July 31, 2017 The Call: No military action without Congressional approval Reports of an angry president obsessing on the Russia investigation raise serious concerns he may try to distract from the investigation with a major military action. Article I of the Constitution gives the power to authorize military action to Congress. However, in recent decades, Congress has often failed to fully assert its prerogative and has acquiesced to the executive taking various military actions with flimsy Congressional authority. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Congress authorized President Bush to take military action against any entity that aided the attacks, or harbored perpetrators, in order to prevent future attacks (the 2001 AUMF). Most use of US military force since then, including recent actions have relied on the 2001 AUMF. Recently, a House committee voted to sunset the AUMF, but Speaker Ryan stripped the sunset provision from the final bill. North Korea’s recent successful test of an ICBM that could reach the central US raises serious concerns about Trump’s response. Besides tweets bashing China, Trump had the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley deliver the message that the “time for talk is over.” Frighteningly, former press secretary Sean Spicer stated in April that Trump does not believe he needs Congressional approval for military action against North Korea. With an unpredictable and ill-informed President desperate for a diversion from the Russia investigation, it is imperative that Congress perform its Constitutional duty and reassert its obligation to approve or disapprove of military force before it occurs. Your Action Call your three members of Congress and tell them Congress must reassert its Constitutional duty and require the President to obtain Congressional approval before any further military action. Talking Points
This is [NAME] and I’m a constituent in [ZIP].
Congress must authorize any further military action by the president.
Trump is carrying out military operations in Syria without any Congressional oversight or approval.
Congressional authorization must be required for any military action in North Korea, where war could be nuclear.