Question to the American People – Did you know that Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee matters of war and peace through its exclusive powers to declare war, fund military operations, and regulate armed forces?

Please find below a detailed outline of Congress’s constitutional obligations in this domain:

Constitutional Foundations

• Article I, Section 8, Clause 11: Grants Congress the power “to declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water.” This clause ensures that the decision to initiate war rests with the legislative branch.
• Power of the Purse: Congress controls military funding, giving it leverage over the executive’s military actions. Without appropriations, military operations cannot be sustained.
• Regulation of Armed Forces: Congress is empowered to “raise and support Armies,” “provide and maintain a Navy,” and “make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces.” This gives it authority over the structure and conduct of the military.

Oversight and Checks on Executive Power

• War Powers Resolution of 1973: Enacted to check presidential authority, it requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying armed forces and limits military engagement to 60 days without Congressional authorization.
• Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF): Congress can authorize military action without a formal declaration of war, as seen in post-9/11 operations. However, this has raised concerns about executive overreach.
• Investigative and Hearings Power: Congressional committees, especially Armed Services and Foreign Affairs, conduct hearings and investigations to scrutinize military actions and foreign policy decisions.
• America is killing in international waters without authorization or due process.

In watching the recent U.S. Senate and House of Representatives’ oversight briefing of both the Attorney General and the FBI director, the tension in the room was impossible to ignore. The disrespect exhibited by the executive branch representatives was un-American and arguably unconstitutional.

My fellow Americans, the time for silence and inaction is over. Reach out to your employees in Congress, yes, your employees, and remind them of their sacred duty. That is to make laws that serve the people. They were hired by our vote, and they answer to the American people. Let your voice be heard. The People’s House Must Reclaim Its Rightful Power. Therefore, we must let our power be felt.

• U.S. House of Representatives: Call the House switchboard at (202) 225-3121
• U.S. Senate: Call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121