com/president-trumps-war-powers-report-syria-attacks