War Powers Resolution

Summary

Provides that the President in every possible instance shall consult with the leadership and appropriate committees of the Congress before committing United States Armed Forces to hostilities or to situations where hostilities may be imminent, and after every such commitment shall consult regularly with such Members and committees until such United States Armed Forces are no longer engaged in hostilities or have been removed from areas where hostities may be imminent, and after every such commitment shall consult regularly with such Members and committees until such United States Armed Forces are no longer engaged in hostilities or have been removed from areas where hostilities may be imminent. States that, any case in which the President without a declaration of war by the Congress: (1) commits United States Armed Forces to hostilities outside the territory of the United States, its possessions and territories; (2) commits United States Armed Forces equipped for combat to the territory, airspace, or waters of a foreign nation, except for deployments which relate solely to supply, replacement, repair, or training of United States Armed Forces; or (3) substantially enlarges United States Armed Forces equipped for combat already located in a foreign nation; the President shall submit within forty-eight hours to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President pro tempore of the Senate a report, in writing, setting forth - (A) the circumstances necessitating his action; (B) the constitutional and legislative provisions under the authority of which he took such action; (C) the estimated scope of activities; (D) the estimated financial cost of such commitment or such enlargement of forces; and (E) such other information as the President may deem useful to the Congress in the fulfillment of its constitutional responsibilities with respect to committing the Nation to war and to the use of United States Armed Forces abroad. Provides that within one hundred and twenty calendar days after a report is submitted, the President shall terminate any commitment and remove any enlargement of United States Armed Forces with respect to which such report was submitted, unless the Congress enacts a declaration of war or a specific authorization for the use of United States Armed Forces. States that such forces shall be disengaged by the President if the Congress so directs by concurrent resolution.

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Documents

3 official files

• Public Law (PDF)

  Public Law · EN · 8 November 1973

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• Public Law

  summary · EN · 7 November 1973

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 3 May 1973

  Open at official source

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